Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men is a novel of defeated hope and harsh reality of the American Dream. However, regardless of how much one may hope and strive to reach it, the American Dream does not always provide complete fulfillment.

Of Mice and Men takes place in America during the Great Depression of the 1930's. Formerly known as the land of opportunity and fortune, America had soon earned the label of being the complete opposite. It was during this time that many migrant workers moved their family west in search for the "American Dream."

The American Dream; there are similarities that are in most people's dreams regardless of when they lived or who they are. Most peoples dream includes being happy, healthy, and surrounded by loved ones. However, dreams often differ in the aspect that some people may want to work hard, be healthy and have great financial success, while others dream of living off the land they work on and doing enough work to survive, while still remaining healthy and happy.

Being the best of friends, George and Lennie are different in many aspects yet they both seem to share one common goal; to purchase a few acres of land they can call their own, "an' live off the fatta the lan'" ( Steinbeck, pg. 14). Being able to own a humble home, where they can work for themselves and be free of the torment and scrutiny of society. A place away from all the ignorance of the outside world, where it seems Lennie was not meant to live.

George and Lennie's struggle for their tiny piece of the American Dream is best summed up by Crooks when he said that he's "seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their hands. Hundreds of them. They come, an' they quit an' go on; an' every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em gets it. Just like heaven." (Steinbeck, pg. 74) Candy and Crooks find George and Lennie's dream to be everything they want, but have not been able to achieve. The idea of George and Lennie being so close to achieving this dream only makes Candy and Crooks want to share in the success even more. Candy and Crooks want to live out the American Dream, even if it is not their own.