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

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John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, about two young men making their own way in early America puts a seeing glass on the American Dream and what is achievable. Since the 1930’s and well before then the American Dream has been the light at the end of the tunnel for immigrants and some Americans alike. Presently, however, what this “dream” entails has morphed for most present-day Americans. Whether a citizen born in the U.S. or an immigrant traveling to a new world there is a hope in mind to achieve something. The morphing of the American Dream from the 1930s to the “Dream” today when examined raises significant questions. Since the flag being raised freely for the first time in 1783 America has stood as a marker for prosperity and hope. People came from far and wide to start a life anew and begin the makings of their dream for their future. One …show more content…

Terry Teachout makes a statement on what is in the head of most American Dreams. “No narrative, whether real or fictional, is more characteristic and compelling than the tale of the poor boy from nowhere who, solely by dint of his own efforts, becomes rich and famous” (Teachout). Tales of someone with nothing turning it into millions is what most people think that the American Dream is. That is the one thing on modern America’s mind; money. This shift in less than one hundred years time is startling due to the fact that dreams are to be of happiness and prosperity, but now it all ties to money. People born into the prosperity and blissful life of an American have been well off for the majority of their life in most cases. Early development of having prosperity led them to wanting bigger and better things not just necessities. Not unlike George and Lennie wanting to “live off the fat o’ the land”(Steinbeck 14). People may not have the need to simply survive, but already do so rather easily. Thus, pushing people to a conclusion in their heads that they need

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“The original term ‘American Dream’ was coined during the Great Depression by James Truslow Adams, who wrote that the American dream ‘is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth’ ” (573). He then addresses the views of liberal economists and activists, who think the American dream is dead, using facts from a survey done in 2009 by the New York Times. Essentially, the “survey found that 72 percent of Americans still believed it was possible to start poor, work hard, and become rich in America” (573).

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The American Dream has a different meaning from what it once was, but according to Brandon King it is still alive. His beginning question, “What is the true state of the so-called ‘American Dream’ today” (Page #610, Para. #1) appeals to his audience’s own thoughts of his or her own personal beliefs for their futures. Most people have an idea of what they want in life, and their dream may not be the rags to riches dream of yesteryear, but is uniquely theirs.

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Kevin Cui Nercissian English 12; Period 5 9 May 2017 Annotated Bibliography Amadeo, Kimberly. "What Is the American Dream?" The Balance. N.p., 20 Feb. 2017.

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The whole source of the American dream is want, wealth and love are just an effect of desire. All dreams start with the want for a different way of life, which is made available by money or love, but it is the initial desire of something new that starts the dream: “In the 1920s, the American Dream started morphing from the right to create a better life to the desire to acquire material things. This change was described in the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby” (Amadeo). Desire is the trigger that motivates the American dream. It starts the ambitious behavior to gain

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Sometimes the American Dream doesn’t come true, it’s an idea people hope for. Immigrants from all over the world have gone to the United States of America in hope of a better life for themselves and their children. This dream is fueled by the hope of one day leading a happy and prosperous life in a land that allows far more liberty and opportunities than any other. The American Dream is the idea of an individual overcoming all obstacles and beating all odds to one day be successful. This subject is the predominant theme in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men.

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The American dream, a concept deeply woven into the fabric of the nation, has been a beacon of hope for generations. For many, living a luxurious lifestyle and being able to sustain oneself financially is the ideal American experience. However, there are a lot of dark realities about the American Dream that date back to the 1920s and continue to the present. Tracing back to the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the concept of the American dream has since evolved from the eighteenth century to today’s society. The question of its attainability in the modern world remains a subject of great debate.

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Using the novel Of Mice and Men created by John Steinbeck, I will investigate how the author feels about the idea of “The American Dream.” From the title of this book you could foreshadow how preparation and hard work might not be enough to achieve the dream that you have. Also, the two main characters, George and Lennie, are chasing their dream that always seems to be out of reach. Opposite of the optimists, was Crooks who is more of a realist who believes no matter how much you believe and try that dreams are only in your head. Even though, the characters play a major role in distinguishing Steinbeck’s message about dreams in our life.

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Achieving the American Dream "The ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved" (Oxford Languages) is the idea of the American Dream. This idea is exhibited through all walks of life and in many books throughout the height of the 20th century. " Of Mice an Men" by John Steinbeck conveys this very well through the goals of the migrant American worker. In the book George and Lennie must work as ranch hands in the hope of saving up enough money to buy a small farm and work on their own. As the American Dream says itself, achieving it is possible for anyone no matter their mental deficiencies that somebody has or the job they do to achieve it.

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Despite many Americans believing that the American Dream is no longer available as there are government restrictions that limit their potential for success in any fashion, others insist that the American government provides rights for the people of America to be able to constantly achieve what they believe to be the American Dream. The American Dream is not just a dream of success but more a measurement of achievement and the ability to better one’s

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Through different time periods and events in America, the American dream has changed and will

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No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours, it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And still today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important symbol to the American ideology.

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Although one was allowed to dream big, immigrants' goals when coming to America were to seek freedom and a new start. Every person varied on what they wanted to achieve. Depending on a certain ethnic group or gender, in today’s society not everyone’s American dream is to achieve wealth, but instead for instance preserve their cultural roots. As Lynn Evans highlights, “a large majority of Americans are more satisfied with their lives than the

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No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important

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The way that the U.S. is civilizing their way of doing many stuff was an effect on the change of the American Dreams definition. Its definition meant happiness for every citizen. As of right now it means the bigger the better will make every citizen's life happy. Wealth is the first priority today to be able to live a happy life than just having enough to live for many years. To have enough, a person should be able to work hard but not an extravagant amount of time where they won't be able to enjoy their life.

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Firstly, the widening gap between rich and poor class implies that the American Dream is becoming more

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