How Does Steinbeck Present The American Dream In Of Mice And Men

In the novella Of Mice and Men the theme of the American Dream is used throughout. Of Mice and Men is a novella written by author John Steinbeck in 1937, it tells the story of two friends, George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant ranch workers, who travel from farm to farm in California during the Great Depression looking for work. Used throughout this novella is the theme of the American Dream. In his novella, Steinbeck uses characters George, Candy and Curley's wife to simulate the theme of the unattainable American Dream.

Firstly, George is used by John Steinbeck to contribute to the theme of the unattainable American Dream. George Milton is one of the two main protagonists in Of Mice and Men. He is a small and quick man as described by Steinbeck also born in Auburn, California along with his friend Lennie. George's version of the American Dream was to own a farm. His tells this to Lennie as if it were a story

Candy is the first person George and Lennie meet when they arrive at their new ranch to work. He is old, useless, the janitor and has only one hand. Candy’s vision of the American dream is to own a farm land with George and Lennie. As seen in chapter 3 when he immediately will give his life’s savings to Lennie and George, two men that he’s only known for little time. Candy says, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hunderd 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.” (Steinbeck 59). This quote shows that his dreams was almost able to come