The American Dream was a key motivator for men and women during the Great Depression. John Steinbeck portrays this through all of his characters in Of Mice and Men. The theme of dreams is carried throughout the book in many different ways. For example, Bo Grimes states, “He portrays it by letting the dream come within the men’s grasp and then it gets destroyed” (3). John Steinbeck has a specific type of character he depicts in his writing. George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men are a perfect example of this type of character. They are outcasts and do not live in high society which affects their ability to reach their dream. The American dream plays a key role for all the characters in Of Mice and Men; each of the characters has a specific dream; however, this causes some of them to be brought together and others torn apart. George has the biggest dream of all the characters in the book, and even though he is stuck with Lennie, he does not doubt that one day he will reach his dream.He is skeptical of the world. He does not trust it, nor does he trust the people in it. MichealZeitler writes, “More than a dream of land or property or riches even a house of one’s own, George’s vision encompasses a broader range of values—freedom , abundance, fairness, nature, and companionship” (1). George moves from town to town to keep work and save up the money he needs to pursue his dream. He includes Lennie in the vision of his dream because he promises Lennie’s aunt he will take care of
“I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself” (Steinbeck 13). George views his dream of being super practical for the kind of life he lives. Living on his own ranch with Lennie will let him have less of a worry about Lennie making decisions that will put the both of them in jeopardy. Living secluded on their own property will only make life easier.
Since Lennie has a mental deficiency, he doesn’t realize that this will never be able to happen. Over many years, George has found ways to deal with Lennie. Using this example to focus him makes them both happy, even if it is just a dream. This books shows people being untruthful to protect themselves just as much as To Kill A
In John Steinbeck’s classic novel, “Of Mice and Men”, the idea of the “American Dream” is a central theme throughout. This dream, as defined by the main characters, is to one day have enough land to live off of and to be their boss. Steinbeck explores the impossibility and power of this dream through the different experiences of George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife. George, the novel’s protagonist, is the one who constantly speaks of the dream. To him, it’s a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak existence.
Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men tells of the ambitions and works of George and his dull friend Lennie who find work on a farm. The American Dream preaches equal chance for everyone to achieve prosperity and happiness, while this simply is not true for the characters. By the use of repetition of ideas and dialogue, Steinbeck conveys how social and physical inequalities impede the American dream for minorities of the Great Depression. The repetition of the characters’ goal of getting their own house, reveals the characters ambitious nature.
In a recent poll conducted by PBS, results showed that nearly half of Americans who once believed in the American dream thought that it didn’t exist anymore. This portrayal that the American dream no longer exists or is not easily attained is shown in the novel “Of Mice and Men,” written by John Steinbeck. The book focuses on a dependent relationship between two characters. George is a very smart man, but struggles with companionship. Whereas Lennie is a very dumb man, that thrives with making friends.
The initial paragraphs of John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men introduces Lennie and George, two men living on the road, in search of a job. Both men have dreams of their own and depend on each other in order to achieve them. George takes care of Lennie, who is mentally incapable, while Lennie provides company to George. These men wander around hoping to achieve the American Dream. They continue to go after it, without realizing that they will never be able to obtain it.
The American Dream The American dream is the desire of all most all the characters in the novella Of Mice and Men. This is shown in many ways in many kinds of dreams whether it be becoming Rich and famous or just having the means to survive on their own each character has their own American dream. The first example of the american dream would be George 's dream. George wanted nothing more than to own his own farm and survive off of the land with Lennie which is shown in this quote “we’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof ...”
Everyone aspires to achieve the American Dream: an opportunity to be successful by working hard. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the American Dream brings hope for a better life to those who hold on to it. George Milton and Lennie Smalls, traveling ranch workers called bindle stiffs, dream of owning their own piece of land where they can create the rules. However, they are not the only characters with hopes and dreams. Steinbeck shows the American Dream is, in fact, sometimes only a dream through the hopes and actions of Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife.
Everyone aspires to achieve the American Dream: an opportunity to be successful by working hard. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the American Dream brings hope for a better life for those who hold onto it. George Milton and Lennie Smalls, traveling ranch workers called bindle stiffs, dream of owning their own piece of land where they create the rules. They are not the only characters with hopes and dreams. But Steinbeck shows the American Dream is, in fact, sometimes just a dream through the hopes and actions of Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife.
Of Mice and Men’s American Dream 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.
"Lennie said quietly, "It ain 't no lie. We 're gonna do it. Gonna get a little place an ' live on the fatta the lan '.” This is quoted numerous times throughout the book, this is what they want to do with their lives and work towards it. George wants to stop working for everyone else and have his own place where he has a say in how to do things.
Of Mice and Men Dreams help motivate people to keep moving forward with a goal in their life. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie travel together as migrant workers through California looking for a job. Their dream is to own their own ranch after finding a job that pays well. But impossible from the challenges that they gain along the way. The dreams in the novel affects the characters lives on how they feel towards one another, and themselves.
We see that all of these characters and their situations depict that a dream of an American is not always possible. Steinbeck shows that the unrealized dream was a major part of life in the 1930s and in the book Of Mice and
America is the land of freedom and opportunity and there are few barriers to success. Of Mice and Men, published in 1937, depicts Lennie and George, two migrant farm workers striving towards, what would seem to be, a common dream of owning a house and some land. Lennie, as a character, symbolizes the imperfection in humanity that Steinbeck
In conclusion, to express that the american dream is impossible Steinbeck used conversation, conflicts, and events. Throughout of mice and men George and Lennie got into many situations where they felt scared , worried, and angry. Together the plan was to get the money to live in a small place, tend to the rabbits and alpha so they are happy. But things happen such as George killing Lennie that make the american dream impossible to achieve.