The Intangible American Dream

In Of Mice and Men the American Dream itself is but an unattainable goal. Lenny and George wanted to have a small place of their own to live and "live off the fat of the land." As much as they worked hard on trying to get it they did not. Fate stepped in the way and caused Lenny to accidently kill Curley's Wife which caused Lennie's own death at the end of the novel. With the death of Lennie, his and George's dream was also killed.

Literary Device #1

Major Characters

Lennie is referring to the goal of owning a farm, which is so close, that he is even asking about having rabbits on the farm where he gets to tan them.

“‘George, how long ‘s it going to be till we get that little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’-an’ rabbits?’” (Steinbeck 56).

Lennie

George

“‘S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing…We’d just go to her’” (Steinbeck 61).

This shows that, George wished to be free and self-reliant, able to go anywhere he wants. To George, the American dream was almost turning into a reality, when Candy joined him and Lennie.

Candy

“‘Damn right. We got most of it. Just a little bit more to get. Have it all in one month. George got the land all picked out, too’” (Steinbeck 76).

This also shows to Candy the American Dream was turning into a reality. Candy may showed the door for the American dream, but it was shut before it even had a chance to open.

Literary Device #2

Dialogue

Basically, Crooks is trying to elaborate to Candy and Lennie, that George is in town spending their money on drinks, and that he has seen people come and go and they all are full of hope, of having their own land. While none of them were able to have it in their grasp.

"An' where's George now?

In town in a whore house.

That's where your money's goin'. Jesus, I seen it happen too many times. I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never get none under their hand."(Steinbeck 76).

“‘You guys is just kiddin' yourself. You'll talk about it a hell of a lot, but you won't get no land. You'll be a swamper here till they take you out in a box. Hell, I seen too many guys. Lennie here'll quit an' be on the road in two, three weeks. Seems like ever' guy got land in his head.’” (Steinbeck 75)

Crooks tries to explain to Candy and Lennie, that this dream that they're having, they will not be able to obtain it.

The American Dream was once tangible at one point, but now pulled out of grasp.

"'-I think I knowed from the very first. I think I know'd we'd never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would'" (Steinbeck 94-95).

John Steinbeck reveals the futility of chasing the American dream in the following quote.

Literary Device #3

Settings

Works Cited

Near the Salinas River

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print.

"Settings as symbols in Of Mice and Men." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008.

Web. 5 May 2014. <http://www.shmoop.com/of-mice-and-men/settings-as-symbols-symbol.html>.

The Salinas River, a very peaceful, beautiful place, where Steinbeck divulges this in the following quote, where Lennie asks George that why aren’t they just not going to the ranch where supper is provided as well. And in response George said:

“'No reason at all for you. I like it here. Tomorra we’re gonna go to work. I seen thrashin’ machines on the way down. That means we’ll be buckin’ grain bags, bustin’ a gut. Tonight I’m gonna lay right here and look up. I like it'” (Steinbeck 5).

George and Lennie find themselves where they can be with themselves without having to worry about anything else.

“O.K. Someday—we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and…” (Steinbeck 8).

This also is a place where the dream began, and it was also shattered in that place as well.

The Barn

A place where animals can find shelter and warmth. It is a man-made place, where humans take care of animals.Yet ironically, Lennie kills his puppy and Curley’s wife.

“‘ You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?’ Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew.” (Steinbeck 94-95)

Candy even after the incident still is thriving to achieve the dream that they had, yet before George even answered, he knew that the door towards it was closed and the dream was pulled out of grasp.

A Brief Introduction

The American Dream has not changed since the novel. The American Dream, has and always will be about achieving our goals and being happy. It doesn't matter from what time era or culture a person is from. The American Dream, is the same to everyone, it just has a million different possibilities. In the novel, the dream is unattainable though. The author uses Lenny's death to illustrate that many people try to achieve their goals and push themselves to their max, but never end up grasping it.

The Intangible

American Dream

Mrs. Forsyth

English 11

3rd Hour

By: S. Rahman

Thesis

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the struggle for the intangible American Dream, is shown through the use of major characters, dialogue, and the settings.