How Steinbeck foreshadows the unattainable dream for Lennie and George: In “Of Mice and Men”, Steinbeck explores the idea of the American Dream throughout the novel. The American Dream was the era in which many people, of different backgrounds, moved to America in the hopes of finding a better life. This time period lasted until the late 1920s. America had large amounts of fertile soil which offered many opportunities for becoming rich, as owning your own plot of land meant that you could make your own income and have a high financial status. This, in addition to political and religious freedom, attracted many people to America. People wanted financial security and a clean start and they believed this would be achieved by moving to America. The American Dream was the hope that the underdog could make something of themselves in the unforgiving world. George and Lennie’s story is a microcosm of the harsh realities of trying to achieve the American Dream. They are two migrant workers trying to earn …show more content…
Crooks speaks of the other workers having the same dream as Lennie and George but says that “never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it” which tells us that migrant workers don’t achieve their dreams and this foreshadows a similar fate for Lennie and George. Crooks also says, “You guys is just kidding yourself” which means that Lennie and George are holding onto an unattainable dream and false hope. Curley’s wife foreshadows their dream never being realised. When George says, “She’s gonna make a mess” it foreshadows that she will be the reason that their dream will not come true. She is associated with darkness “disappeared in the dark barn” which foreshadows that she has dimmed their optimism and dashed their hope. In a description of her, the word “trigger” is used which has connotations of death and in the end her death is eventually the death of their