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

One night when George goes out with the other men he leaves Lennie alone to play with his pup when he wanders into Crook’s room. Even though the majority of the time Crooks plays mind games with Lennie he ends up expressing his dream of equality. At this time period black people are still heavily discriminated against which effects how others treat him and how he accepts others. "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me." (Steinbeck ___). Even though Crooks is just like all the other men on the farm he is still viewed in a negative way because of his skin colour. Afterwards, Crooks begins to describe his child hood discrimination does not exist and giving him a sense of

The American Dream is a concept that one may use as a crutch: a reason to hold on to hope. The American Dream is a goal one sets for themselves, a destination point for their journey through life. The novel Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck is filled with the idea of the American Dream. However, Steinbeck has a controversial and differing message about dreams than one would normally think. John Steinbeck’s comment on the American Dream is that most dreams are unachievable. People aren’t meant to live out their dreams.

It is the natural inclination of all men and women to dream. In John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men,” the American dream is sought after by many different characters. However, the main theme in the story is how these dreams are unattainable, and how because of the Great Depression, all American dreams were dead. But what is the American dream? A unitary definition does not exist, however, the meaning of living the American dream is something that differs for everyone. For some people, the American dream might be acceptance and equality. On the other hand, for others, it might mean fame and fortune. In the short story called “Of Mice and Men” the American dream seems unreachable for a number of characters, such as George, Lennie,

A twenty-five percent unemployment rate. People desperate for lodging and food. Families stretching every penny to support themselves. Government trying to solve these problems through reforms and programs. This is what the world in the 1930s was like for Lennie and George, two migrant workers traveling across California, earnestly trying to achieve the American Dream. Even though these dreams seem impossible to accomplish, during the Great Depression a dream was a reason to get out of bed.

If there was a favorable circumstance under which one could endeavour all their hopes and visions, wouldn’t one pursue it? The American Dream was introduced as an interpretation to cause the people of America in the early twentieth century to work tougher. The American Dream is the opportunity to reach the goals one sets for themselves. It is about having your dream job and life one has always fantasized about. The dream is also about having freedom and equality. In the novel, “Of Mice & Men”, John Steinbeck uses symbols and motifs such as the vicious slaughtering of virtuous animals, Crooks’ rubbish bunkhouse and Lennie and George’s deception of an ideal farm to exhibit the perception that materialistic success results in happiness is a major flaw in our thinking about the American dream, and it is this thinking which makes the dream unattainable for many.

Crooks the stable hand at the ranch that George and Lennie come to work at. Crooks has an American Dream just like George and Lennie. Crooks is African American so during this time period some people at the ranch are discriminating against him because of his race. “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (p.81). Even though Crooks supposed to be free from all discrimination people still haven’t changed. Crooks someday dreams of playing cards with the other fellows at the ranch but mostly he wants to be equal. “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black...A guy needs somebody-to be near him” (p.72). Crooks wants to be treated just like the other people on the ranch. He’s not allowed in the bunkhouse because of his race. Crooks has been forced to sleep alone, away from the other workers on the ranch who sleep and play cards together in the bunkhouse. “‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black” (p.68). The dream of all becoming equal is very common with many African Americans during this time period. Curley’s Wife also discriminating Crooks. “You know what I could do to you if you open up your trap” (p.80). Every time Crooks stands up for himself he just gets pushed over and never really acknowledged. Crooks also threatened by Curley's wife. She’s nearly at the bottom of the pile in the leadership of the ranch, but she still has power over Crooks. Crooks dreams that there will be a place and time where people won’t judge people by the color of their skin. Even though Crooks has a great American dream in mind he’s likely to not complete his dream. The Boss and Curley have shown that they do not trust Crooks at

The most important dream in this novel is that of the two main characters Lennie and George. They

Steinbeck incorporates the theme of the American Dream, an expression used to represent wanted success, throughout his story Of Mice and Men as he provides glimpses of the dreams of many characters. Towards the end of the novel, the fact is that each of the characters “American Dream” is just that, a dream, which is unattainable. In short, Steinbeck portrays his position of the unrealistic desires for untarnished happiness through the dreams of Candy, Curley’s Wife, and Crooks in Of Mice and Men.

In today’s society, many dream of becoming rich and successful, similar to many people during the Great Depression. The American Dream is the idea that every individual can receive wealth and prosperity due to their hard work and determination. In the novel, Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie are best friends, facing the challenges of the Great Depression by working on a ranch in the Salinas Valley. As Lennie copes with the struggles of the era, he stays focused on his dreams and constantly has a positive mindset, which shows the American Dream can give hope even in the hardest times.

