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

562 Words3 Pages
Of Mice and Men “Man is the only kind of varmint that sets his own trap, baits it, then steps in it.”- John Steinbeck. Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is a classic novella about two men, George and Lennie who dream of owning a farm. By writing this, Steinbeck suggests that the American dream cannot come true. The “American Dream” is often defined by the person projecting the dream, and typically the dreamer desires a form of untarnished happiness, allowing the character freedom to make choices for themselves, following their own wishes and desires. George and Lennie’s dream would enable them to sustain themselves, and most importantly, protecting and isolating them from the inhospitable world. Lennie’s death crushes the dream of the farm and ultimately symbolizes that the American dream is impossible. Steinbeck annihilates many of the dreams that are brought up throughout the book. Curley’s wife admits that she dreamed of becoming movie star. Curley’s wife resigned herself to a miserable, unfulfilling marriage to Curley. As Curley’s Wife says…show more content…
George aspires for independence, to be his own boss, to own a home, and to be “somebody”. Lennie wants to be with George, on their homestead, and to be with soft objects. Steinbeck uses his setting to illuminate the unrealistic concept of the American Dream. For instance, the story develops on the ranch, and every character living there desires the dream, but none obtain it. Candy wished to own the farm with George and Lennie but was condemned to the ranch after Lennie is killed. George admits that their dream was destined to fail: "I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we'd never do her" (90). He remarks, because Lennie "[...] usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would" (90). Their very act of striving for the impossible is Steinbeck's way of showing how unattainable the American Dream had become for many
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