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The grapes of wrath and the great depression
The American Dream examined in Literature
The American Dream examined in Literature
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Recommended: The grapes of wrath and the great depression
For a long time America has stayed envisioning to show its own particular predetermination. It was dreams like opportunity of religion and discourse or trust in a superior life that energized a flash in before Americans and outsiders that made a shrouded development that would later be known as the American dream. The American dream began when America started to grow toward the west drift and assembled the cross-country railroad. The fantasy depicted America as the place that is known for new chances at life and to vanquish another outskirts. It wasn't until the late 1920s that the fantasy changed radically after the share trading system smashed and the begin of the Great Depression. Destitution had struck the country and the economy crumpled. …show more content…
The fantasies that were accomplished changed after the Great Depression and more individuals simply wish for a superior life. One of the primary subjects of the novel, Of Mice &ump; Men, is the American dream. The topic has a vast impact on the time and spot of where the novel happens. The two principle characters of the novel, Lennie and George dream a practically sad dream to have own little ranch and rabbits. The American dream is essential amid the setting of the novel, Of Mice and Men, because of the disastrous monetary circumstance of the United States and California's Salinas Valley amid the Great Depression which gives every character their own particular trusts and yearnings of a superior life. Of Mice &ump; Men happens in California's Salinas Valley amid the Great Depression. The Salinas Valley is an exceptionally provincial territory amid the 1930s. This is the place the creator of the novel John Steinbeck grew up and saw a firsthand record of the setting of the novel. On account of the poor monetary condition of the country, any sort of talented or physical work was lauded for money. Despite the fact that Steinbeck was not poor, he was a piece of the common laborers society, and filled in as a farm hand simply like George and Lennie were. Amid the Great Depression any sort of occupations were taken so men like Lennie and George were normal to go for work. In light of Lennie's condition and working with individuals that don't completely comprehend his condition it is hard for Lennie to be a piece of society in the 1930s. Lennie is extremely pure and most times does not recognize what he is doing. Lennie's overseer George dependably shows him lessons to verify he doesn't get into a bad situation. Regardless of the fact that Lennie recalls what George lets him know he quite often gets in a bad position in light of his blameless interest. George at times second thoughts dealing with Lennie as a result of this. George's disappointments soon transforms into a fantasy for a superior life however which Lennie is still included. Their fantasy is to claim a little ranch where they work for nobody other than themselves. It was a fantasy for a superior life and it was additionally the vast majority's fantasies too for a superior life. George and Lennie's fantasy was verging on fulfilled however Lennie gets in a bad position when he accidently snaps Curly's wife's neck. At the point when George hears the news he goes out to spare Lennie and slaughters him to escape him from Curly's wrath. This is the place George, Lennie and Candy's fantasy closes. With the vast majority on Lennie's back, George once in a while takes the warmth for him and shows him a lesson.
