Comparing The American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Imagining the American Dream was a way for people to escape from bad times in their lives. These people wanted to move on from living like everyone else and instead, have a unique and successful lifestyle. In the novel Of Mice and Men, the theme of reaching for the American Dream runs throughout the entire story. It is evident that all of the characters, especially George and Lennie, want to obtain some form of the American Dream. As they come in contact with other people at the ranch, their thoughts and ideas shift from what they originally set out to do. Multiple situations that occur throughout the story decrease the chances of most of the characters accomplishing the American Dream. Society places limits on who can achieve success…show more content…
Even though George seems to want to save up his money to buy the farmhouse, when he goes into town, his actions prove otherwise. If George really wanted to save his money, he would have stayed back at the ranch with Lennie. In the story Crooks says, “An’ where’s George now? In town in a whore house. That’s where your money’s goin’” (Steinbeck 76). Even though George is determined to reach the American Dream, he acts just like a lot of people who fantasize about success since he wants to fit in with the other ranchers and ultimately just enjoy himself in the moment instead of thinking about the future. Crooks also says, “Seems like ever’ guy got land in his head” (Steinbeck 75). This quotation shows that when the ranchers assume that they will obtain the money to buy the land, they are more focused on what they want to have in the future than on how they will get it. Crooks says both, “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads” and “Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land” (Steinbeck 74). Both of these quotations support the fact that unless a person is really committed and determined to reach set goals, no one will really be able to achieve that success. Crooks’s speculations make Lennie and Candy think twice about whether or not they can trust George to save the money allowing them to achieve their
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