American Dream in Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men introduces multiple major themes throughout the story of Lennie and George. One of these is the topic of the American dream amongst all of the characters. The American dream is defined as, “a life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the US,”. The American dream is shown in the story through George’s want to be his own boss, Lennie’s constant want to tend the rabbits, and Candy’s want to be nondisposable as he approaches old age. Throughout the story, George mentions his want to be his own boss to many of the other characters. In the story George explains, “‘S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing. …show more content…
The text states, “‘An’ rabbits,’ Lennie said eagerly. ‘An’ I’d take care of ‘em. Tell how I’d do that George.’”(Steinbeck 28). This dialogue from the text shows a conversation between George and Lennie that they have numerous times throughout the story. Lennie always wants George to tell him about the rabbits which, we can conclude, is his ultimate dream. Additionally, at the end of the story when Lennie kills the puppy and harms Curley's wife, he is only concerned about if George will no longer allow him to tend to the rabbits. No matter what has happened, he always remembers his dream. This interaction is a prime example of the American …show more content…
When George and Lennie are planning their American dream together Candy explains, “‘They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the county. Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the garden even after I ain’t no good at it.’”(Steinbeck 29). This quote from the text shows Candy’s American dream of being nondisposable as he approaches old age. He originally recognizes this when Carlson shoots his dog purely because he is old. After this, he realizes that, one day, he too will be disposable just as his dog was. He knows, however, that the workers will not simply shoot him but that he will be fired and have to live on the streets. To avoid this, he gets in on George’s and Lennie’s
Dreams give people motivation and a sense of hope to not give up when life's hard conditions get in the way of success. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, George Milton has his own “American Dream” where he will live in a house, that he bought with his hard earned money, with Lennie. They will grow their own crops and own farm animals to feed themselves. This dream keeps George motivated to find new jobs when Lennie gets them into trouble. George does not want to give up on working hard and making money on ranches.
Candy shows great spirit throughout the book and really shows off the good aspects of the American Dream. It is only until the end of the book until the plan to go away starts to be questioned. He starts asking questions like ”You an’ me can get that little place cant we, George?”(Steinbeck,94) This denial was once again recognized by Kevin Attell, who said “George and Lennie’s dream is specifically necessitated by and responds to the limitations played on their lives. ”(Attell)
In Of Mice and Men one of the main themes is the idea of the american dream. This is one of the more important themes in the book because it plays such a big role in how each character pursued life, and their dreams show a different side of who they are and what they want from life. Many of the characters talk about what their version of the american dream is. Curley’s wife talks about how she wanted to be a movie star. Candy and George both want to own their own land. Crooks dream is to work in lennie's garden. However it remains only a dream for them and they are awaken by the fact that they can't have the perfect american dream. Another way that this idea is used in the book and by characters is that Lennie and George keep faithful
The American Dream is what everyone so desperately desired for in the 1930’s. Many come to America for the American Dream, to be successful, have freedom, and support their families by the better opportunities given. In Of Mice and Men the movie the setting sets in the 1930’s where Lennie and George become farm workers for Curley’s dad. Working in these conditions in the 1930’s must of been difficult as shown in the movie when Lennie and George face problems in their journey together. What’s your American Dream?
Thomas Hobbes in his Leviathan states that, "in the state of nature mans life is nasty, brutish and short". In depression era America, no greater truth could be said. There were millions unemployed, largely unskilled and living on the margins of society. The lowest of the low were the migrant labourers travelling from place to place trying to scratch a living. They often had to travel illegally by freight car with all its consequent dangers. Their life expectancy was low, crime was rampant and despair was a fellow traveller. This is the setting of John Steinbeck's, 'Of Mice and Men'.
Every person has an American dream, no matter how big or small, everyone has one. Their dreams however, vary from person to person, based on past experiences. While some people will chose to try to own a small farm in California, others will want to go to Hollywood and become an actress. Though American dreams are commonly found in living people they are also able to be within fictional characters as well; such as in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. Only American dreams can go astray due to problems that were not foreseen. In Of Mice and y Men, Lennie was the unforeseen problem with George, Candy, and his American dream because of his ableism. His mental ableism made him love to touch soft things such as hair, even though he could end
Of Mice and Men is a story set during the 1930's America, this was a
The American Dream is a thought that everyone has at some point. Some are bigger than others and some are harder than others, but everyone hopes to accomplish their American Dream. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows that the American Dream is a myth, not a reality. John Steinbeck shows the American Dream being a myth through a few of the characters in Of Mice and Men. For example, Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and Candy all have American Dreams, but they also have some obstacles that stop them from completing their American Dream.
George and Lennie have a dream that gives them a reason to keep living and working as they do. “George I still get the tend the rabbits, right George” ( 57). Lennie is looking forward to getting their own place. Lennie tries to stay out of trouble so he can tend the rabbits. “O.K. someday- we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage and to pursue them.”-Walt Disney. We often persevere to achieve our goals but are held back by the slightest of things. Sometimes there is a minor setback that causes your dream to shatter and forces you to do something that you will regret. Steinbeck disrupts many characters’ dreams that all relate to the American Dream of the idea of having an equal opportunity to achieve your goals and prosper through your hard work and determination. Dreams can give you false hope and be destroyed easily, such as the dreams of Curley’s wife, George’s & Lennie’s, and Crooks’ in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men.
Lennie, a main character, had a dream to tend rabbits on a ranch as he had an obsession with soft objects/animals. Lennie tries to achieve his dream by sticking with his friend George, and finding work to save up money. He is not successful, because he is killed at the end of the story, Lennie says, “It ain’t the same if I tell it. Go on...George. How I get to tend the rabbits.”(Steinbeck 14). Lennie is asking George to tell him what the
In an American society, many people settle in the United States of America in hopes of seeking the American Dream, which is the freedom of life, equality, and the aspiration to accomplish individual goals in life. Any person that has lived through the great depression has had their life drastically changed by many hard obstacles that had to be fought in order to sustain an excellent life. Some of the crucial themes of the novel Of Mice and Men is that having your own dream attains ambition, companionship, and assurance, allowing one to succeed in life with meaning and importance. Three major examples show this idea. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men divulges the longing for friendship, the desperation for the American Dream, and the cruelty of humanity through the creation of his two main characters, George and Lennie.
...deal with them that together, they could “get a big stake” (63) in order to buy a “little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’” (63). Candy says he would “cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (67). However, after Lennie accidently kills Curley’s wife, Candy in “his greatest fear” (107) asks George if they could still “get that little place” (107). But he knew it was no, and right at that moment his American Dream comes to an end. Therefore if Candy would be all by him following his American Dream without depending on George and Lennie, he would have been successful.
Americans live in constant pursuit of what they want more than anything, the American Dream. The perception of the American Dream varies from person to person, depending on what they hope to accomplish. In The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men the American Dream manifests in various extravagant and corrupt forms. The lives of these characters revolve around achieving their version of the American Dream.
John Steinbeck, in his essay America and Americans, uses many contradictions to explain his views on the American Dream. I have witnessed and experienced many of these contradictions in my life. Through my experiences, I have learned to believe that the American dream is no more than just a dream.