“We'd have our own place where we belonged and not sleep in no bunk house." George, a worker who travels with his friend Lennie, tells him of his American Dream to live on his own ranch. Many people in the 1930s had their own American Dreams, including George and Crooks from John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. George’s dream was to own a farm with Lennie and live a steady life on it. Crooks, a stable buck, dreamed of working on this farm for free. However, both characters needed to approach their dreams with another person, and they were destroyed because they could not. Although the American Dream is an opportunity to acquire happiness, many people cannot achieve it because their dreams require someone to share them with, as George and Crooks
…show more content…
George needed Lennie financially in order for his dream to come true because he could not afford the land for the farm by himself. While planning to buy the land, George says, “Look, if me an’ Lennie work for a month an’ don’t spen’ nothing, we’ll have a hunderd bucks” (Steinbeck 60). Lennie’s money was a major part of the plan, so when he died, it could not be accomplished. With Lennie gone, George did not have enough money to purchase the land, and could therefore not achieve his dream. George also needed to share his dream with Lennie emotionally. The two men had a very strong bond of friendship, so George wanted to own the farm with him, not alone. This is evident when Candy asks to join them on the farm, and George says, “I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves” (Steinbeck 59). Even though Candy would be a major financial help, George’s dream was to be shared with Lennie. He did not just dream of owning his own farm; he dreamed of owning it with his best friend. He needed Lennie emotionally because he wanted to live on the ranch with his friend, and his dream could not be achieved otherwise. George’s American Dream required Lennie both financially and emotionally, and it did not come true because Lennie died, leaving George with no one to share his dream
George needed Lennie financially in order for his dream to come true because he could not afford the land for the farm by himself. While planning to buy the land, George says, “Look, if me an’ Lennie work for a month an’ don’t spen’ nothing, we’ll have a hunderd bucks” (Steinbeck 60). Lennie’s money was a major part of the plan, so when he died, it could not be accomplished. With Lennie gone, George did not have enough money to purchase the land, and could therefore not achieve his dream. George also needed to share his dream with Lennie emotionally. The two men had a very strong bond of friendship, so George wanted to own the farm with him, not alone. This is evident when Candy asks to join them on the farm, and George says, “I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves” (Steinbeck 59). Even though Candy would be a major financial help, George’s dream was to be shared with Lennie. He did not just dream of owning his own farm; he dreamed of owning it with his best friend. He needed Lennie emotionally because he wanted to live on the ranch with his friend, and his dream could not be achieved otherwise. George’s American Dream required Lennie both financially and emotionally, and it did not come true because Lennie died, leaving George with no one to share his dream