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Usage of dreams in literature according to Freudian theories
Usage of dreams in literature according to Freudian theories
Usage of dreams in literature according to Freudian theories
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What is the role of dreams in John Steinbeck’s novella
‘Of Mice and Men’
In John Steinbeck’s novella, ‘Of Mice and Men,’ the role of dreams
plays a very important part. The book was written during the ‘Great
Depression,’ which occurred just after the well known ‘Wall Street
Crash.’ The book Of Mice and Men was set in the depression of the
1930’s in California in a place called Soledad. Men travelled around
looking for any work they could find, they had to leave families and
their homes just to make money. Even firms and companies went
bankrupt; these were depressing and desperate times, with no hope and
definitely no future. The Great depression caused long-term
unemployment, migration, poverty and many young men had to travel
across the nation to find a job in places such as California. As a
consequence to the Great Depression, almost all of the citizens of the
United States lived lives that were filled with unfulfilled dreams.
Without dreams, no one would have a reason to keep going.
In this essay, I will look at several of the main characters, whose
desire and vision of their dreams draws them together in the only way
that it will counteract the loneliness of their existence. The thought
of achieving a personal dream seems to be the driving force behind the
American society during the era of the ‘Depression.’ This was a time
when many dreams were created; dreams of being successful, owning a
land and looking after animals or growing crops.
The people who had these dreams were mostly ranch workers, or
migrants, people who never stay in one place long enough to form
ever-lasting relationships, hence the dreams of many of the ranch
workers in this beautiful novel.
The American Dream
Everyone has a dream to strive for. The poor ranch hands wish to be
their own bosses, and actually have stability.
George and Lennie have a dream, even before they arrive at their new
job on the ranch, to make enough money to live “off the fatta the
land” and be their own bosses. Lennie will then be permitted to tend
the rabbits. Candy, upon hearing about the dream, wants to join them
so that he will not be left alone, especially after they killed his
dog.
From the 17th Century, when the first settlers arrived, immigrants
dreamed of a better life in America. People went there to escape from
persecution or poverty, and to make a new life for themselves. They
dreamed of making their fortunes in the goldfields. For many the dream
became a nightmare. The horrors of slavery, of the American Civil War,
Curly and Lennie, two men that traveled together everywhere they went. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck describes friendship, dreams, and personality to describe Lennie and Curly adventures.
Dreams give people motivation and a sense of hope to not give up when life's hard conditions get in the way of success. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, George Milton has his own “American Dream” where he will live in a house, that he bought with his hard earned money, with Lennie. They will grow their own crops and own farm animals to feed themselves. This dream keeps George motivated to find new jobs when Lennie gets them into trouble. George does not want to give up on working hard and making money on ranches.
Everyone dreams about something. However, it is important to know when the right time to dream is, and when to wake up. A major theme that Steinbeck conveys in the book Of Mice and Men is the pursuit of the American Dream. The book tells the story of two men trying to earn a better life. Their American Dream was to get their own place somewhere and live together. Although, through the characterization of Lennie, the symbolism of rabbits, and the setting of the book, Steinbeck is trying to convey that people cannot continue to live in a dream.
When Lennie and George encounter Slim, another ranch hand, they automatically respect him and react positively towards him. “This was Slim, the jerkline skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.” (Steinbeck, 33-34) Slim is the noblest of the ranch as the only character who seems to be at peace with his circumstances and his life. The other characters view slim as wise and respectable man and often go to him for guidance, as the only person who has achieved what he wants in life.
George and Lennie live in a hopeless present but they somehow try to keep a foot in an idealized future. They dream of one day running their own ranch, safe and answerable to no one. Others such as Curley's wife dreams of being a movie star, Crooks, of hoeing his own patch and Candy's couple of acres'.The dream ends with the death of Lennie.
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.
