Final answer:
The representation of greed and the corruption of humans for material wealth in literature and the post-Reconstruction era typically symbolizes the decline of the American Dream. This concept is exemplified by the Gilded Age, where apparent prosperity masked deep social issues and the erosion of equal opportunity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering what the representation of greed or the corruption of humans for material wealth symbolizes in literature and history, particularly with reference to the post-Reconstruction American Dream, it is typically associated with the decline of the American Dream (Option A).
The term 'Gilded Age,' coined by Mark Twain, refers to an era when rapid industrial growth and material wealth were abundant, yet these riches often masked the underlying social issues, such as inequality and the exploitation of workers.
This era saw the height of what Twain was criticizing—a society ostensibly rich and successful but morally compromised and implicitly in a state of decline. With this in mind, the symbolism of greed in the story aligns with concerns about the erosion of the American Dream, where the equal opportunity to achieve success is overshadowed by unchecked industrialization and capitalism that benefits only a small elite at the expense of the broader population.