The American Dream In John Steinbeck's Novel 'Of Mice And Men'

Superior Essays
Ysabela Cabrera Chen Of Mice and Men Essay 5/10/18 Period 4

In John Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men" an imperative topic is the inconceivability of accomplishing the American dream. Numerous characters are made up for lost time inside this subject, this at last supposedly is a deception. For instance George, Lennie and Confection all have the fantasy is to possess their own land parcel to work and live autonomously on. This fantasy is pulverized by Lennie's passing because of his numbness and mental shortcoming, which he can't control. Another illustration is Convicts who dreams for balance. He was guaranteed uniformity inside Lennie and George's fantasy, on the homestead however prejudice
…show more content…
However Lennie's fantasy likewise incorporates that of rabbits, "I recall about the rabbits, George", which he discusses continually, "To hellfire with the rabbits. That is whatever you can ever recollect is them rabbits." (p. 107)

Steinbeck demonstrated Lennie's want for the rabbits as it reinforced the vision of the fantasy inside ourselves, the peruses, as it pulled on the puerile piece of ourselves. Helping us to
Cabrera 2 remember what it resembled when we were youthful, uninformed and credulous. In spite of the fact that the two characters have differentiating identities they share a shared objective, to "live off the fatta the lan'", (p. 78) from various perspectives, Lennie finishes George. They require each other in their lives to
…show more content…
This strengthens the way that the fantasy with never have the capacity to be achieved as regardless of what George does with Lennie he won't have the capacity to achieve the fantasy of owning his own particular land. The fantasy that George and Lennie always discuss bids to both confection and Hooligans who are limited to working under the homestead under the weakening states of incapacity. The two men need to join the fantasy urgently and Treat offers his life's funds, Evildoers his free administration, to be separated of the fantasy. When he offers his sharing of the fantasy, Hooligans denies it because of his acknowledgment that he will never have the capacity to achieve the fantasy as a result of his race and others demeanors toward him and the fantasy. Criminals is appeared as an intense man however for a minute he enables himself to envision the dream of tending a fix of garden on Lennie's ranch one day. However the adventure in Steinbeck composes George and Lennie taking, which at last leaves Lennie dead disastrously demonstrates Law breakers right; that a fantasy like theirs has no place in a world in which they live, one with hardship, destitution and bad form which strengthens

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Lennie's favorite pastimes is to pet anything that's is soft like rabbit's fur and mice. "What mouse, George?" I ain't got no mouse," and," I wasn't doin' anything bad with it, George. Jus' strokin' it" (Steinbeck 8) At certain times in the novel George lets Lennie know that he would have a much better life if he had never met him,"God a' mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy."…

    • 1649 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, the author depicts underlying literary elements to help enhance the reader’s understanding of dissimilar characters. During the novel, two main characters are followed in their search for their American Dream. Lennie, who is portrayed as powerful, unintelligent man, is only sought after as a good workman. George, who is depicted as Lennie’s companion and caretaker, sometimes is seen as burdened by Lennie’s unintelligible demand. George is deemed morally responsible for Lennie’s actions, which continually are not very excusable ones.…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Of Mice and Men: Unaccomplished American Dreams The book Of Mice and Men really hits on the idea of the American dream and in this case the main characters, George and Lennie’, dream. The dream consisted of George and Lennie owning their own ranch with rabbits for Lennie and extra acres of land for others who wanted to share it with them. Characters like Candy and Crooks dream of having their own farms too. Many can argue that death is the main reason that the dream failed and that is not totally true.…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Among the principal aspects of human nature is that to seek companionship; it’s what sets us apart from the beasts of the world, acting for the best of others even when personal gain may be notably absent. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, depicts the plight of two migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Smalls, as they struggle through the 1930’s Great Depression working on a ranch. Throughout the novel, George and Lennie encounter challenges that test their friendship, and the goals they set for themselves. Among analyses of the novel, a common discussion is if George finishes the novel as a hero, or a simple commoner, another victim of the Great Depression. Despite criticism of George for his manipulation of Lennie and his eventual murder of his friend, George is a hero because of the companionship he provides and creates at…

    • 1432 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    John Steinbeck 's Of Mice and Men In the novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck establishes an evident contrast between the individual men who work on the ranch and lead solitary lives, and the two main characters, George and Lennie, who function as a family unit and share a common dream. Steinbeck effectively develops the theme of loneliness and alienation through the use of other characters as representations of minorities. The theme is used as motivation for many of the character’s actions. This leads up to the novels ironic resolution that may be viewed as a suggestion of Steinbeck’s philosophy about life and living.…

