Of Mice And Men And The American Dream Analysis

Everyone aspires to achieve the American Dream: an opportunity to be successful by working hard. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the American Dream brings hope for a better life for those who hold onto it. George Milton and Lennie Smalls, traveling ranch workers called bindle stiffs, dream of owning their own piece of land where they create the rules. They are not the only characters with hopes and dreams. But Steinbeck shows the American Dream is, in fact, sometimes just a dream through the hopes and actions of Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife. Lennie’s low mental capacity and intelligence give him the personality of a child in a wrestler’s body. Because of this, Lennie holds on to the imaginary ranch he and George want to have one day, like a young child would. Lennie pleads with George to recite

But in reality, they are alike because they both want to find a place of their own and are different than everyone on the ranch. In Candy’s case, it is because of his age. Meager janitorial jobs take effort to complete, so he fears he will soon be let go. Holding on to George and Lennie’s dream makes him feel secure because he knows he will have somewhere to go once he becomes too old to help. After his death, he will leave his money to George and Lennie to keep the farm going. 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. Crooks tells them he sees many men with the same dream, but “never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it.” Ripped away, Candy yells at Curley’s wife’s dead body. Angry and bitter, Candy becomes like the other ranch