Thesis: Through Curley’s wife, George and Lennie, and Crooks; Steinbeck demonstrates that dreams may go askew in the face of greater forces. Dreams prove ultimately harmful for those delegated to the margins of society. Crooks’ dream of not being in isolation represents powerlessness in the face of racial discrimination. As Lennie enter Crooks room, Crooks tries to apprehend him but gives in and lets him stay.

Women during this time period were only supposed to be in the house doing chores. Curley’s wife had more expectations. In her future she wanted to be a Hollywood star. As she grew up reality caught up with her. She got married and society only saw her doing household chores. In every man’s mind, women did the chores while they work. Curley’s wife’s dream suddenly went down the drain. Curley never paid her any attention and that’s when she started getting flirty with the ranchhands. All the ranchhands saw her as a slut, but all she wanted was to be noticed. She was lonely and wanted to socialize. She wanted someone to hear about her dream, but no one would. Society had it set that women were in charge of the house and only the house. They weren’t supposed to be out and about making big names for themselves. That’s why Curley’s wife’s dreams never came true. She was outcasted based on her

George is more realistic than Lennie in believing it may not happen, and it could be just a fairy tale but he continues to keep the dream alive because it is what makes Lennie happy, and keeps George from being mean. George never hesitates to repeat to him that “one day they will save enough money to buy their own small farm, where they can ' 'live off the fatta of the land, and have rabbits.” (Steinbeck 14) George repeating the story to Lennie over and over is one of Steinbeck’s way of showing how much Lennie means to George. At first, readers may believe that George only keeps Lennie around because he has to, but deep down George genuinely cares for Lennie. As you read throughout the story, the amount that George cares for Lennie gets more and more prominent. "With us it ain 't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don 't have to sit in no bar room blowin ' in our jack jus ' because we got no place else to go. If the other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us." (Steinbeck 14) George often talks about their future and past together as if he and Lennie will always stick together, no matter what. Lennie is unaware of the problems he creates for George, he believes that “we will never be lonely because we will always have each other” (Steinbeck 6) Steinbeck uses characterization by developing each character to be weak without

When we try to chase our dreams, we end up in our own diminutive lonely world. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, has taught readers that the American dream can only ever be accomplished through hard work and determination. More times than others, we are distracted by the dream itself, and don’t chase the reality, which can then lead to high expectations, and without hard determination, that can then failure. In the end, we have been lonely for so long, chasing a dream, that when reality hits us, we become isolated and lonely. For George and Lennie, they have each other, until the American dream seemed too hard to chase.

Steinbeck’s development of the American Dream motif highlights the theme that the American Dream is an illusion during this time of the Great Depression. Most of the characters in Of Mice and Men admit, at one point or another, to dreaming about their American Dream in a different life. Before the death of Curley's wife we learn that she had always dreamt of being in the “pitchers”. She describes her run in with one of the performers as “ He says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it” (88). Expressing her enthusiasm of being so close to attaining that dream. However, her dream is crushed when her O’lady supposedly takes the letter making the American Dream yet and illusion to her in the end. Furthermore when Candy and the other workers are in the bunkhouse Candy overhears Lennie and George conversing about the farm they are going to buy. Candy becomes immediately intrigued as “His eyes were wide

According to President Woodrow Wilson, “Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.” In Of Mice and Men, George Milton and Lennie Smalls learn what it actually means to be loyal through their quest to achieve the American Dream. In the story, two migrant workers known by George and Lennie strive to get their own farm, by working on various ranches. On one particular ranch, George and Slim, a strong and thoughtful leader, quickly become friends and talk about why George and Lennie left their old ranch. George also meets Candy, an old swamper, and Candy offers to join their quest to obtain their own farm. Candy is able to contribute a significant sum of money, making the dream finally a reality. Soon after, Curley's reckless attitude and Curley's wife's flirtatious personality sparks a skirmish between Lennie and Curley, where Lennie crushes Curley’s hand. While Curley is getting treatment for his hand, Lennie and Candy converse with Crooks, an African American stable buck. The next day, while the rest of the workers are playing horseshoes, Lennie and Curley’s wife talk in the barn. Curley’s wife invites Lennie to touch her hair, which results in Lennie shaking her too hard and snapping her neck. Lennie flees from the scene and hides in a brush next to the river. Candy finds Curley’s wife’s body, and the men create a search party to kill Lennie. George parts from the group and finds Lennie hiding. While George comforts Lennie