How To: Achieve the American Dream when you are not rich, white, and straight. Why is it that the “American Dream” only seems possible for a certain portion of the American population? In his 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck explores the theme of perseverance in times of suffering—specifically in the harsh period of the Great Depression—through ‘Crooks,’ Lennie, and Candy’s hopes of an American Dream. The men, who are characterized as “bindle stiffs—a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy
Are all men created equal? Are they able to reach the same goals as their colleagues? Is anything ever equal? Of Mice and Men, a novella by John Steinbeck, is the story of George and Lennie, two men who are trying to make money to buy land in order to start a ranch. However, Lennie becomes an occasional obstruction because of his mental disability. He gets in trouble once in a while because he doesn’t know his own limits. In order to make money, they start working at a ranch and meet others who are
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
While most believe that America is the “Promised Land,” today, forty eight million Americans live below the poverty rate (money.cnn.com). Our capitalist ideals make even the hardest workers unable to provide for their families. Through analyzing John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, we grasp what the struggle for the American Dream really is. George, Lennie, and Candy crafted a divine plan to obtain their own little patch of heaven, where they would “live on the fatta the lan” (Steinbeck 56). However
Mrs. Shupp English 9-Honors 5 October 2015 The American Dream in Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men, by American author John Steinbeck, is a novel set in California during the Great Depression. The story the lows of the Great Depression era, while profiling two companions, Lennie and George. The classic novel takes American ideals and puts them into the context of the time period. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck demonstrates how unattainable the American dream - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Sept. 2015 The American Dream In Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie plan on pursuing the American Dream. What could possibly go wrong? During the Great Depression in California, people found reaching their dreams especially difficult. Many characters in the book dreamed about owning land and a house of their own, but these thought were only dreams. George’s and Lennie’s experiences and flaws support the theme from Robert Burns’ poem “To A Mouse” that dreams, even when well-planned
People often argue that dreams do come true, but how come many do not? In the engaging and evocative novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses the characters as examples to demonstrate that the American Dream does not always prevail, as shown by the failure of multiple dreams in the plot. To the characters in the story, imagination serves as a place to take refuge from reality. At times, people may become so obsessed with their dreams that they believe with certainty that it will happen. Steinbeck
Dreams are important to everyone as it acts as motivation to carry on in tough circumstances. The novella is set in the 1930’s, right after the Wall Street Crash. Unemployment rates were high, so men had to travel around to find work. They usually travel alone, and they moved from ranch to ranch to find short term work as it is the only work available. These workers have no friends and family, are dependent on their employers and have no control over their lives. Their dream provides them with comfort
definition of the American Dream is the idea that every US citizen has an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. In the book Of Mice and Men several of the characters have the desire to accomplish their American dreams. They strive to achieve this through hard work, motivation, and commitment. These character’s dreams were important to them because it gave them hope that tomorrow would be an exceptional day. Their dreams were something they
figurative “refuge.” The term “American Dream” was created during the 1920’s of America, the forlorn time period known as the “Great Depression.” Only thing the inconsolable Americans could do to live on was to stay in their figurative “refuge,” dreaming the “American dream,” hoping for a better future. In the story, “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck demonstrates the power and importance of dreams, which leads to hopeful lives of people during the Great Depression