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American Dream In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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What is the “American Dream”? Is it being a billionaire and owning your own mansion? Or is it having a spouse, kids, and a roof to live under? In Steinbeck’s Of Mice & Men, the characters all have a different meaning attached to the words American Dream. The American Dream is unattainable for Crooks, George, and Curley’s wife because the story takes place in the 1930s California when society had much different views towards certain people. Crooks is black, therefore ruining any chance of him obtaining the American Dream. Crooks is confined to a small living area and is pushed away by the white ranch hands. He has far less possessions of his own than the other workers do, and when they all play horseshoes, Crooks is excluded. At one point in …show more content…

Curley’s wife is the only woman on the ranch, and none of the ranch hands will talk with her, out of fear of dealing with Curley. Curley’s wife is unhappy with her marriage, talking to Lennie about her dream of acting saying, “If I'd went, I wouldn't be livin' like this, you bet" (Steinbeck 88). The other ranch hands are convinced that she’s looking for trouble, when she really just wants to talk. She expresses many times how she is not happy with Curley, since he controls seemingly her every move. In a different time period, much later than the 1930s, Curley’s wife would be able to pursue her acting career without the constant pressure of a man who controls her. The American Dream is unattainable for Crooks, George, and Curley’s wife because the story takes place in the 1930s California when society had much different views towards certain people. Crooks is a black man living in a time of major racism, not allowing him to be treated equally. George has to deal with the mentally handicapped Lennie, which keeps him from pursuing the duo's plan. Curley’s wife is the only woman on the ranch and is controlled by

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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “Paradox and Dream” by John Steinbeck are perfect examples to prove that the American dream is unattainable. This is shown in many different ways throughout both. The Great Gatsby shows it in more of a made up way. “Paradox and Dream” shows it in a more realistic way. No matter how the unattainability is portrayed, it is all meant to have the same meaning.

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