A national ethos of the United States, the American Dream, is the ideal that all U.S. citizens should have equal opportunity to realize prosperity and success through persistence, determination and hard work. There are countless stories, nonfiction and fiction, that shape the American dream today. However, due to unequal opportunities and lack of education, some Americans remain hopeless and stuck in low-wage jobs and poverty. After her life experience as a lower class worker, Barbara Ehrenreich attempts to establish that low-wage workers are very likely to stay in minimum wage jobs and that the American dream is unattainable in her experiment, “Serving in Florida.” However, Adam Shepard rebukes Ehrenreich's statement through his investigation, Scratch Beginnings, in which he starts from the bottom and strives to achieve his goals. Shepard attempts to change the pessimism of most Americans regarding the American dream through his belief that a positive mindset can lead to success. Between the two works, Shepard's use of ethics makes his argument more convincing in the idea that the American dream is achievable for anyone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In an effort to bring the American dream to life, Shepard brings the story of "rags to rags" to life. His goal was to change the lethargic attitude Americans have toward achieving what may seem elusive by showing them that a positive mindset and attitude can change their lives. Starting his experiment with just twenty-five dollars, a sleeping bag, a tarp, an empty gym bag, a high school diploma, and the clothes on his back, Shepard works toward his goal: a house, $2,500 in cash, and a stable . location within 365 days. Shepard attempts to inspire Americans who are achieving the American Dream by saying, “I am not an extraordinary person who accomplishes extraordinary feats. I don't have any special talents that I can use to "wow" potential employers. I'm average” (4). He claims to be nothing more than average, establishing that anyone classified as "ordinary" or "special" can achieve the American dream. Contrary to Ehrenreich's assertion that the American dream no longer exists, Shepard shapes his vision of life in “a world of independence – free from responsibility – where each day would be [his] to take or, if [he] had chosen , to be wasted” (15). He comes to the valuable conclusion that the homeless in the shelter choose to live in “a world full of potential but devoid of ambition” (15). However, he distances himself from the rest of the crowd by encouraging and reminding himself, “Likewise, a day off would keep me from achieving my goal” (25). Shepard realizes that every day is precious because he can be one day closer to achieving his goals. Throughout the time he had to work tirelessly every day, Shepard maintained a positive mindset, which was one of the keys that unlocked the apartment he earned. He adds: “I knew I would be successful. Now that I was more familiar with my surroundings, I knew what I needed to do to make it happen. It wasn't going to be easy, but I had a plan, and now it was just a matter of putting it into action” (35). While there have been moments of success, there have also been moments of fear when Shepard has been rejected to work for certain jobs, however, he stillcontinued to work hard. He expresses, “My faith was fading, but I remained fearless” (43). Through frugal tactics and genuine efforts, Shepard was constantly thinking ahead and taking advantage of the few resources he had, so he earned his own furnished apartment, $2,500 in cash, and a car in just six months. As a successful woman who came from "factory craft work" (269), Ehrenreich comes to the conclusion that the poor will always be poor and the rich will get richer, failing to test her mathematical proposition and her personal experiment. Unlike Shepard, Ehrenreich did not feel motivated and hopeful about her future while working in low-wage jobs. She often felt like she couldn't be her true self due to the pressure of being accepted by her peers boss told her she couldn't bond with her clients, she says she "felt as if I had just been stripped naked by the mad enforcer of an ancient sumptuary law: you can't chat, girl" (271). states, “Chatting with customers is for the beautiful young college-educated waiters at the downtown carpaccio joints, the guys who can make $70 to $100 a night” (271). Not only did she experience physical discomfort during her experiment, but she also felt emotional distress and insecurities, which discouraged her from believing she could achieve her dream. Furthermore, he argues that working-class people must be discreet about missing shifts, taking drugs, and taking so-called “lunch breaks” because of “corporate rationality” (272). Looking back on his previous life, Ehrenreich realizes a significant difference between how middle- and upper-class workers are treated. Middle-class workers are often treated as potential enemies, embarrassed by their employers, and denied basic rights such as privacy and free speech. In response to complaining customers, Ehrenreich admits that he began to cultivate a hatred towards certain people he never tried to hate. She complains, "There are the traditional asshole types: frat boys who knock down multiple Buds and then make a fuss..." (271). She becomes aware that she may have changed from a person who got along with most people to a person who has personal prejudices against a certain group. She also does not recognize the moderately courageous woman she was previously when she failed to defend George, one of her good colleagues. Unlike Shepard who felt encouragement and support from the homeless shelter, Ehrenreich felt negativity and constant pressure which led her to abandon her experiment. Ehrenreich encounters twisted situations and cannot find the strength and motivation to get closer to the American dream due to his negative attitude and mindset. On the other hand, Shepard has overcome adversity by keeping his positive attitude and mindset alive. The difference between Ehrenreich and Shepard is their vision of overcoming difficulties with positivity. Shepard took every opportunity to earn at least a penny a day. He despised no job: he worked for hours shoveling dog feces for just minimum wage. His attitude was that any job “would be better than none” (25). He ended each day on a positive note, for example, “I was happy just working” (26). Furthermore, Shepard states that everyone, including women, must work as hard as men to achieve the American dream. However, Ehrenreich implies that women must depend on men for their success. While he was looking for a second job, he refers to his colleagues by saying: "Among my colleagues.