Final answer:
Wilson in the text represents The American Dream, entailing the opportunity for success through hard work, supporting the functionalist view of society enabling individual prosperity. The American Dream is foundational in American ideology, even though it has been challenged and reshaped by economic and historical events.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the text, Wilson represents D) The American Dream. The American Dream was founded on the principle of opportunity, where hard work and commitment could result in prosperity and success, irrespective of social class or circumstance of birth. This is often encapsulated by the ability to achieve greater prosperity through hard work, which lines up with the sociological theory of functionalism, suggesting that society functions so all its members have an opportunity to succeed. While this dream was challenged during the economic recession and unemployment rise, the underlying notion remains core to American values.
Although not directly mentioned in the portion of the text provided, it's essential to understand how the American Dream and its association with the pursuit of liberty, equality, and opportunities for wealth acquisition have shaped the country's ideals. The Bill of Rights, although guaranteeing numerous freedoms, does not specifically mention the right to education, underscoring the aspiration over the guarantee of success via formal schooling.
Functionalism perceives education as a means to serve the needs of the family, society, and the individual, tying into the greater theme of social structures contributing to the possibility of realizing the American Dream. Lastly, it's important to note the complexity and the dynamic nature of American identity and the American Dream, especially through tribulations like World War I and the aforementioned recession. These events have tested and reshaped what it means to work towards and achieve the American Dream.