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The American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Better Essays

The American classic, Of Mice and Men is a novella written and published by John Steinbeck in 1937. In being labelled as a “must-read” by the New York Times, it has notoriously received a Nobel Price for Literature. Set in the dusty town of Soledad, California, the story follows a vagabond pair of friends in search of work. The life of George and his handicapped friend, Lennie, have little connection or worth, despite being driven by the hope of owning their dream farm. The importance of the “American Dream” is highlighted as a key theme in Of Mice in Men, however through the central characters in the novella, Steinbeck positions his audience to respond to the idea that achieving this dream is impossible. Among most characters in of Mice and Men, some form of dream or ambition is mentioned, George and Lennie's being the most central, naturally. However, the desires of other characters like Curley’s wife and Crooks’ also come into light. As it’s revealed that none of these dreams are ever achieved, inevitably the depressing message that “dreams are meant to be dreamt, not fulfilled” is conveyed to the audience.

The dream of George and Lennie’s is seemingly the most important, not only is it the main focus of the plot, but their infectious optimism influences both surrounding characters and the reader. Owning a portion of land in the 1930’s, is no easy feat. The great depression has allowed only the wealthy to own property, which demonstrates a high level of social status

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