ipl-logo

American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

403 Words2 Pages

Of Mice and Men’s American Dream
The ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Also known as the American Dream, is a hope of many Americans. In the book Of Mice and Men they show their dearest desire to find it. However the struggle of the 30’s, may come as a surprise.
"'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink.” In 1930’s race was known as a much bigger issue than today. This quote was spoken by crooks, a man who had longed to be treated with the same respect as the “whites”. Crooks came from the North, and absolutely despised the way the other men treated him because of his color. But …show more content…

George had longed for his own land and to live off of it with Lennie. “We will live off the fat of the land” he would always say. And that was all he had wanted, that was his American dream. As him and Lennie went through many difficulties to get attempt to get there, they never gave up. Soon after meeting an old man named candy at the bunk house, they had the whole thing planned out.
Men weren’t the only ones with the great american dream, Curley's Wife also shared in the hopes. As well as Crooks, Curley’s Wife wanted to be treated as equal as men. "You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad." She once said to Lennie. Under those circumstances, Curley’s Wife could not talk to any of the guys at the bunkhouse. This neglect drove her insane. She had hoped to not Always be so lonely and have no one to talk to. And this desire would be her American dream throughout it all.
What is the American Dream? The American Dream is hope, hope for equality, pursuit of happiness, and a desire of all Americans. Crooks, George, and Curley’s Wife from Of Mice and Men demonstrate these qualities agreeably. Given these points, the 1930’s was a time of hope, desire, and the American

Show More
Related
273 Words | 2 Pages

What is the American Dream? The American Dream is the ideal that every U.S. citizens achieve their dreams through hard works and determinations, as portrayed in The Great Gatsby; a novel that pursuits the American Dream, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Through the uses diction and imagery, the author, Fitzgerald has successfully revealed how each character in the story pursuit their own versions of the American Dreams; prompted numerous life lessons at the end of the story. To begin, the author uses man great diction to create certain tones, where these tones then lead to ways that the characters pursue their American Dreams, and expose life lessons that readers can easily take away. For example, in chapter 5, the author states, “Gatsby got himself

Read More
592 Words | 3 Pages

The American dream is something that we all strive for in one way or another. Whether it’s being equal to the people around you, or having freedom to be successful in whatever you want in life. But for the characters in Of Mice and Men it is the dream of owning land and being independent from everyone else. But the American Dream is not something that is given to you, it includes work ethic, knowing that the dream may be impossible and the sacrifice that may have to be made. These are all things that George and Lennie and other characters in the book have to do to eventually reach the American dream.

Read More
975 Words | 4 Pages

People, especially soldiers, deal with guilt in many different, sometimes harsh, ways. Though the ways the men in the book and people in real life deal with the feeling of responsibility may seem unhealthy, in some cases it is what is needed to heal. In The Things They Carried, Azar, Tim, and Norman Bowker all deal with guilt in different ways. Thinking too much, taking the blame, and making a joke out of a situation can all be unhealthy, but if the soldiers were using their coping methods in a more uplifting way, it could have solved several problems that arose later on.

Read More
727 Words | 3 Pages

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the American dream as ¨ the ideal that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.¨ The best example of the American dream is The Glass Castle written by Jeannette Walls. This is a book written about her traumatic experiences throughout her life and how she has made it through. She has had many struggles she has had to endure throughout her life: poverty, no security, bullies, rape, bad parenting, starvation, etc. Her two main struggles are her parents and poverty which is something that a lot has gone through. In Jeannettes life story, she shows everyone that the American dream is something that

Read More
881 Words | 4 Pages

The American dream is a dream of land in which life should be better and richer for everyone. It’s a land where people succeed to accomplish their ambition of a better life. Most of the people have a different way of defining this American Dream. Unfortunately, for some, it could mean wealth,status,or power whereas for others it could mean companionship, good morals,love,and amity. According to our Declaration of Independence, it entitles every man and woman the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Read More
878 Words | 4 Pages

Because crooks was black he was isolated and not allowed to near the other men. Lennie asks, “ Why ain’t you wanted… Cause I’m black” (Steinbeck 68). Crooks at first did not want Lennie entering his room but realizes Lennie is different and is not racist. Usually Crooks would tell people that they have not right coming into his room. He uses his isolation as a way to hide from everyone and get privacy.

Read More
974 Words | 4 Pages

In chapter one, George and Lennie are camped out in a forest clearing. They’re sitting around a campfire, cooking beans and Lennie requests George speak about the duo’s grand goal. “‘O.K. Someday-we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and-’... An’ live off the fatta lan’,’ Lennie shouted. ‘An’ have rabbits.

Read More
1091 Words | 5 Pages

My definition of the American Dream is someone who starts from nothing and makes their way through life in a happy and healthy way. Not everyone is capable of reaching the American dream. In Of Mice and Men the American dream was not reached by Lennie and George. In A Raisin in the Sun, they too did not reach the American dream. The American dream is a difficult thing to accomplish even though many live their lives trying got achieve this dream.

Read More
1801 Words | 8 Pages

The American Dream is only attainable to those who are privileged and considered truly American. Though many immigrants believe that they can grasp the American Dream, it is always out of reach and can never be achieved. The American Dream can never be accomplished through working hard and determination. Often, people chase the American Dream with high expectations for a new life, and they are often disappointed when failure strikes. Because of this, many of the characters in Of Mice and Men struggle to achieve the dreams they’ve been longing for.

Read More
777 Words | 4 Pages

The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America if they just work hard enough. The American Dream presents a view of the American society in which ignores racism problems, income inequality, etc. In the 1920’s, it was a very difficult and resulting time for the American Dream. Due to increased immigration, changing women’s roles, and a extraordinary income inequality. The country was also in the midst of an economic boom, which fueled the belief that anyone could “strike it rich”.

Read More
834 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone aspires to achieve the American Dream: an opportunity to be successful by working hard. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the American Dream brings hope for a better life for those who hold onto it. George Milton and Lennie Smalls, traveling ranch workers called bindle stiffs, dream of owning their own piece of land where they create the rules. They are not the only characters with hopes and dreams. But Steinbeck shows the American Dream is, in fact, sometimes just a dream through the hopes and actions of Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife.

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

“Curley stared levally at him. ’Well next time you answer when spoken to”(26). Lennie and Curley seem to always be getting into fights or arguments. Lennie just wants to live the dream with his soft things. Steinbeck uses events to express that the american dream is impossible.

Read More
419 Words | 2 Pages

The American dream is to start your life with little to no money and work your way into making a liveable salary. The American dream is often thought of by immigrants, many immigrants move to the U.S. thinking they follow the American dream. In the book The Great Gatsby, James Gatsby the mysterious wealthy character who dropped out of college and started his life as a young man. Gatsby could be compared to the immigrants in the thought of the American dream.

Read More
1487 Words | 6 Pages

What is the American dream? America always had that impact in other countries, as the land of dreams, opportunity, freedom of speech, and the list goes on and on. The American dream is about working hard to get were you want to be, make ours children lives better then what we had as child. Fitzgeral explains in his book, in 1920’s

Read More
650 Words | 3 Pages

The American dream is an illusion that is deeply implanted in the minds of the people, it sets a bar for life achievement and offers hope to work hard to achieve their dreams. As for Americans, they are raised in a society to where they are expected to make lots money and to have a healthy family. After all in our society success is largely based off positions of power and financial stability. For example, in The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there were multiple interpretations of the ideal American dream in the 1920s. In the 1920s, due to the growth of materialism, people advertised and fancied the power of money to fulfilling their dreams.

Read More

More about American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Related Topics

Open Document