American Dream Vs American Reality

The American Dream vs. the American Reality
It is safe to assume that most people have heard the term “a harsh reality,” and every single person has experienced at least one “harsh reality” in his or her lifetime, ranging from minor inconveniences to life-altering traumas. However there is one idea that can delay the realization of reality for a while- a dream. Dreams are beautiful fantasies that have the potential to fill every man, woman, and child with optimism for brief moments in their lives. Some dreams are easily within reach, some are difficult yet possible, but still more are completely out of reach. One of the most renowned dreams is the American dream- a dream of wealth and success, with cities of milk and honey, but this has become

No person lives without error, but sometimes habits and traits become so out of hand that it can lead to one’s own downfall. A prime example of self-destruction from Steinbeck is Lennie’s murderous, though accidental, progression. In the beginning of the novel, George scolds Lennie for killing mice, while running away from the town where Lennie scared a girl by grabbing her dress to “pet’ it. Once at the new farm, Lennie accidentally kills the puppy that George gave him. Finally, Lennie, startled by her shouting, kills Curley’s if after she lets him stroke her hair. All of these actions prevented Lennie, and George, from achieving their American dream. Curley’s Wife unknowingly allowed her own destruction.The text says, “‘Here- feel right here.’ She took Lennie’s hand and put it on her head” (Steinbeck 45). She was unaware of Lennie’s strength and past, but her insistence on their interaction led to her death. George also engaged in self destructive behavior. When he left Lennie alone, George allowed three lives to be ruined, and two more to be ended. Steinbeck says that, “From outside came the clang of horseshoes on the playing peg and the shouts of the men, playing, encouraging, jeering” (42). George, in leaving Lennie alone by partaking in the aforementioned “jeering,” has allowed some of the most tragic events of the novel to occur. Today, a common source of self-destructive behavior is the

It is a common misconception for many people that America, the land of milk and honey, is a place of great material wealth for all. In a 1959 New York Times article, it is written that, “Hopes based on this kind of reasoning are, we suspect, an illusion and an insult to [...] intelligence” (Unknown 2). John Steinbeck demonstrates a weakening economy in Of Mice and Men in Lennie and George’s inability to buy their own house, which is not an exorbitant dream, and the fact neither Candy nor Crooks can afford to leave their current, dissatisfactory situation. In the novel it is written, “‘I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That's why they give me a job swampin'. An' they give me two hunderd an' fifty dollars 'cause I los' my hand. An' I got fifty more saved up right in the bank, right now. Tha's three hunderd, and I got fifty more comin' the end a the month. Tell you what-’ He leaned forward eagerly.’S'pose I went in with you guys. Tha's three hunderd an' fifty bucks I'd put in. I ain't much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How'd that be’” (Steinbeck 29)? The only substantial money that Candy has is what he was given when he lost his hand, and he only got a job for the same reason. Jobs at that time were so sought-after that Candy had to lose his hand to get a steady one. As previously stated, an increase of the