George and Lennie make an awesome couple of companions, however George is all the more an overseer. It was a greater amount of George's fantasy to claim their own farm and settle. It was George's American dream to possess their life and take to take what they believed was legitimately theirs and that is the sort of attitude that a few individuals had amid the 1930s. A great many people did not comprehend why George dealt with Lennie in light of the fact that he resembled a miserable cause however George constantly wanted to deal with him. Most characters of the novel feel that Lennie is unequal to them, however this was not genuine. Lennie had the same trusts and dreams as most characters in the …show more content…
novel. The American Dream was not characterized until the 1930s. It was term made by James Truslow Adams, in his book The Epic of America, in which he expressed "that fantasy of an area in which life ought to be better and more full and wealthier for everybody, with open door for every as indicated by capacity or accomplishment." (Adams 404). Despite the fact that the American dream began well before James Truslow Adams composed his book he was the first individual to say it. There are numerous different meanings of the American dream yet this is the first run through the expression was utilized. Adams' definition gives equivalent opportunity to all opportunity to satisfy their nations fate. In Diana Ştiuliuc's diary Philologica Jassyensia, she expresses the individual flexibilities of America and our anticipated break from persecutions "The part of individual opportunity is a characterizing normal for an American personality and systematized types of mistreatment and unfairness, for example, subjugation or ethnic isolation are viewed as outsider to the American dream." (367 Ştiuliuc). The common war was unavoidable result as a country to stop subjugation and concentrate more on our individual flexibilities. With the fast development of the country after the common war and our unavoidable future as a country, America made another development toward the west. The westbound development gave America new chances to have an alternate life. For some recently liberated slaves and veterans the thought of new open doors started their advantage. The development additionally authored the saying show your predetermination. It was America's fate to extend and turn into a greater country, and to turn into the place where there is fresh chances to succeed. Originating from President Roosevelt's Economic Bill of Right, he satisfied "...the right to better than average lodging, to an occupation that was adequate to backing one's family and oneself, to instructive open doors though and to general wellbeing couldn't care less." The Great Depression was a major disillusionment of Roosevelt's arrangement. The Stock Market accident of 1929 had influenced the nation colossally. "Organizations and industry were additionally influenced. Having lost quite a bit they could call their own capital in either the Stock Market Crash or the bank terminations, numerous organizations began decreasing their specialists' hours or wages." Since unemployment was 25% it was difficult to discover a vocation. A great many people that had employments regularly longed for a superior one as well. It was extremely troublesome for a few individuals to live in the considerable retreat. Throughout the century the American Dream has changed a couple times. Contingent upon how the country has changed the American dream will change with it. After the 1920s the American dream changed from overcome flexibility of rights, similar to equivalent rights for African Americans and ladies, to a greater degree a subject of the Great Depression. More workers were coming to America and making an existence in the country. There was a substantial interest of occupations in America with new residents and organizations simply losing salary, the American dream had lost its touch as it had in the before decades. The American dream identifies with the novel, Of Mice &ump; Men in light of the fact that the American dream is a huge subject. There were very few open doors in the colossal emergency and the American dream had changed into a mission for individual fulfillment. Lennie and Georges dream for a superior life was precisely what the American dream implied amid the Great Depression. George and Lennie's journey for self-attractive was to raise cash from chipping away at the farm to purchase their plot of area and begin a little homestead. Lennie's principle topic is the rabbits that he generally needed to have. It was dream to nourish and pet the rabbits that he generally needed. It was not until they got to the farm that Lennie and George had the same dream with Candy. Sweet was an old man that simply needed to experience whatever is left of days taking a shot at his own little ranch. The other men on the farm all mutual the same life. Most men rested in the same bunk house on the Ranch and the same disillusioning way of life. The American dream is vital to the novel, Of Mice and Men.
Other than being a topic of the novel, The American dream identify with a few characters. Lennie and George's fantasy of owning their little homestead and rabbits with Candy was a case of what a normal American dream was amid the 1930s Great Depression. The Great Depression has changed throughout the year relying upon the condition of the country. Amid the Great Depression the normal dream was simply singular fulfillment. To fulfill one's self amid the Great Depression was distinctive. Getting another or surprisingly better occupation was restricted of gaining fulfillment, yet the place where there is fresh chances to succeed was filled with emergency after the share trading system smashed. The American dream had lost its impact on America amid the 1930s, yet was still vivacious when men like George and Lennie sought after a superior and distinctive life and perpetual miracle into the desire for the better of individual
satisfactio
Steinbeck gives a lot of reasons for George to stay with Lennie, but his critics also have some merit in their criticism that the story isn't believable. Steinbeck's critics suggest that Steinbeck is "simply sentimental in this regard." There are some very compelling reasons George would like to stay with Lennie... but being "sentimental," towards Lennie has nothing to do with it.
