# What The American Dream and Hardship means in Stover at Yale

> Characters like Tom Regan embody the struggle for upward mobility through hard work and self-reliance, highlighting the contrast between privilege and the grit required to overcome economic and social barriers.

## Explanation

Characters like Tom Regan embody the struggle for upward mobility through hard work and self-reliance, highlighting the contrast between privilege and the grit required to overcome economic and social barriers.

Swazey's story of earning his way from age twelve, working odd jobs across the country, and building a business embodies the American Dream.

The American Dream and Hardship is one of the patterns Stover at Yale by Owen Johnson returns to. The chapter notes above are from this edition’s companions — open those chapters to see how the book stages the idea rather than treating the theme as a slogan.

## Links

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