Chasing the American Dream in the 1930s: A Study of Migrations

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?

In Rural Migration News it states,”During the 1930s, some 1.3 million Americans from the Midwest and southwest migrated to California, which had a population of 5.7 million in 1930s.”(First paragraph). Therefore this quote relates to the movie Of Mice and Men because Lennie violated a women making them have to run away and find another job. George and Lennie went to seek a job in farm to support themselves just like migrants going to California for the same thing. After the Great Depression many started to look for jobs that would pay the bills and working in farms was the only option that needed many hands. This quote from the article with the movie both suit each other because both show how people have problems and have to go find a job that can

benefit them to pursue the American Dream.
Also in Rural Migration News it says,”Carey McWilliams once said that farm labor in California has"been lost sight of and rediscovered time and again."(Second paragraph). Comparing this to Of Mice and Men the movie when Lennie and George lose their job they find another way that can help support themselves. This quote reveals that life was not easy in the 1930’s and many had to fight for their spot after the market plummeted. In Of Mice and Men looking for a new job that suited both Lennie and George was easier said than done but they found something accommodating them after they ran away from their previous job. When they found this job their American Dream was coming true because they had each other’s back,they were together running to the finish line.
Furthermore, in the article it states,"In Dubious Battle." Steinbeck worked summers on Sprekel Company farms in the Salinas Valley where he grew up, but always considered himself different from other farm workers.”(Sixth paragraph).

This compares to the movie Of Mice and Men because it shows that the actual author for this book really placed himself in this time. This reveals that to actually write a well written piece it’s better to place yourself to completely understand what is going on. Due to the fact that migration to farm labor in California was so big California became over populated, Lennie and George have luck finding a job that can get them by almost reaching them to their enormous dream at the

end.
In conclusion, all these quotes and example from the article and the movie show the struggle that was going on in the 1930’s. When George kills Lennie his American Dream dies with Lennie because that’s who his dream was with. George has no one else and they planned a future together and it was gone in an instant. These struggles they encountered in the 1930’s provided an end to a new being for George when Lennie dies, he now has to make a new American Dream by himself. His dream dies with Lennie and there is not another Lennie, that was his other half who he wanted something bigger than himself with.