The theme of the American Dream is presented in Of Mice and Men. The theme is particularly expressed through and around the characters of George and Lennie. Both of these characters have a belief, a dream of owning their own little place to call their own, or as George would say “We’re gonna have a little place and a couple of acres an’ some cows and some pigs...”(Steinbeck,14) This dream is mostly expressed through Lennie but George is the one who supports Lennie. Lennie is the most dedicated to the dream. This dedication is shown when he said “An’ live off the fatta the lan.”(Steinbeck,14) This proven b critics like Kevin Attell who said ”This is the kind of life that George and Lennie dream of living.”(Attell)
The American Dream is a dream that everyone imagines to be picture perfect. The American Dream means having freedom, equality and opportunity’s to achieve the dream that you conceptualize to be right by you. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck did not want to just illustrate the American dream as being easy, but he wanted to point out the American Dream as being difficult too. Steinbeck made a work of art by composing a great novel to make the reader understand that life can be difficult and at times dreams are hard to achieve. Of Mice and Men was written and based on the settings of the Great Depression (Anderson). The Great Depression was a very dire time that left multiple of people despondent and the unavailing to move on with their lives. The Great Depression created a world where everyone had to seek and survive for themselves. In the novel Steinbeck wanted to explore and point out how powerless people where during the time of the Great Depression. Steinbeck purposely incorporated his characters to depict the life struggle of what people go through during grim times. In the novel, Steinbeck illustrated a great set of characters Lennie, George, Candy and Crooks. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck discusses handicaps, hardships, and friendships of the characters.
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 phrase the American dream is contradictory to it’s meaning. The American dream was for most people just that, a dream. However, these very people had their hopes dashed and were forever lost. One could argue that a much more fitting and appropriate name for the American dream might as well be the American nightmare. In the 1920’s and early 30’s, the American dream was a beacon of hope as well as prosperity for anyone unfortunate enough to fall under it’s alluring curse, with an exception of a handful of people. What was given instead of this promise of wealth and dreams, what was given was the deterioration of dreams, and usually lives. Sadly, Lennie Small, from Of Mice and Men as well as Jay Gatsby, from The Great Gatsby was not the exceptions.
The early American dream was first introduced by early settlers’ who aspired to move West and find land to start a new life and business, this eventually gravitated into a materialistic vision that evolved around lavish mansions, fancy cars, and expensive clothing, thus indicating great accomplishments
George’s relationship with Lennie has made him selfless; his conversations, with and with out Lennie, are generally revolving around Lennie, although in the case of their dream-ranch George seems to find fulfilment for himself as well. Due to these altruistic tendencies that he shows throughout the novel, a danger is bestowed upon George; he tends to care for Lennie far too much, and too little for himself. In occasional moments, he escapes his sympathy and compassion for Lennie, and realises the burden that he causes. This usually results in George taking his frustration out on Lennie, which can often harm his simple mind, leaving Lennie upset and forced to confess to his own uselessness, and George feeling guilty for what he has caused. We can learn very little about George through his actual conversations, which made it necessary for Steinbeck to focus the novel on him in particular, and let the reader gain an closer insight on him through his actions. Generally, he seems to be caring, intelligent and sensible, but is greatly worn by the constant attention Lennie requires. This illustrates a major theme in Of Mice and Men, the dangers that arise when one becomes involved in a dedicated relationship.
In conclusion it can be inferred from the novel that the American Dream is simply an illusion. The use of conflict, symbolism, and setting give examples that can relate back to modern day. An example of conflict would George’s issues with Lennie. In modern day, people go around with others that they know will keep them from their dreams but choose to stay by their side anyway. Symbolism relates to modern day as well with the symbols of safety and security. People nowadays still create these symbols of safety and security when in denial of the thought of their dreams failing. Most importantly setting relates with the time period. Even though times have changed, the American Dream will still fail. Thus it is evident that the American Dream is simply an illusion.
