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The Great American Dream
What is the American Dream? The American Dream, described by many, corresponds to a person’s life goals. In John Steinbeck’s book, “Of Mice and Men”, the Great American Dream has a different meaning to everyone as it depends on the person dreams of their life goals. Steinbeck’s book describes the Dream as owning a small portion of the United States, or becoming an actress, or even just equality between humans. However, for some people, fairness is just too much to ask. In Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse”, he writes “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry”. Simplistic as it may be, this quote says that most people’s plans go badly almost all the time. The differences within the American Dream converge between
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good and bad dreams because some people have good intentions and others, not so much. Crooks portrays the hard working class in “Of Mice and Men” because even though his skin color is not the same as the other workers and his back is crooked, due to a horse kicking him in the back when he was caring for the animals, Crooks works hard everyday trying to prove he is not an insignificant human being that is a waste of space.
An example of Crooks being a hard worker can be found on page 76 where Crooks himself says “...If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing-just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-b***h if I want to.” What Crooks is saying is that he is willing to help George, Lennie, and Candy complete their goal of starting a farm by working without pay as he feels he cannot help in the ranch anymore. Crooks also wants equality for every single African-American worker that is being mistreated just because of their skin color. Crooks shows his hatred towards racism when he says “ ‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me. (Page 68)” Crooks finally expresses his hatred towards mistreatment by confessing in Lennie. The quote from Burns’ poem, “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry” plays a critical part in Crooks’ dream because he does not reach equality with the other workers. Instead, Curley’s wife destroys Crooks by saying “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap? ...Well, you keep your place then, n****r. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.(Page 81)” By treating Crooks like this, Curley’s wife destroys his ego, personality, and overall, dignity. Although Curley’s wife destroys Crooks’ dreams and hopes, she too has an American
Dream. When Curley’s wife was younger, a man in the “pitchers” industry offered her an “acting” career. He took Curley’s wife to the Riverside Dance Palace and realized that Curley’s wife became naturally good at “acting” and that he would make sure to put her in the movies. Then, Curley’s wife explains to Lennie “Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write me about it. I never got that letter. I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ where they stole your letters. So I married Curley. (Page 88)” Curley’s wife discovered disappointment at the fact that she didn’t get the job she wanted, which was also her American Dream. So instead, she married Curley, which was the contrary to her dream because now she was in total torment. Curley’s wife finds herself stuck in total torment because she doesn’t like Curley. Curley’s wife doesn’t even try to get out of her misery, she expects a handed out career. “And she continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror. He shook her then, and he was angry with her. ‘Don’t you go yellin’,’ he [Lennie] said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck. (Page 91)” Despite Lennie accidentally killing Curley’s wife, her American Dream was somewhat fulfilled because even though she will not be able to become an actress anymore, Curley’s wife is also out of her torment as she is done dealing with Curley. Both Curley’s wife’s dreams and Crooks’ dreams were ruined, although, the most evident dreams ruined belonged to George, Lennie, and Candy’s shared dream. George, Lennie, and Candy all share the common dream of owning their own portion of America, although Lennie for different reasons. Lennie, in most occasions has said he wants to own his own land to tend the rabbits. “An’ have rabbits. Go on George! Tell about what we’re gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. (Page 14)” George wants his own piece of land to make sure no one bosses him around. “‘An’ it’d be our own, an’ nobody could can us. If we don’t like a guy we can say, ‘Get the hell out,’ and by god he’s got to do it (Page 58).” Candy has the basic dream of getting his own piece of land to just cultivate and work on it. George also wants his own territory so he doesn’t have to deal with a grumpy boss, annoying co-workers, or bad working environments such as the broken down bunkhouse in the ranch of Salinas. Candy has the even more basic dream of just working on his own ranch and living off the fat of the land. But yet again, George, Candy, and Lennie’s dream start to go awry even before George and Lennie arrived at the ranch due to Lennie’s mind incapacitation. Lennie has been a problem for George on many occasions such as having to run from their old town to escape a mob set out to lynch Lennie because of his false accusation of rape. Then, of course, Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, which causes yet another mob set out to kill Lennie, and the only difference is that this time, George will not be able to save Lennie. In fact, George himself kills Lennie thinking it is the right thing to do. Burns’ quote of mice and men’s schemes apply on their dreams because their whole plan demolished due to Lennie. The Great American Dream has persisted through generations of people despite, the huge upsets. The Dream gives some people something to hope for as they make their path through life. Robert Burns’ quote “schemes of mice and men oft go awry” has a huge effect on some people, but others also have success in performing their dreams. The basic American Dream of owning your own piece of America is one shared by many, although, only the most optimistic and hopeful people can achieve their dreams.
