Of Mice And Men: The American Dream

“The negative side of the American Dream comes when people pursue success at any cost, which in turn destroys the vision and the dream.” ㅡ Azar Nafisi. Many Americans have tried to pursue their dream but have failed in doing so. Of Mice and Men is a book about two people, George and Lennie, trying to pursue their dream in Salinas, California. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the death of the American Dream is exemplified through George and Lennie’s obliviousness.

Countless psychological studies show the truth: hope, dreams, and goals are the psychological vehicles driving success. In Of Mice and Men, the dream is to leave the life of work and travel behind and live on a ranch, in War Dance, the goal is to do well at the national music competition, and in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Walter Mitty hopes for a more interesting life in a series of daydreams, to ultimately find that he has been living the true daydream. Hope, dreams, and goals allowed the people portrayed, fictional or not, to strive for more. Hopes, dreams, and goals allow people to increase their motivation, perform better, and seek new concepts.

When striving for the American dream, there are many things that must be sacrificed along the way. Many things that must be understood, one of them being the fact that the dream could very well be impossible, and the work ethic that must be used to reach the dream. These are things that all of the characters in Of Mice and Men have to go through, along with every single one of

John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930’s, in the Salinas Valley, California. It establishes the prospect of the American Dream, discrimination,loneliness, and disenfranchisement through its characters. George and Lennie provided the value of the American Dream, to which the leading female role, Curley’s wife, represents how women are exempt from the American Dream, and appeared as less than equal to men. She developed a form of loneliness throughout the course of the novel. The novella seeks to demonstrate the way of which life was like for the characters of all different statuses and backgrounds. Through Curley’s wife’s character, we are able to see how life was like for a women during

Many of best-seller books have been directed to become movies. In this case, the film version of the novel Of Mice and Men was published in 1937 where the era of Depression had its presence. The movie, directed by Gary Sinise, (also acted as George) was adopted in 1992. In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie were considered as “family” and portrayed as nomads because of working at different ranches. George and Lennie anticipated owning their own farm, but since Lennie suffocated Curley’s wife, (the boss’s daughter-in-law) their dreams have been ruined. Steinbeck’s original novel is mostly diminished when compared and contrasted with the 1992 film version because of the portrayals of Curley’s wife and Lennie.

During the Great Depression, many unemployed workers moved to California to look for work on the ranches. This was because they had a dream to become successful, which is also called “the American dream”. In John Steinbeck’s book Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie, the two main protagonists, worked on a ranch chasing the american dream just like many other americans who dreamt of becoming successful. They tried to save money to buy their own land and live a life where they were successful. However, they never accomplished that, and like many others, did not realize they would never accomplish it. Steinbeck portrays the american dream through motif and irony to show that chasing the american dream leads to poor judgement of reality.

The ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Also known as the American Dream, is a hope of many Americans. In the book Of Mice and Men they show their dearest desire to find it. However the struggle of the 30’s, may come as a surprise.

This novel talks about the life in America during those times back in 1937 how many people struggled to live. Many people during those days lost their jobs. There was no welfare state or unemployment benefit. Disabled or old people had to depend on their families or charity and keep working for as long as they could. Everyone was so competitive in order to get a job. Men became ruthless while fighting for the limited jobs and resources. It talks about how a cruel world and work makes men cruel.

For exactly 240 years, America has been dependent upon a single concept that formulates its very foundation: The American Dream. Throughout generations of history, the validity of the American Dream constantly fluctuates, and every single fluctuation drastically affects American citizens, an effect that is crucial to the success of the United States. Without such a foundation, the qualities of America are eventually undermined and the American Dream dissipates for millions of hard workers attempting to earn the right of egalitarianism, such as George and Lennie during the Great Depression. In John Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men", the American Dream is effectively portrayed through dynamic characterization, character relationships, and symbolism.

Steinbeck uses the novella Of Mice and Men to communicate the message that the American Dream is too far fetched of a dream to set one’s mind solely on. The reason Steinbeck thinks that lofty dreams shouldn’t be the sole goal of humans was meant to communicate that people should always have a backup plan for everything as the best plans usually fall

Curley and his wife’s relationship are all about power and hurting other people and is a loveless marriage. Curley married her because of her beauty and to get higher social status. He also sees his wife as his own personal item as he often accuses the workers at the ranch of being with his wife. Curley’s wife was a woman full of dreams and wanted to get more out of life. However as the man who promised her of an acting career and fame left her, making her accuse her mom and therefore married Curley to get revenge on her mom the same night she saw him. Just after few weeks of their marriage she released that it was a horrible marriage and a mistake which she couldn’t get out of. Therefore she uses her little power to show off to the other workers.

Curley’s wife is relatively powerless, however she uses her sexual power or power of gender to get what she wants. Curley’s wife is lonely in her home. She is supposed to sit there alone while Curley checks on everything at the ranch. Instead, she walks around the ranch, flirting with every man she finds slightly attractive. She talks to Lennie, and because he finds her pretty, he stares and is fascinated by her. He cannot recognize that she means trouble, so he continues to talk to her and admire her. Curley’s wife wants

I think that Steinbeck, the writer, developed his theme in many ways. Many people believe that the theme is friendship, but friendship in this book results from loneliness. I believe that the theme of Steinbeck’s novel is that loneliness is the worst way to live. Evidence can back my claim through the examples of Candy’s reaction to his dog’s death and Curley’s wife’s persona.

Seclusion haunts the characters in Of Mice and Men. Crooks yearns for a companion. Although Candy is surrounded by relationships, he aches from isolation. Curley’s wife desires amity instead of loneliness. Numerous characters in Of Mice and Men-- Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife-- are isolated.

Of mice and men is a prominent book read by most high school students for a long time. Of mice and men is a book written by John Steinbeck. In the book George and Lennie had to run out of weed, so they looked for a ranch to work on. Lennie had issues with liking soft things that lead to him killing Curley's’ Wife and a puppy. To express that the american dream is impossible to achieve Steinbeck uses conversations, conflicts, and events.