Fall of the American Dream

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The American Dream is a goal for which many have strived for hundreds of years. Some have succeeded in this endeavor, countless others have failed. There are as many ways to define the American Dream as there are Americans. Sadly, not everyone gets to complete theirs. Many factors can contribute to the Dream’s failure, from personal mistakes to societal oppression. No book proves this fact better than Of Mice and Men. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the four characters who best demonstrate failures of the American Dream are George and Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. The first example shown by Steinbeck is the main characters of the book, George and Lennie. Their American Dream is one which they are working together to achieve. They both desire, above all else, their very own plot of land, something irrevocably theirs, which no one can take away. In fact, Lennie is constantly mentioning throughout the book how he and George will “‘Live off the fatta the lan’ ’” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie says this to everyone he meets, demonstrating just how much he wants his American Dream. In fact, George and Lennie’s Dream is why they arrive at the ranch in the first place. They hope that by working there, the can finally earn enough money to buy a plot of land. Later in the book, the two meet a worker named Candy, who offers a large sum of money in exchange for joining in their Dream. With this offer, their Dream finally seems to be within reach. This is not to be, however. Towards the end of the book, Lennie is sitting alone in a barn, when Curley’s wife walks in. During the subsequent conversation, she lets Lennie touch her hair, not realizing the danger in this act. Lennie can’t let go of her because of his disability, and in a panic ... ... middle of paper ... ...American Dream. This social injustice, among others, holds many from their dreams, while some are held back by other factors in their lives. To cap everything off, George and Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks, most clearly demonstrate ways in which the American Dream can fail. They demonstrate how personal failures, the actions of others, and even prejudices can work to ruin dreams. These characters teach us not only the dangers of the American Dream, but also why so many strive to achieve it. From them, we can learn what to avoid in order to achieve our personal Dreams, as well as what to avoid in order to help others achieve theirs. While not everyone will be able do so, hopefully, at least some people will be able to help make the world a better place to achieve one’s American Dream. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin, 1993. Print.

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