Thomas Hobbes in his Leviathan states that, "in the state of nature mans life is nasty, brutish and short". In depression era America, no greater truth could be said. There were millions unemployed, largely unskilled and living on the margins of society. The lowest of the low were the migrant labourers travelling from place to place trying to scratch a living. They often had to travel illegally by freight car with all its consequent dangers. Their life expectancy was low, crime was rampant and despair was a fellow traveller. This is the setting of John Steinbeck's, 'Of Mice and Men'.
It is the natural inclination of all men and women to dream. In John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men,” the American dream is sought after by many different characters. However, the main theme in the story is how these dreams are unattainable, and how because of the Great Depression, all American dreams were dead. But what is the American dream? A unitary definition does not exist, however, the meaning of living the American dream is something that differs for everyone.
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?
Of Mice and Men is a story set during the 1930's America, this was a
The American Dream is a thought that everyone has at some point. Some are bigger than others and some are harder than others, but everyone hopes to accomplish their American Dream. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows that the American Dream is a myth, not a reality. John Steinbeck shows the American Dream being a myth through a few of the characters in Of Mice and Men. For example, Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and Candy all have American Dreams, but they also have some obstacles that stop them from completing their American Dream.
The American dream ideally constitutes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as stated by America's forefathers in the Declaration of Independence. This vision has been extremely warped in the 20th century to fit the new breed of Americans, which are greedy and self-centered. The main characters opinions in the novel Of Mice and Men of The American Dream substantially differs from each other, and from today's society.
What is the American Dream? There are a myriad of aspects to it, but one general idea: the ideal life. It is making a lot of money, being respected, and triumphing difficult situations. The American Dream has been pursued by many, but only few make it all the way.
First, what is the American dream? According to David Wallechinsky, “the traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can improve their lives, pay their monthly bills without worry, give their children a start to an even better life, and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire” (1). “The American Dream” states, “It has always represented the possibility for individuals to succeed and live a life of wealth and comfort, made possible by both the political and economic attitudes in the USA and the individual’s own hard work” (1). Daniella Nicole adds that “in years past, chasing the American Dream meant the sky was the limit. . .” (1).
What is The American Dream? “The American Dream is 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. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth and position.” (Adams) This quote is from James Truslow Adams, a historian, who coined the term “The American Dream”, in his book “The Epic of America”, published in 1933.
The American Dream is the belief that anybody can achieve anything in life. America is known as the country of opportunity regardless of race, gender or nationality. The land of opportunity and equality rights and liberty. The American Dream is to be successful no matter what social class an individual belongs to. The opportunity for upward mobility through hard work leads to a successful life. Individuals in society often strive to obtain many resources that are important. The structure of the economy is typically related to education, occupation, housing, and health care which are not distributed equally to enable an individual to achieve equal opportunity some will have to go through hardship in order to obtain it. The lack of social mobility makes the
The American Dream has changed; it is no longer the same as it was fifty or even one hundred years ago. Today, people not only search for prosperity and wealth, but they also search for happiness, equality, and determination. The American Dream is for everyone, not just the rich. The term “The American Dream” is a term used to describe the American way of life in general. It is a noun stating “the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” Dreams are not limited to just one social class, everyone has a different version of the American Dream but they all work together in a community to create an organized, working society. A dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or idea that is open to anyone.
The American Dream is an idea that anyone can live in the United States through hard work and live happy successful lives. There are many obstacles that would stand in the way from achieving the American Dream. Fear, money and education/training, families changing in size, disability, race and gender, are some of the hurdles that many Americans face as they try to achieve the typical American Dream.
"The American Dream" is that dream of a nation in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with options for each according to capacity or accomplishments. It is a dream of social stability in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve to the fullest distinction of which they are essentially competent, and be distinguish by others for what they are, despite of the incidental conditions of birth or stance. The American Dream is often something that humanity wonders about. What is the American dream? Many people discover success in a range of things. There are many different definitions of the American Dream. However, the American Dream embraces prosperity, personal safety, and personal liberty. The American dream is a continually fluctuating set of ideals, reflecting the ideas of an era.
What is the American Dream? As James Truslow coined in 1931 " A dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper class to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, able be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position"(Truslow). Most believe that it 's a place and a system where everyone have an equal
Americans have the opportunity to pursue what they love and achieve their goals in life (Rank np). Many people in America have different ideas and pictures in their heads of what the American Dream means. From the idea that it's about making a lot of money and owning a big house, to creating a good life for your children in a good environment there is a wide range of meanings of the dream. Others believe that America is this great melting pot full of people with all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds (Michels np). The American Dream was first introduced during America’s great depression by a man named James Truslow Adams. He first came up with the phrase “The American Dream” in his book, The Epic of America. In his book he taught Americans what they had to do in order to live the dream (Wills np). Explaining the Dream, Adams told America, that “the American Dream is the belief of the American society that each individual can, through hard working and strength of mind, achieve anything.” (Michels np) People still use the ideas from his book and use them in everyday