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

509 Words3 Pages

“The American Dream is not that every man must be level with every other man. The American Dream is that every man must be free to become whatever God intends he should become” Ronald Reagan. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there are two migrant workers. Their names are George and Lennie Small. They have a dream of living on their own land to gain independence. All this time they have been farm to farm and live paycheck to paycheck. But due to Lennie's disabilities, it makes it harder for them to complete their dream, despite that, they come really close to achieving their dream. I think the outcome of this book/movie shows that achieving a dream is not possible for everyone, even if they are determined to achieve it, and it is shown …show more content…

The American dream is portrayed as elusive and unattainable in Of Mice and Men. It highlighted the struggles and shattered the hope of George and Lennie's dreams as they chase a better life. I've seen hundreds of men come by on the road and on the ranches with their bindles on their back and the same damn thing on their head, every damn one of em’s got a little piece of land in his head”(74). This quote underscores the recurring theme in the novel, despite the widespread desire for a better life. The character Crooks expresses the disillusionment felt by many in the book/film, highlighting a common desire for land to be called their own. In Of Mice and Men, the American dream is shown to be unattainable for George and Lennie through the obstacles they face and harsh realities hinder their pursuit for a better life. Just like heaven in the sky. Everybody wants a little piece of land. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land”(74) This quote reflects the pervasive theme of the American dream of unattainability. Crooks' statement emphasizes the harsh reality that despite this shared aspiration, no one ever truly achieves

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