Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

George and Lennies dream to buy a ranch of their own is a powerful

symbol of the 'American Dream'. With reference to specific characters

in the novel, to what extent is Steinbeck protesting to the attitudes

and values of the time?

The book is set in the time of the depression. There was no work, no

benefits so the unemployed had to make do with what they could find.

For many this meant travelling many miles for simple jobs with low

pay. You were lucky if you could find a job. There was panic as people

tried to get their money. Companies and banks disappeared overnight.

At this time 14million people were unemployed. The government took

many people's homes away as bills could not be paid, people were

forced on the streets and many starved. There was no hope in people's

lives except for the 'American Dream'. This was that someday they

would be rich and famous and they would get there if they worked hard

enough. Millions each with its own variation shared this dream. This

stayed just a hope until a new light was shone. California 'The Golden

State' brought new hope in to peoples lives. There were many jobs

available, but even these were low paid with long hours. People didn't

care all they knew was this was a chance for them to pull themselves

up and out of poverty. Thousands of people flocked to California with

high hopes but jobs went quick and pay got lower and lower. The

'Golden State' was soon swamped with refugees.

George and Lennie are two migrant workers with the same dream. They

one day want their own plot so they can 'live off the fatta the lan'

and not have to work for anyone else. Lenn...

... middle of paper ...

...will always be setbacks

that will keep on stopping them and eventually take away even the hope

of their dreams.

For millions the 'American Dream' is just a myth its that last bit of

hope left in their lives. That maybe someday they won't be forced to

live in poverty and might actually have a decent life. America was in

a really bad state, but the sad thing is the whole thing could have

been prevented. If the government had introduced things like benefits

it would never have got to the state it was in and hundreds of lives

could have been saved. More people could have got jobs if an education

system was introduced. And things like unemployment benefits could

have saved families. But instead the government left the country to

rebuild itself. While they sat and enjoyed their riches millions of

people were suffering.