25039's+Page

Steinbeck's   //Of Mice and Men//: Not Achieving the Dream; a Metaphor to the American Dream?

Lennie kills Curley’s wife. George shoots  Lennie in the head, while imploring him to look across the river because you can almost see the lan’ where the farm will be. The dream is now over, but was it ever even a possibility? There is a chance that George and Lennie’s dream is the American dream, “of a land in which life would be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement”-stated by James Turlow Adams in 1931 (“What”).

In the beginning of //Of Mice and Men//, Lennie and George speak of the dream to acquire a farm, breed rabbits, “an’ live off the fatta the lan’(Steinbeck 14).” Here the comparison to the American dream begins, as they want to live on a land with a high quality of life, and enjoy it very much. George and Lennie believe it is their right, as Americans, to pursue this dream. Throughout the story, they speak of the dream. But actions speak louder than words, and a pattern begins immediately. Lennie kills the mouse , yielding to his weakness for soft things. George speaks of the ease with which he could live without Lennie, making his $50 a month and spending it however he wishes. But that is a loser’s dream, showing that he is not completely committed to his and Lennie’s dream (Lisca 88).

The dream of Eden is a symbol of commitment to each other (Owens 86), which is recognized by other characters. George feels that he is responsible for Lennie and Lennie is loyal to George. The dream keeps them moving forward together.

Further into the book, the dream briefly becomes a possible reality. George found a farmhouse selling for $600. With Candy, the one-handed swamper, joining into the dream and offering his money, they have $450. George thinks he can swing it for that. Crooks, the stable buck, even says he will help, but that claim is short lived.

Curley’s wife, also looking for companionship, enters the scene, claiming that they will never achieve the dream, and Crooks backs out. The pattern continues, as George goes to town with the guys and spends some of his $50. Lennie’s puppy is crushed, and then in comes Curley’s wife again. Her hair is soft. After a few screams , she is no longer (Steinbeck 91). Curley’s wife throughout the story was a threat to the dream, as she continues to bring up the harsh realities of the outside world, and arousing Lennie with her soft hair (Lisca 89).

The death of the dream should not be a surprise, considering these recurring themes. It also seemed too perfect. Two wanderers do not achieve goals set that high, even if the idea of the ‘American Dream’ implores them to think they can.

Works Cited

Goldhurst, William. “The Novel’s Vision.” //Bloom’s Guides: John Steinbeck’s// Of Mice and Men. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York. Chelsea House. 2006. 115-124. Print.

Lisca, Peter. “Patterns that Make Meaning.” in //Reading// //On:// Of Mice and Men. Ed. Jill Karson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998. 86-93. Print.

Owens, Lewis. “The Need For Commitment”. //Bloom’s Guides: John Steinbeck’s// Of Mice and Men. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York. Chelsea House. 2006. 84-88. Print.

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

"What Is the American Dream?" //American Memory from the Library of Congress - Home Page//. Web. 03 June 2010. [].