Motivation for the American Dream in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Motivation is the will to do something. Life has many different levels of motivation; achieving something, attempting to achieve something, and not trying it achieve something. Motivation can be applied to the American Dream. In the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the levels of motivation are clearly evident, this affects the process of how the characters achieve their dreams. Of Mice and Men is a story of two migrant workers, how they deal with their American Dream, and the troubles of working on a ranch during The Great Depression. The Characters of Of Mice and Men are going through these levels of motivation and achievement. Through the Characters George and Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and Crooks the stable buck, Steinbeck illustrates that the American Dream is achievable through hard work, dedication, and lots motivation.

George and Lennie exhibit motivation to achieve their American Dream, even through all of their troubles, which motivates them even more. George and Lennie are a rare case of best friends traveling together during a time when it was every man for himself. Also, Lennie has a mental disability putting a huge burden on George. Together George and Lennie have an American Dream, and George explain the dream like this; “ O.K. Someday-We’re gonna get the jack together and we gonna have a little house and a couple of acres [. . .]” (14). George and Lennie’s American Dream is like every other migrant workers. They desire to have a place of their own, where no one can boss them around or tell them what to do. George and Lennie dream of this because of their lack of freedom as migrant workers, because as migrant workers, they depend solely on money and hope to get the through life. Throughout the story ...

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...hundreds of men come by on the road an’ the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads!’” (74). Crooks bring up a good point here. Lennie and George’s dream, now shared with Candy, is like every other migrant workers American Dream. This is something the trio definitely doesn’t want to hear, that their dream is destined to fail. Crooks brings the idea into reality, and how achievable their American Dream really is.

George and Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks the stable buck all have an American Dream and through them and their dreams, Steinbeck shows that the American Dream can or cannot be achieved with the amount of dedication and motivation you put into the dream. Even though George and Lennie, Curley’s wife and Crooks all have dreams they are all at different points of achieving that dream, if they are even trying.