When American Dreams CollideWhen life has constraints and restrictions, conspicuous consumption may not be the appropriate thing to do. As stated in the online dictionary, it can be defined as spending or consuming luxury goods on a large scale in an attempt to increase one's prestige. In other words, objects and materials such as clothes, cars, and houses are pieces of materialistic matter that can give you greater influence. The American Dream might best be defined as equal opportunity for all. The American Dream might also be better defined as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This was given in the Declaration of Independence, which are inalienable acts that cannot be revoked. There are different types of versions of the American dream. In Vonnegut's story “Harrison Bergeron” there is a society that is oppressed and molded into this incomplete way of thinking, so it looks at the American dream through a glass ceiling. In Fitzgerald's story “The Great Gatsby” the American is more obtainable and realistic. They can spend, no one has to be equal and equality is not something that is forced. Speaking of inalienable deeds that cannot be taken away we have the story “Harrison Bergeron” which talks about West Egg being the part of town belonging to the “nouveau riche”, or people who have recently acquired their assets. On the other hand, East Egg is the part of town where the new money is, that is, the people who have money from generation to generation. People with new money, which are the West Eggers, don't know exactly how to spend their money. They spend it foolishly like Gatsby, who spends his wealth throwing parties and inviting people over without even really knowing them. East Eggers, on the other hand, would be people of bad taste who believe that money can make you happy, and with it you will never be happy..