@article{article_1749248, title={Becoming More Conservative: Reimagining the American Dream in Contemporary America}, journal={Manisa Celal Bayar University International Journal of English Language Studies}, volume={4}, pages={1–5}, year={2025}, author={Demir, Süheyla}, keywords={Trumpism, American identity, Political transformation, American Dream}, abstract={This paper explores the recent shift toward conservative values in the United States by reinterpreting the idea of the American Dream in both literature and contemporary politics. It focuses on how this cultural shift reflects deeper desires for individual success, stability, and identity. The study begins by analyzing the American Dream as portrayed in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. These characters are driven by ambition and a belief in self-made success, a pattern echoed in the real-life story of Donald Trump. As a businessman-turned-president, Trump mirrors these literary figures, emphasizing personal ambition, wealth, and the promise of success. His "Make America Great Again" slogan redefines the American Dream through a conservative lens, highlighting economic independence, traditional values, and national pride. The paper also examines how Trump’s message reaches rural and working-class voters who feel left behind by globalization and cultural change. By combining literary analysis with political and sociological perspectives, this study shows how Trumpism reimagines the American Dream and reveals the enduring power of self-made myths in shaping American identity.}, number={2}, publisher={Manisa Celal Bayar University}