In the novel Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane, one of the main characters, Maggie, falls madly in love with Pete, a working-class man. Her fall from a life in the slums into prostitution and her death stem from her romantic hope of jumping social classes with Pete's help. His actions highlight the danger of believing in the myth of social mobility within the American dream. Nowadays, many working-class individuals in the United States see college as a way to magically improve their social standing. While these individuals are strongly encouraged to attend college and improve their lives, this is not the most appropriate choice for everyone. One of the main themes of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is that it is dangerous for people to rely on escape from their lives. social classes as a means to improve their lives. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to the harsh and unfavorable lifestyle of Maggie's family. In an attempt to escape his cruel reality, he gets a job in a sweatshop (956???). However, as she explores working-class leisure activities with Pete, she discovers that this may not be the right choice for her. Maggie “…imagined herself, in a maddening future, as a thin woman with an eternal grudge” (963). She realizes that her little attempt to get out of her situation won't quickly get her to where she wants to be in life. As she is fascinated by all that Pete and the working class lifestyle could give her, she thinks back to the sweatshop and all the other women who work there. This image is enough to make Maggie decide that she needs to find another way to escape the slums, which leads her to quit her job early and... middle of paper... what the individuals of the class should do worker. take into consideration when thinking about going to college. When I was exposed to the topic of how dangerous it can be to believe in the myth of social mobility surrounding the American dream, I wondered why I ended up in college. Even though I believe it's in my best interest to be here, I think more people need to understand that it's actually not for everyone. Even though I'm here to earn a degree and get a job I love, other people may not have the same aspirations as me. Because we all have different goals in life, I believe that young adults, especially working-class adults, should not feel as much pressure to attend college. We all have different goals and passions and if college doesn't help someone achieve theirs, they should be able to stay where they are and not be castigated by society.