The Importance Of Martin Luther King's Speech On The American Dream

Date: Tuesday, 28th of November, 2017
Number of words: 927.

Keep Dreaming

Martin Luther King's' speech "I have a dream" showed that no matter race, beliefs or gender, people can improve their destiny. Through determination, Martin Luther King and his followers managed to make the American dream more attainable for millions of black Americans. The American dream consists of having equal access to opportunities for economic prosperity through hard work. This belief was incredibly important, during the novel's times Of Mice and Men, as farmers abandoned their land, due to natural disasters in the dust bowl, and moved to California to pursue their dream. This also affects the characters Crooks, Curley's wife and George. In his novel, John Steinbeck

He fondly remembers childhood memories of him and his father living on their own chicken ranch together. When he was a child, he used to let the "white kids play at our place, an' sometimes went to play with them." (70) However, only once the white people took away his father's ranch, did he understand his father's discontempt. Yet he dreams of a time when he will be treated equally. The importance of his dream can be seen when he proudly tells Lennie, that he "ain't a southern negro,"(70) which implies that he was born in America and deserves equal rights. Furthermore, Crooks is aware of his civil rights, even when they are violated, as he owns a copy of 1905 California Civil Rights Code. To further this point, Crooks constantly uses the word right in his sentences, for example by telling Lennie, that he "got no right to come in,"(68) which also highlights Crooks bitterness of being excluded by the white men on the ranch. After having dropped his protective cocoon when talking to Lennie and the old swamper, his dream is in part realized. This is due to both of them not seeing him as inferior and sharing their desire of buying a small ranch with him. Again, Steinbeck illustrates dreams' equalizing

Although they are as fragile as eggshells, one can endure tough moments pursuing them. For instance, George and Lennie's strong bond is due to them sharing common desires. Also, the characters sharing the American dream endure hard work thinking of a better life. On the other hand, Curley's wife's dream of being a movie star and being in the "pitchers" gives her a sense of selfworth, even when many of the male characters call her derogatory names.
By the end of the novel Steinbeck illustrates the fragility of dreams by having many of the characters' dreams shattered. Still, even if dreams are often not realized, the book shows that men's aspirations give the strong drive to change the world and our lives for the