Comparing The American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

This shows that he has the mind of a child, he doesn’t think about the real consequences, he thinks about how he won’t be able to tend the rabbits. On page 87 he says, “George ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits now.” He killed the puppy, and the first thing he thinks about is how he won’t be able to tend the rabbits. Another thing Lennie says that refers to the rabbits, on page 91 is, “He ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits.” When Curley’s wife starts screaming, Lennie just thinks about George, and how he won’t let him tend the rabbits.

Lennie is upset when he kills the puppy, which shows that he doesn’t want trouble and actually wants to get the dream ranch so that he can tend to the rabbits. When he kills the puppy, Lennie talks about George, “He’ll say, ‘You done it. Don’t try to put nothing over on me.’ An’ he’ll say, ‘Now jus’ for that you don’t get to tend no rabbits!’” (Chapter 5, p.85). Lennie then goes on to say, “Now I won’t get to tend the rabbits. Now he won’t let me.” (Chapter 5, p.85). Lennie also shows anger and remorse for killing the puppy, just because he won’t be able to tend to the animals at the dream ranch. Therefore, he does believe they can get the dream ranch, because of his behavior after killing the puppy.

Lennie has his mind set on one thing. That is getting out of the barn and getting his own piece of land with George. This dream motivates Lennie to always listen and follow what George says. There he can finally tend the rabbits he has always wanted. Lennie loves petting things such as small animals and dresses which usually leads him to trouble.

His love of soft things instantly overwhelms the rest of his thoughts. His mental disability causes him to forget everything George taught him: about not going near her, about how she is trouble. Even though he didn’t want any trouble, her hair reminds him of the rabbits. As soon as Curley’s wife starts to get uncomfortable and asks him to stop, Lennie can’t. Curley’s wife is suddenly in horror, so she yells out for help. Upon hearing this, Lennie instantaneously cups his massive hands around her mouth and nose, knowing what consequences will follow if he gets caught in trouble again. Lennie’s childish actions causes Curley’s wife to start suffocate until he eventually breaks her neck. It takes a few moments for Lennie to react to what he has done an then he remembers whar George told him to do if he got in to trouble, “Lennie if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush” . This is the only thought he can think of at this point, so he sets out for the river.

He doubted Lennie because of his incapability to keep his head down and do what he’s told. Lennie constantly asked George to reassure him of these dreams to comfort and motivate him.

This is the first mention we have of the American dream. Even from the introduction, it seems Lennie is more excited than George about the prospect. George’s easy dismissal of "them rabbits" makes it seem as though he thinks the whole thing is silly. This will get more difficult as we realize that George might be as excited about the dream as Lennie; it seems he is just more cautious about that excitement, given that he’s more knowledgeable than his companion.

George is one of people in the ranch that had big goals to achieve, but he couldn’t accomplish any of them because of Lennie. George taking care of Lennie affects his dreams in a big way because every time George gets closer to his dreams Lennie completely ruins it. In the story it states George saying “ dumb bastard likes to touch everything he likes”(steinbeck 41). This is very important because this shows how childish lennie acts. The most important thing to him was to have dreams to have a farm and his own place with Lennie. This quote “ we got a future “ (Pg . 14) shows that he had a dream worth living for. Another way George had gotten his dreams taken away was when Lennie killed their boss’s wife. I know that George was a very lonely person because in the story he talks about guys like him in the ranch . “ guys like us , that work on a ranch are the loneliest guys in the world” (Pg . 13). This is very important because it shows his feelings towards being lonely.

If there was a favorable circumstance under which one could endeavour all their hopes and visions, wouldn’t one pursue it? The American Dream was introduced as an interpretation to cause the people of America in the early twentieth century to work tougher. The American Dream is the opportunity to reach the goals one sets for themselves. It is about having your dream job and life one has always fantasized about. The dream is also about having freedom and equality. In the novel, “Of Mice & Men”, John Steinbeck uses symbols and motifs such as the vicious slaughtering of virtuous animals, Crooks’ rubbish bunkhouse and Lennie and George’s deception of an ideal farm to exhibit the perception that materialistic success results in happiness is a major flaw in our thinking about the American dream, and it is this thinking which makes the dream unattainable for many.

A twenty-five percent unemployment rate. People desperate for lodging and food. Families stretching every penny to support themselves. Government trying to solve these problems through reforms and programs. This is what the world in the 1930s was like for Lennie and George, two migrant workers traveling across California, earnestly trying to achieve the American Dream. Even though these dreams seem impossible to accomplish, during the Great Depression a dream was a reason to get out of bed.

He gets his freedom, and he gets to ruin himself, and own a few acers. Lastly, to Candy, the dream is for him to be able to work the garden, and to live in a relaxed environment because he thinks that soon, the boss will let him go. A quote from the story to show how much Lenny likes hearing their American Dream is , and to show how important the American Dream means to him is “’Tell me like you done before.’ ‘Tell you what?’ ‘About the Rabbits’ George snapped ‘You ain’t gonna put nothing over me.’ Lennie pleaded ‘Come on George. Tell me. Please George. Like you done before’” (pg 13). This quote from the story shows how much Lennie believed in the dream. His mental disability made him act a lot younger than his actual age, he dreams a lot and can easily be tricked by what people say. He is very fragile and short tempered, like a young child can be. But also like a child, he believes in dreams, he still has the innocence and pureness, which causes him to have faith, and trust in the dream. A quote that shows that George is believes in the American Dream is “Maybe you’re gettin’ better. When we get a coupla acres I

live on his own land then there would be no one to object or run him:

The novel takes place during the great depression, and there are a lot of men during the time period that have the same dream as Lennie and George. Not only does this quote show the struggles of the historical time period, it also shows the personal struggle that Lennie and George have. It must be very discouraging for George to feel this way. Guys like George and Lennie "are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place"(13). I am sure that moving around so much is not good for Lennie. This is demonstrated throughout the novel, and I believe that it is one of the reasons why Lennie kills Curley's wife. Lennie having trouble adjusting in turn makes things harder for George. Not only is he expected to work, he is also responsible for himself, Lennie, and keeping track of their finances. It must make things a whole lot harder when they are in a position where they feel as if they do not

He is explaining that without Lennie he could could have a much better life. In chapter 3 he tells Lennie he could buy so many thing and make a life for himself without having to drag Lennie around. ”When I think of the swell time i could have without you , I go nuts. I never get any peace”(Steinbeck 12) this shows george is thinking only of his selfish thoughts.

They fight, and George yells at Lennie to “Get ‘im”. Lennie is so naïve that he fights Curley with everything he’s got, destroying the bones in Curley’s hand. After the fight, he cries to George “I didn’t wanta, I didn’t wanta hurt him”. He reminds you of a little puppy.

In conclusion, The American Dream left George lonely like he has never been with Lennie. Together, the two could have had anything, determination got in the way of that. Like mice, human kind has a tendency to chase after what is right in front of them, because it’s simply easier. Once the dream dust has settled, and we can see the truth, I think readers now know whether they want to continue working hard towards their dream, or start living in