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

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"The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American Dream." (Tommy Hilfiger). During the Great Depression in California, the majority of people were poor and had very few opportunities to succeed. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, many of the characters dream of greater lives than they currently have, but each of their mistakes cost them, supporting the theme of the impossibility of the American Dream. George and Lennie each have their own dreams but plan to spend it together, but Lennie's physical strength keeps them from succeeding. George has a dream of having his own land, where he doesn't have to work for someone else and where he would not have to worry about Lennie. The main character, Lennie, dreams of tending rabbits and having what he loves. "An' live off the fatta …show more content…

Candy's dog's death due to his age had a major affect on him. "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me.." (56) From the start, it is unrealistic for Candy to think that what happened to his dog and his condition won't happen to him, when he become useless his life will not be worth as much. Candy's main reason for wanting to sharing the dream with both George and Lennie is to escape solitude, a major problem during the Great Depression. "A guy on a ranch don't never listen nor he don't ast no questions." (67) The quote explains his loneliness and his vision of an isolated person is represented. The killing of Lennie is also the death of his dream of escaping his fear. "'Then it's all of?' Candy asked sulkily" (105). Candy's vision of a better life is vanished , as his dream and his friend are both killed. His dream is now unrealistic with Lennie, who had given him permission to join the dream ,

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984 Words | 4 Pages

Lennie and George find themselves becoming more hopeful after Candy successfully manages to turn a dream that was originally meant for two men into a dream for three. He tries to help George and Lennie attain their dream, and convince them that, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (59). He also shows the two friends of the possibility towards failed outcomes- symbolized through Candy’s inability to kill his own dog.

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467 Words | 2 Pages

They believe that Candy should put down his dog to end it’s suffering from its many ailments. Carlson and Slim decide for him that his dog’s life is no longer worth living. This establishes the theme of another person deciding if someone else should die. Later in the novel, George decides to kill Lennie before he gets lynched by Curley; George is in the same position as Candy previously was in Chapter 3. Candy regrets not shooting his dog himself and shows solidarity for George due to experiencing the same

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505 Words | 3 Pages

Of Mice and Men Dreams help motivate people to keep moving forward with a goal in their life. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie travel together as migrant workers through California looking for a job. Their dream is to own their own ranch after finding a job that pays well. But impossible from the challenges that they gain along the way. The dreams in the novel affects the characters lives on how they feel towards one another, and themselves.

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1818 Words | 8 Pages

Of Mice and Men is an exciting book written by John Steinbeck, first published in 1937. The story is set during the Great Depression and follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, as they travel through California in search of work. John Steinbeck utilizes symbolism, imagery, foreshadowing, and repetition to compare how Lennie and George are motivated by their dreams to show how powerful a dream can be even if the dream is unattainable. Steinbeck uses symbolism to show just how powerful having a goal can be in a character's life. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck utilizes Lennie and George’s dream of owning a farm to represent how a goal can impact a group of people.

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1619 Words | 7 Pages

“No... you tell it. It ain’t the same if I tell it. Go on… George. How I tend the. rabbits.” -Lennie (John Steinbeck,14)

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984 Words | 4 Pages

In the 1900’s, many people were in poverty and losing their jobs. They were running out of money and didn’t have places to go. People had endless hopes and dreams that they wanted to accomplish, but at the time with certain circumstances, it was difficult for certain dreams to come true. In the book written by John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, there are multiple characters that all have fulfillments they want to accomplish in their life,but unfortunately they weren’t able to complete the goals they had set up. Often times people always have hopes, dreams or something/someone that is special to them but at times when problems arise with these certain things, they tend to let go of them.

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313 Words | 2 Pages

Reaching the American Dream is a goal everyone has wanted to achieve and reach one day. Most people think that the American Dream can never be reached. The American Dream could be achieved only if the person reaching for it doesn’t stop trying. In John Steinbeck’s novella “Of Mice and Men”, two men travel to find what they believe is their American Dream. Steinbeck uses Ethos, Pathos, and Logos When wanting to reach the American Dream, people should have a logo.

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1024 Words | 5 Pages

Thus, Steinbeck foreshadows Lennie’s departure to heaven through the deaths of Candy’s dog, Curley’s wife, and the water snake. Candy’s old useless dog plays a major role in foreshadowing Lennie’s inevitable death. His dog represents the fate anticipated for all living things that have reached their final destination. Candy and his dogs relationship is a perfect mirror image of George and Lennie’s. Candy wants the best for his dog just like George wants the best for Lennie.

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586 Words | 3 Pages

At first George believed that he could accomplish his dream but later doubts it right after he discovered Lennie did another “bad thing”. “Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew. ”(Steinbeck 99). After they discovered what Lennie did to Curley’s wife, Candy asks George if they can still buy their land but all their hopes dropped as they suddenly returned back to reality and realized what was and wasn’t possible.

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1723 Words | 7 Pages

Since 1931 when James Truslow Adams first created the phrase “the American Dream”, people believed that America continuously offered everyone an equal opportunity to be successful. John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, was set during the Great Depression. Farms were struck hard during the Depression, and the two main characters George and Lennie were farm hands during this time. They had experienced the misunderstandings of other farm hands in terms of Lennie’s mental disability, but they were trying to earn enough money to buy their own farm. The idea of this farm drove Lennie and George to keep working, and like many others during this time they hoped to achieve this dream.

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447 Words | 2 Pages

"Lennie said quietly, "It ain 't no lie. We 're gonna do it. Gonna get a little place an ' live on the fatta the lan '.” This is quoted numerous times throughout the book, this is what they want to do with their lives and work towards it. George wants to stop working for everyone else and have his own place where he has a say in how to do things.

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790 Words | 4 Pages

Moreover, the men living on the ranch share mutual dreams: To George, this dream of having their own place means independence, security, working for themselves, and, above all, being "somebody." To Lennie, the dream resembles the delicate creatures he pets: It means to him security, the duty of keeping an eye on the rabbits, and a place where he won't need to be scared. To Candy, it means security for seniority and a home where he will fit in. For Crooks, where he

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834 Words | 4 Pages

The dream gives him a place where he can live out his last days in peace, and this is why he completely supports it. But then Lennie murders Curley’s wife, and the dream is over for everyone. QUOTE Candy asks George if this is the case, but they both already know the answer. The dream, like Lennie, gives them too much hope and masks the reality of their lives. They believe in it too much.

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877 Words | 4 Pages

Dreams can be very persuasive and uplifting as well as discouraging, in the right moments. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck introduces the readers to a story of dreams and how those dreams can affect you and others. Steinbeck explains through his novel how dreams can give reasons for people to succeed in life, how they can draw others in and encourage others or how dreams can stray away from reality and how the dreamer can get lost in their own fantasies and never accomplish their dreams at all. Dreams have the power to change lives by giving hope.

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1110 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the theme of the unrealized dream is displayed through characters such as Lennie, George, Candy, and Curley’s wife. The unrealized dream, also known as the American Dream, is portrayed differently for a few different characters in the book. Best friends George and Lennie have a shared dream which is to have a serene farm ranch, even if it is small, with a mediocre house, a rabbit pen, and a garden where they can grow their own vegetables and herbs. They long to live independently away from rude bosses and harsh ranches. This is seen differently for a character such as Candy who only wants to keep his job even though he is disabled.

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