'I see hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches with
The concept of the American dream has been related to everything from religious freedom to a nice home in the suburbs. It has inspired both deep satisfaction and disillusioned fury. The phrase elicits for most Americans a country where good things can happen. However, for many Americans, the dream is simply unattainable. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams,” Dexter Green, a hardworking young man born into the middle class, becomes wrapped up in his pursuit to obtain wealth and status in his life. These thoughts and ideas represent Dexter’s fixation on his “winter dreams,” or, the idea of what the American Dream means to him: gaining enough wealth to eventually move up in social class and become somebody, someday. As Dexter attempts to work himself up the social ladder, he falls in love with Judy Jones, a shallow and selfish, rich woman. But to Dexter, Judy represents the very idea of the American Dream-- obtaining wealth and status. Dexter’s pursuit of Judy and essentially the American Dream becomes an obsession. In the end, Dexter is forced to accept the realization that his “winter dreams” are actually just empty wishes. By characterizing Judy as a superficial, materialistic woman, Fitzgerald criticizes the destructive nature of the American Dream.
“The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. The American Dream, a long-standing ideal, embodies the hope that one can achieve financial success, political power, and everlasting love through dedication and hard work. During the Roaring 20s, people in America put up facades to mask who they truly were. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald conveys that the American Dream is simply an illusion, that is idealist and unreal.
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.
The structure of the american paradox is complex. The dreams set through decades upon decades of generations have consumed the americans way of living. this paradox and dream is what we have come to not just base our entire lives around but build are morals, standards, and expectations for overall existence. “Paradox and Dream “ isn't like Steinbecks normal pieces of literature. Steinbeck's “Paradox and Dreams” is a sarcastic and criticism filled outlook on the self made paradox created by americans and based on their way of living. Steinbeck is a credited author who is also known for writing Of Mice and Men and East of Eden. both well known pieces of literature. But unlike his more famous pieces of literature that are Fictional stories with specific lessons. “Paradox and Dreams” is based on a realistic outlook on american civilization and the fictional expectations people have for life. He criticises the perspective we have on normal living. and informs us of the true reality and reasoning behind what we look at as normal and realistic. he gives a new look and view on a flawed nation of unreasonable perfectionist. It’s believed Steinbecks criticism stems from The american ability to create false hopes and dreams. that ultimately fool themselves into believing that they are something they're not. leaving the outcome to only hurts the community and population.
= Discuss the theme of the Dream in ‘Of Mice and Men’. Steinbeck’s quote above portrays an important aspect of ‘Of Mice and Men’. Steinbeck remarks on how people can create a dream and how they can have positive and negative effects from them. A dream is human nature, where a person can get away from the outside world by thinking or imagining what their life would be like if the dream came true.
Americans strive to obtain the American dream, but they fail to realize that it is our own dissatisfaction and anger that get in our way of keeping the American dream alive. John Steinbeck’s, “Paradox and Dream”, describes these paradoxes that linger in almost all Americans lives. Steinbeck shows how Americans believe in these things, but they contradict them by the actions they take or the words we say. He describes how Americans are dissatisfied, angry and intemperate. John Steinbeck portrayed a negative attitude towards Americans and their ideals by displaying how most are dissatisfied and angry, intemperate and opinionated, and believe in these certain things about ourselves that are not always true.
The American Dream, is the wish to prosper. In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men told during the time of hard labor in the 1930’s about two close friends, who are all each other have, but are chasing this American dream, George and Lennie deal with several obstacles and road blocks with each other. Whether it be, hiding Lennie’s mental illness, or trying to keep a job to fulfill their version of the American dream, George will always have a soft spot in his heart for Lennie, and Lennie tries his hardest to please George. Through characterization and foreshadowing readers learn about the deeper meaning and theme to the novella of the American Dream. Although some may say that George and Lennie are
Everyone has dreams; some more realistic than others. The American Dream captures the attention of many people, but the inevitable failure is hidden beneath the theory that hard work can accomplish anything. Because of the Great Depression, widespread unemployment and an economic collapse occurred. George, Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife all have different ideas of the American Dream. In the book, Of Mice & Men the author, John Steinbeck, describes the American Dream and how it negatively influences people, but also how it gives us the power to continue to move forward.