Beyulah Anderson
Lit/Comp I/II Per 1
5/31
American Dream Argumentative Essay
The common theme of The American Dream is explored much in American literature as it exploits all that is unachievable and still greatly sought after. Examples in which the American Dream is explored most thoroughly are The Great Gatsby, Of Mice And Men, and To Kill A Mockingbird. Each of these novels have their own unique interpretation of the American Dream, that is significant and reflective of the time it took place. From the Roaring 20s to the Great Depression, the American ideals changed greatly to compensate for the expansive poverty and hunger that ravished the once thriving country after the devastating stock market crash in 1929. The American Dream changes …show more content…
This is because the main characters, George and Lennie strive against all odds to be completely self-sufficient on their own plot of land, although in the end fail to do so. Their failure left both characters unfulfilled and deeply saddened, leading to loss of hope and the death of Lennie at the end of the novel. During the 1930s the Great Depression hit people hard, jobs were scarce and people were struggling just to survive. The idea of having one's own land, was extremely difficult to achieve. During the course of the novel George seems to realize more and more how unachievable their dream truly is, Steinbeck hints at this when he wrote “An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An' have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George." This quote shows how their “dream” could be compared to a children's bedtime story for Lennie, George knows how unrealistic it is and seems to get a better understanding of this as the story progresses. Of Mice and Men does not portray the idea of the American Dream as well as The Great Gatsby because
Lit/Comp I/II Per 1
5/31
American Dream Argumentative Essay
The common theme of The American Dream is explored much in American literature as it exploits all that is unachievable and still greatly sought after. Examples in which the American Dream is explored most thoroughly are The Great Gatsby, Of Mice And Men, and To Kill A Mockingbird. Each of these novels have their own unique interpretation of the American Dream, that is significant and reflective of the time it took place. From the Roaring 20s to the Great Depression, the American ideals changed greatly to compensate for the expansive poverty and hunger that ravished the once thriving country after the devastating stock market crash in 1929. The American Dream changes …show more content…
This is because the main characters, George and Lennie strive against all odds to be completely self-sufficient on their own plot of land, although in the end fail to do so. Their failure left both characters unfulfilled and deeply saddened, leading to loss of hope and the death of Lennie at the end of the novel. During the 1930s the Great Depression hit people hard, jobs were scarce and people were struggling just to survive. The idea of having one's own land, was extremely difficult to achieve. During the course of the novel George seems to realize more and more how unachievable their dream truly is, Steinbeck hints at this when he wrote “An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An' have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George." This quote shows how their “dream” could be compared to a children's bedtime story for Lennie, George knows how unrealistic it is and seems to get a better understanding of this as the story progresses. Of Mice and Men does not portray the idea of the American Dream as well as The Great Gatsby because