The American dream is a philosophy idealized by millions of people. It’s an attitude and mindset that can foster lifelong success and prosperity. When it comes to the American dream, the quest for money looms large. As seen in classics of American literature such as F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, the influence of money plays an important role in both novels. There are characters in both books who use money as a way to represent their morals and values. The decline of the American dream is evident in both novels, given the negative effects of money on some characters. The American dream still lives today in a society in which people strive to reach the top and achieve their goals in life. James Truslow Adams coined the term in 1931 in his book "American Dream." He said in the book that "life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunities for everyone based on their abilities or achievements." The importance of this quote in Adams' novel is that the American dream can be achieved by anyone (Warshauer 3). There are no limits to these emotions and people of all social classes can achieve their dreams and desires in life. Over the years, the definition of the American dream has changed, but the fundamental underlying meaning has remained the same. The American mentality is essentially to participate in the economy and society in order to acquire a better social level and be prosperous. The United States Declaration of Independence also had some influence in defining the American dream. In the Declaration of Independence, it is stated that all men are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights", including...... middle of paper ...... American Dream. The unemployment rate in the United States increased by 25% during the depression and jobs were scarce (VanGiezen 7). The Great Depression began in 1929 and lasted until the early 1940s (McElvaine 1). The same period represented the publication of The Great Gatsby and A Streetcar Named Desire. The American Dream is an emotion and mentality among people that has lasted for hundreds of years. Success and prosperity are two things that everyone strives for in order to live life to the fullest. Both The Great Gatsby and A Streetcar Named Desire depict the decline of the American dream. When it comes to prosperity and money, it is essential to follow your morals and values. Jay Gatsby and Blanche DuBois are two characters in each of the novels who are hurt by money and power and ultimately both characters are forced to meet an unhappy ending..