    • 1229 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Unfulfilled American Dream “We may come from different places and have different stories, but we share common hopes, and one very American dream,” Barack Obama once stated. This quote agrees particularly to Of Mice and Men in the sense of the workers on the ranch wishing for their own place to call home. George, Lennie, Candy, and Crooks all have different backgrounds and past experiences, but share the same dream to buy a farmhouse with the money they earn. In his novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck insinuates dreams give people the hope and strength to survive the struggles in life; however they do not always end in ultimate happiness.…

    • 1074 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    (107) A tragic ending of Lennie’s life, but it was necessary for the continuation of George’s life as a worker. Their view of the ideal farm life turned out to be a false dream and…

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The theme of a story is an idea the author wishes to convey to the readers. It can be expressed directly in the work or revealed through the details of the story, such as plot, characters, and setting. In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, one of the most important themes is dreams. The harsh truth that the American Dream-the idea that anyone can achieve goals through hard work and personal sacrifice is only granted to few, is represented in the book. The characters in the novel all dream of a better life, but are unable to achieve it due to various obstacles.…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Crooks Dream Essay

    • 1101 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Lennie and George, Candy, and Crooks all have dreams so they have something to look forward to, but are all destroyed both in and out of their control. Lennie and George have the same dream of owning their own plot of land, but this dream ends with George having to kill his best friend Lennie. A big change occurs in Candy’s life just after Lennie and George begin work at the ranch, but ends when Lennie dies. Crooks dream is to be treated the same regardless of skin color, like when he was a kid, but soon understands the problem of discrimination of that era. Dreams give us a reason to continue and push through difficult times and situations.…

    • 1101 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Throughout the novel Lennie and George experience loneliness, sacrifice, poverty and more caused by Lennie’s disability. Ultimately, People that has…

    • 1580 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The American Dream is a term used to express the idea that in America, through hard work, someone can attain success and prosperity. The ideas of the American dream have been around for centuries. Everyone has their own version of the American Dream. Some believe the American dream is simply a myth, and some believe it is real. In “The Pursuit of Happyness” by Gabriele Muccino and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, the authors have different views on the American Dream; Steinbeck believes the American Dream is unachievable while Muccino believes the American dream is attainable but only with hard work and enough ambition.…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Lennie the character with mental disabilities has trouble keeping himself under control while at the different ranch houses. Lennie uses his “American Dream” of tending the the rabbits as a guideline that George has put in place for him, also he uses it as hope that one day he can have pups and rabbits and do all the things George has told him he will be able to do. Lennie wants to please George but has trouble doing so without the consequences that George has put in place for him(if his behavior isn’t good he won’t get to tend the rabbits). “An’ put some grass to the rabbits...”(pg 61). Lennie constantly thinks about this and is so concentrated on it that he will force himself to do whatever it takes to be allowed to tend the rabbits.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book Of Mice and Men is full of puzzling examples of the human condition, from Lennie and his mental disability to Curley’s wife messing with all of the men’s heads. With characters like these two, the book exploits the human condition that concerns circumstances life has gives you. John Steinbeck brings to life what being a laborer in the American depression meant to the men and one woman who had enough personality to stand out. George, Slim, Curley, and Lennie are all very different people with lives that make them have different views and priorities.…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1937, John Steinbeck writes a dramatic tragedy, Of Mice and Men. George and Lennie are two ranch hands who can not keep a job during the Great Depression. Lennie and George have a dream, to own a piece of land with a house. Every ranch hand has this dream that Lennie and George can not seem to achieve. This is because Lennie is always “messing” things up.…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Of Mice and Men, each character has their own American Dream and the desire to fulfill it. However, the novel depicts the notion of an American Dream as something unattainable. The story takes place during the Great Depression and shows the life of two middle aged men, what their individual American Dreams are, and how they were unsuccessful at attaining them. Of Mice and Men depicts the harsh reality of life during the Great Depression and how it affected people’s dreams and aspirations. In Of Mice and Men, George, Lennie, and Curley’s wife were individuals who suffered during the time of the Great Depression, yet persisted on their American Dream, that unfortunately was unattainable.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays