Americans strive to achieve the American dream, but fail to realize that it is our own dissatisfaction and anger that hinder us from keeping it alive. John Steinbeck's "Paradox and Dream" describes these paradoxes that persist in the lives of almost all Americans. Steinbeck shows how Americans believe these things, but contradict them with the actions they take or the words they say. It describes how Americans are dissatisfied, angry, and intemperate. John Steinbeck described a negative attitude towards Americans and their ideals by showing how most are dissatisfied and angry, intemperate and opinionated, and believe these certain things about ourselves that are not always true. First, John Steinbeck shows how Americans are dissatisfied and angry with many things in their lives. There is a paradox that states: “We find our time seeking security and hate when we get it.” This shows that whatever Americans want, once they get it, they always seek more. When Americans achieve what they have striven for, they always do everything to be number one. Furthermore, Steinbeck explains how Americans convince themselves that their country has the largest government in the world, but instead we find every little problem and do nothing to change it. Americans say they love government, but when people disagree with something, they complain, get frustrated, and become so opinionated that they don't even bother trying to understand other people's points of view. The American dream is wanted by so many people. They want the perfect house, the perfect family, and the perfect neighborhood. We all want the American dream, but most of us don't even stay in the same house more than five...half a sheet...one foot outside. These myths that Americans believe show how they create high standards for themselves, but do not always meet them. They contradict the myths with the actions actually taken. In "Paradox and Dream", John Steinbeck creates a negative attitude towards the American people and the ideals they have. He uses paradoxes to show how Americans are dissatisfied and frustrated with many things, are only focused on their own opinions and are intemperate, and finally Americans believe in these fairy tales about themselves that are not always true. Anyone who reads “Paradox and Dream” must realize that sometimes people take things for granted. They also need to notice the actions they take to be on top, which isn't fair. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. "Paradox and dream." Paradox and dream. Np, nd Web. November 13. 2013.