Although many attempt to pursue their American dream, many people aspire for more and fail. The American Dream can be defined as “the belief that everyone, regardless of where they are born or what class they are born into, can achieve their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone.” The American dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, not by chance.” Basically, this means that if you work towards your goals and put in effort, success can be achieved. The American dream can be pursued for better life opportunities, as shown in the film Revolutionary Road, or simply to better understand life itself, as shown in the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In both films, Revolutionary Road, written by Richard Yate and directed by Sam Mendes, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, directed by Terry Gilliam and based on the novel written by Hunter S. Thompson; The American dream is pursued, but the characters end up disappointed. Although both films end in an American nightmare, the ways in which they attempt to succeed vary greatly. Use the assigned reading, “The Anxious Society,” by Lawrence R. Samuel as a prompt for the American dream; This essay explores the differences and similarities of the American dream in the films Revolutionary Road and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In the film Revolutionary Road, the American Dream is about the struggle to find happiness in a time that does not. agree with the lifestyle sought by the main characters. The film is set in 1955, a time when women were expected to stay home to clean and cook while men worked all day to earn money to support their families. S...... middle of paper ...... exemplary in terms of demonstrating the flaws of the American dream and the failures of attempts to realize it. There are different motivators to achieve the American dream. The Wheelers wanted to change their lives and become the happy family their neighbors thought they were. The revolutionary path is an example of trying to achieve the American dream for the wrong reasons; the Wheelers wanted to repair their relationship, when their relationship couldn't be repaired. Duke wanted to continue his journalism career and have a good time in Las Vegas. Fear and loathing in Las Vegas is an example of excessive comfort causing self-destruction and failure to achieve the American dream. The path to the American Dream was seen in both films, but the films as well as the assigned readings proved that the American Dream is just a dream and ultimately unattainable..