The Importance of the American Dream to John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

The Importance of the American Dream to John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

The novella, 'Of Mice and Men' was written in 1937 in Salinas,

California. It was written by John Steinbeck who himself was born in

Salinas in 1902. Adjacent to the Salinas River, much of the town's

commerce is centred upon shipping and agriculture and specifically

vegetable farming. Early in the century many people were migrating to

California, and many were trying to succeed in farming. One of

Steinbeck's jobs was as a ranch worker. While digging canals Steinbeck

was afforded his first opportunity to meet and observe this class of

unskilled labourers who would later inhabit much of his work.

Steinbeck was a lonely, modest and restless man. This is reflected in

'Of Mice and Men' where the main characters are ranch workers and are

lonely men always searching for something more. Steinbeck creates

atmosphere brilliantly in 'Of Mice and Men'. He uses the verb as a

descriptor, and by including contrasts, similes and metaphors, the

recurring themes of light and sound and suspense, he creates a very

vivid atmosphere. The Salinas River is mentioned in the first line the

novella and is centred on the landscape around Salinas:

'On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp

that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them.'

The animals make the scene very natural and peaceful and Steinbeck is

renowned for his love of the outdoors and of animals. He describes the

scene very vividly, using such phrases as, "fresh and green", "yellow

sands" and "golden foot-hill". These are soft colours, and so imply a

peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. He foc...

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...ly life and this is not understood by others like

Carlson because they don't understand how it is to be cared for by

another person. No character has learnt a moral lesson either and this

sums up society. However the hope and desire shown by Lennie and his

companionship with George, especially reflects the optimistic side of

this novella. The American Dream can fit in with themes such as

isolation and segregation and this is shown in the character of

Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife.

I think Steinbeck successfully uses this novella to show a distinct

contrast between it and his society he lived in and it shows the

harshness of society when there was a Great Depression. He shows how

the lack of fairness in society of arrogant greedy people, and those

who had nothing to live for but have hope for achieving their dreams.