Explore how Steinbeck presents dreams in Of Mice and Men and what it reveals about life in 1930s America Steinbeck presents the idea of dreams through his presentation of George and Lennie’s aspiration - a fairly typical version of an American Dream, which is very simple, yet somehow unattainable. This is the first dream Steinbeck introduces to the reader; they want to own a patch of land and work for themselves. Lennie, in particular, wants some rabbits he can tend to. This is a fairly classic dream in the 1930s - owning land, and being your own boss so you’re able to take days off for yourself was highly sought after in 1930s America. Their dream, however, is almost presented as a pipe dream, or a delusion to keep Lennie happy. This ‘bedtime story’-like idea is particularly shown when George is trying to soothe Lennie to sleep. Lennie shows his child-like innocence here, especially when he says, “Go on, George! Tell about what we’re gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages”, which really showcases his naivety. This shows how difficult life was in 1930s America, because even the most simple of dreams is seen as a juvenile fantasy, but not something that is achievable. Furthermore, when their dream has a chance of actually coming true, it is described as “the thing they never really believed in”, furthering the reader's impression of how unattainable …show more content…
This shows how Steinbeck presents George and Lennie’s dream in the context of 1930s America. The use of the adverb ‘really’ suggests that both George and Lennie thought that their dream could never really