The Impossibility of the American Dream Michael Bloomberg, an American Politician, states, “This is the city of dreamers and time and again it's the place where the greatest dream of all, the American dream, has been tested and has triumphed.” John Steinbeck, author of Of Mice and Men, believes the American Dream to be otherwise. Steinbeck writes the novel during The Great Depression, just when American Citizens and Immigrants begin to loose hope in the American Dream. He writes of two displaced ranch workers, George and Lennie. George is a quick-witted man, who travels with and cares for Lennie. On the other hand, Lennie is the complete opposite of George; he is innocent. Due to his mental disability, he is completely dependent on George.
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Workers like Lennie and George are considered to be the loneliest guys in the world who have no one to care for or to care for them. Lennie is often convinced by this and asks George to tell him about the ranch they will one day own and how they would finish with this miserable job of theirs. George who isn’t very optimistic about this farm of theirs, likes to keep the dream confided between him and Lennie. A time in particular would be when Lennie is told by Slim to leave the puppies in the barn alone. Lennie, who obviously is offended by this, asks George to reassure him of the ranch they will one day own. George comforts Lennie by saying that he knows of “a little place we can get cheap” (56). Candy, the old ranch hand, who assumingly ease drops into the conversation, “turned slowly over. His eyes were wide open. He watched George carefully.” (56). At this time, Steinbeck gives us a hint of the impossibility of the American Dream. Candy seems to be shocked by the fact that George has his eyes set on a cheap piece of land. When George goes further on, describing the piece of land and all the different types of produce that can be grown there; Candy pops up the big question: “You know where’s a place like that?” (59). At this point, we truly see the main purpose of Steinbeck’s novel, the impossibility of the American Dream. Candy is amused by the fact that George knows of …show more content…
He describes his life on the ranch, as a way to escape from his insecurity. When Lennie is left alone on the ranch with Crooks, he confronts the nigger and immediately reveals to him about their dream farm. When Lennie first mentions about him getting to tend the rabbits, Crooks goes berserk and says: “Jus’ nuts…I don’t blame the guy you travel with for keepin’ you outta sight.” (69). He questions Lennie’s mental illness, claiming it to be the reason Lennie is making such an absurd statement. Lennie, who isn’t discouraged by Crook’s claim against him, continues on to say that it is no lie and that they already have a land set for them to buy, once they raise some money. At this point, Crooks shines the truth of the American Dream on Lennie, and says: “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches… an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of em’ ever gets it.” (74). At this point, Steinbeck truly brings out his view of the American Dream. How people come to America, with their dreams of owning a land and being their own boss, but never actually achieving it. Crooks tends to fall under this spell of theirs for a short period of time, but soon realizes that Lennie and George are of the many ranch workers who have their
Workers like Lennie and George are considered to be the loneliest guys in the world who have no one to care for or to care for them. Lennie is often convinced by this and asks George to tell him about the ranch they will one day own and how they would finish with this miserable job of theirs. George who isn’t very optimistic about this farm of theirs, likes to keep the dream confided between him and Lennie. A time in particular would be when Lennie is told by Slim to leave the puppies in the barn alone. Lennie, who obviously is offended by this, asks George to reassure him of the ranch they will one day own. George comforts Lennie by saying that he knows of “a little place we can get cheap” (56). Candy, the old ranch hand, who assumingly ease drops into the conversation, “turned slowly over. His eyes were wide open. He watched George carefully.” (56). At this time, Steinbeck gives us a hint of the impossibility of the American Dream. Candy seems to be shocked by the fact that George has his eyes set on a cheap piece of land. When George goes further on, describing the piece of land and all the different types of produce that can be grown there; Candy pops up the big question: “You know where’s a place like that?” (59). At this point, we truly see the main purpose of Steinbeck’s novel, the impossibility of the American Dream. Candy is amused by the fact that George knows of …show more content…
He describes his life on the ranch, as a way to escape from his insecurity. When Lennie is left alone on the ranch with Crooks, he confronts the nigger and immediately reveals to him about their dream farm. When Lennie first mentions about him getting to tend the rabbits, Crooks goes berserk and says: “Jus’ nuts…I don’t blame the guy you travel with for keepin’ you outta sight.” (69). He questions Lennie’s mental illness, claiming it to be the reason Lennie is making such an absurd statement. Lennie, who isn’t discouraged by Crook’s claim against him, continues on to say that it is no lie and that they already have a land set for them to buy, once they raise some money. At this point, Crooks shines the truth of the American Dream on Lennie, and says: “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches… an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of em’ ever gets it.” (74). At this point, Steinbeck truly brings out his view of the American Dream. How people come to America, with their dreams of owning a land and being their own boss, but never actually achieving it. Crooks tends to fall under this spell of theirs for a short period of time, but soon realizes that Lennie and George are of the many ranch workers who have their