The American Dream In 'Of Mice And Men'

Eleni Velalis
Dr. Abala
ENG 111-07
February 9, 2017
The Dead American Dream The American Dream is the set belief that one can achieve success on any level through hard work and sacrifice. Every person wishes to attain the American Dream, but not everybody is willing to put forth the effort and hard work. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, the story takes place during the Great Depression. The novella begins alongside the Salinas River near Soledad, California. George Milton and Lennie Small are two migrant workers for the hunt of the American Dream by making their way to a nearby ranch in which they will begin to work at in the morning. Along the way, George and Lennie decide to stop to sleep for the night by the
Groover states, “Somebody to talk to that gives a damn, but friendship cannot compete with grinding poverty, bigotry, and the forces of fate” (Groover). The relationship that George and Lennie share is one in a million. It is rare to find someone that will stick through all the hardships as George does with Lennie. The relationship grows in the hunt of the American Dream. The two friends have not always been the closest to each other. George used to play mean spirited jokes on Lennie because of his mental disability. One time, George told Lennie to go jump into a river. Knowingly, George knew Lennie would follow his instructions because Lennie trusted George. Lennie almost drowned and George saved him. George realized that he was abusing their friendship and not portraying the loyalty and trust back to Lennie. Groover states, “At the play's heart is odd couple George and Lennie. Inseparable, these two diametrically different men need and complete each other” (Groover). George and Lennie’s relationship flourishes for their hunt of the American Dream. Lennie tries to follow every rule that George gives to him but fails miserably. George is continuously getting discouraged of the dream by Lennie’s mess ups that keep arising. Although, no matter how much Lennie messes up, George will never leave Lennie’s side. George feels that he owes himself to be there for Lennie because of his promise
Lennie constantly wants to be reminded by George of their future dreams. Lennie looks forward to his time on the farm spent with the soft rabbits to pet, without any cares in the world. "An' live off the fatta the lan', Lennie shouted.” Steinbeck states, "An' have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages” (Steinbeck 15). George tells Lennie of their American Dream to keep him focused and remind him to not act out. George also threatens Lennie that if he does act out, the dream will be gone and unattainable. George needs Lennie at the same time, to keep him hopeful of the dream and to not lose sight of the vision. George wants the dream more than anything, Groover proclaims, “He is as caught up in the vision as Lennie, but there's no wildness in Georges’ obsession. We've got to believe in those chickens and barley fields, too” (Groover). At this point, George has not lost hope for their dream. At the ranch where George and Lennie are working, Lennie is very open with all the workers about the American Dream. Lennie tells Candy about the dream and Candy offers up his life savings of three hundred fifty dollars to join George and Lennie on their future farm. George allows this offer for many reasons. George see’s Candy as an equals because they are all rejects of society. George accepts Candy’s offer because of the extra