John Steinbeck’s Novel "Of Mice And Men": Focus On The American Dream

In John Steinbeck’s novel, he introduces characters that undergo a series of events that takes them closer and further to reach their dreams. Two men, Lennie and George, escape from Weed. This results in them working on a ranch to survive and set their main focus entirely on working towards prosperity. Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, targets how The American Dream is to be well off in life and that displays identical methods of survival.

This objective is definite for all the men who work and have worked on a ranch.

A colored man named Crooks has explained to Lennie how the dreams of many men are the same. While these men discuss Lennie’s ambition he has created with George, his acquaintance informs him by saying: “‘I see hundreds of men come by on the road. They come an’ they quit an’ and go on; an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head…Everybody wants a little piece of land”’.

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This man perceives and comprehends that the main desire is to own land like many other prosperous beings at that time. When the author displays this conversation, this ties into how each worker's goal is interchangeable with the others. The truth behind the ambition is to have a robust lifestyle. Another way the author explains the identical aspirations is through the character George and how he knew what would have happened if there was nothing in his way. While George tells Slim, “‘If I was bright.

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.even a little bit smart, I’d have my little place an’ I’d be bringin’ in my crops…’”. He says he can work for himself. Through this event, it is hinted that The American Dream is to live a life similar to the people they labor for. For these people, to succeed is to be able to work for their benefit. The author shows how the aim for many farmers is to live a normal life, for one to be able to gather materials for their well-being.

Many other characters also describe the longing for what they would want to acquire. George and Lennie suggest possessions that they would derive for the benefit and how it corresponds to what a ranch might maintain. George explains his ambition: “‘We’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house…an’ a cow and some pigs…’”. He states things that are essential in a ranch and what might help one survive. The writer portrays the dream as having things to themselves, which relates to the thesis that is, to have a normal life and obtain materials for a human’s gain. In addition to those certain examples, George continues about what he strives to have. He tells his best friend about it, “‘We’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens”. This conversation advances the protagonist’s hopes for the future. This binds into the previous ideas that Steinbeck has displayed about The American Dream being equivalent to the ideas and ways of the more wealthy who own more things and give out jobs in their homes in place of working for someone else. The principles of the theme are advertised by the character's intentions.

Lennie effuses about an ambition that is well repeated throughout the story. Slowly towards the end of the book, he gives out a statement to George. He carries on about it to him saying: “‘An’ live on the fatta the land’’”. He announces a phrase that others have used before. Regressing to Crooks acknowledging the fact that all farmers have the same dream supports this quote leading to what Steinbeck portrays how the goals are identical. With this in mind, the two men compare laborers and the people they work for. George contrasts these two figures when he says “‘Guys like us, that work on ranches...They don't belong no place...They ain't got nothing to look ahead to…’”. He means that people like him are beneath the community of wealthier others. Going back to how every worker would like to have property, here, Steinbeck demonstrates why that may be the reason, having no place to stay or go could be very painful for anyone and can create the goal of wanting to thrive and get their place to feel safer. The logic behind all aspirations being similar comes from the loneliness of the people who worked at that time which results in wanting a place of one's own.

In conclusion. The American Dream is to have prosperity, and well-being, and how they are the same for everyone. Agricultural workers at the time had identical goals to achieve. Those people preferably strive to work for their benefit in surviving than for other people. These similar desires are drawn from all the employees having one thing in common, which is no place to belong. In Of Mice and Men Steinbeck conveys the truth about the American Dream through the characters' struggles and shows the truth of how they are identical.

Updated: Feb 29, 2024
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John Steinbeck’s Novel "Of Mice And Men": Focus On The American Dream. (2024, Feb 29). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/john-steinbeck-s-novel-of-mice-and-men-focus-on-the-american-dream-essay

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