Looking for a work that deals with the topic "ideal"

[brovakhiin]

Hi. I hope this is the right place to ask.

I am looking for literature where I can find something on the idea of "ideals". Ideal as in, the things one might hope to achieve or obtain as opposed to reality.

I know I'm being a bit vague, I just need some literature I can work with for a school project on the topic of "reality and ideal" in book xy.

If anyone has any ideas I would be grateful. I have scoured the internet and found nothing to work with.

Thanks.

[bounty]

first thing that came to mind is "death of a saleman" by Arthur miller and to a lesser extent, "the bluest eye" by toni Morrison.

the premises being the "ideal" American dream---success in the first instance, beauty in the latter.

and in the rare case she would ever read this, the content above comes totally from a friend of mine's master's thesis.

[PeachSodaLover]

Nietzsche

[AuntShecky]

Utopia by Sir Thomas More, not to mention the original concept of the Ideal in Plato's dialogues.