The American Dream in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

717 Words2 Pages

The American Dream is a fundamental theme in John Steinbeck's novel

'Of Mice and Men'. I will endeavor to examine how the theme is

presented in the novel in order to determine why it is so important.

Whilst exploiting the theme it will be imperative to consider the

characters that hold this dream, I will focus on George and Lennie,

the two central characters. In addition I will acknowledge the social

and economic situation of the time, the Great Depression.

The American Dream is an ideal, a hope that has been central to

American culture since the formation of the country. When America was

colonized by England the main reason for people wanting to immigrate

there was land. And land is the key idea in the American Dream. To own

your own piece of land and be your own boss is a hope shared by almost

everyone, a hope that became especially important in America.

Obviously The Great Depression in America stole the dream from many

people, this is why the idea of owning your own land became so

important to the workers on the ranch, like George and Lennie, as it

was their onl...

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