Comparing The American Dream And Manifest Destiny

In every American household there is the ultimate goal to achieve the “American Dream”. And every household holds a different version of the “American Dream”. But what is the proper version of the “American Dream”? How can we achieve it? Who has access to it? For the majority of people, myself included, one would argue that the “American Dream” is to utilize the system of capitalism, to achieve financial success, materialistic belongings, have a family and to be healthy and stable when retired. However, this definition of the “American Dream” doesn’t apply to everyone. Some families do not see as financial security as a priority in their lives but see things that are more important such as “freedom”. Henry David Thoreau, an American essayist, …show more content…
Like the American government’s obsession with expansion, Capt. Ahab had an obsession to kill Moby Dick. This is an example of “will to power”, the will to control dominate. The “will to power” when applied today would hold examples such as, status, political power or financial power. For Ahab to capture and kill Moby Dick it would be as if he satisfied his “will to power” because he achieved victory by killing a dangerous creature that no man can successfully carryout. In chapter 134, page 606 Ismael describes the second encounter with Moby Dick. “The mast-heads, like the tops of tall palms, were outspreadingly tufted with arms and legs. Clinging to a spar with one hand, some reach forth the other with impatient wavings; others [...] Ah! How they still strove through that infinite blueness to seek out the thing that might destroy them!” (Melville, 1851, p. 606). What Ismael is narrating in this quote is the encounter and love for the very thing that might kill them. This is also as an example of “pride's”, that is applied to Ahab’s “will for