The American Dream seems almost non-existent to those who haven’t already achieved it. Every character in the novel has moments of feeling happy and endures a moment where they believe that they are about to achieve their dreams. Naturally everyone dreams of being a better person, having better things and in 1920’s America, the scheme of getting rich is quick. However, each character had their dreams crushed in the novel mainly because of social and economic situations and their dream of happiness becomes a ‘dead dream’ leading them back to their ‘shallow lives’ or no life at all.
Lennie always was getting into trouble, therefore it was affecting George’s source of work and income. The text said, “ God a ’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble” (Steinbeck 11). This quote shows that George loved Lennie, but he always got on George’s nerves. George lost every job he had with Lennie right on his back. George could be a free man and not have to take care of another person, except himself.
It is important to realize that the partnership that Lennie and George have inherent benefits as well as risks. Both characters possess different personalities;Lennie has a good heart, and is encouraging of George´s dream to own a farm, George a well educated, self disciplined person who happens to have survival skills. As I analyzed both characters, it has been noted that Lennie and George´s support of each other allow them to persevere through the tough times of the great depression. On paragraph 6 Lennie says, ¨But not us! An´ why?Because....because I got you to look after me,and you got me to look after you...¨ which indicates that they both benefit from each other´s support. George is supportive in a way that helps Lennie live through the depression since(as I mentioned earlier) is well rounded when it comes to surviving.
To Lennie, having a connection and a friendship with George is the most important detail in his life. Lennie would do anything to keep George from getting upset with him and leaving him. They both have their own routine in life. Traveling from ranch to ranch, trying to keep a job and still sticking together and never leaving another behind unlike the other farm workers that do the same. Lennie and George stick together and protect each other. They both even have made a dream in which they will live together in a patch of land peacefully.
The American Dream was and always will be something that makes America great. It allows those with aspirations to make them come true. In America alone needs is a dream and the motivation to carry out that dream. Ambition is the driving force behind the American Dream. It allows any one that has an aspiration, a desire, a yearning, to carry out the individual dream. It knows no bounds of race, creed, gender or religion. It stands for something great, something that every one can strive towards. A dream can be a desire for something great. In America, the American Dream allows dreams to become realities. According to Webster's New World Dictionary, the American Dream is defined as "An American social ideal that' stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity". To live this dream is to succeed. It allows anyone, rich or poor to have the opportunity to succeed. It is the ability to come from nothing and become so me thing. To succeed at any thing you do, you must have patience and persistence. It requires hard work, persistence and a desire for something better. To have these qualities and the desire and ambition to carry the moutis part of the American Dream.
When the term ‘American Dream’ was first mentioned in 1931 by James Truslow Adams, he described it as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (Clark). When Adams mentioned the term, it had much more of an idealistic meaning, rather than the materialistic meaning it has in modern society. At the time of it’s mention, the dream meant that prosperity was available to everyone. In the beginning, the American Dream simply promised a country in which people had the chance to work their way up through their own labor and hard work (Kiger). Throughout history, the basis of the dream has always been the same for each individual person. It
The ideology of the American Dream can be traced back to the flood of immigration in the early twentieth century. Families from European Countries sailed on boats from months to read the great promise America held. They left their home countries and everything they had to lead successful and prosperous lives in the US. Another form of the American Dream arose in the 1950s after the US successfully win World War II. Young men came back to their young wives and had many children, hence the name “baby-boom generation.” Soon Levittowns sprung up around the country, cookie-cutter houses divided by pristine white picket fences, to handle the population increase. In Arthur Miller’s 1949 classic, Death of a Salesman, the antagonists American Dream is to retire comfortably, pay off the house he raised his family in, and for his sons to have a steady job and settle down with a woman. His dreams are much like those of elder parents who want not only the best for themselves, but also the best for their family. My American Dream is different then those listed about though being prosperous and happy is a theme that ties them all together. Instead of the perfect conforming dream of the 1950s, I would have a more Cosmopolitan twist to it. Though everyone’s American Dream is different, they all have the some underlying tone: to be successful, comfortable, happy, and prosperous.