American Dream in Of Mice and Men (Book Analysis)

John Steinbeck’s novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ explores close companions, George and Lennie, as they embark on a journey to achieve the great American Dream. In this passage, which is in the middle of Chapter three, readers are given an insight to the protagonists of the story and their version of the American Dream. This passage creates hope in not only George, Lennie and Candy, but also the readers, and is a pivotal scene in the novella as it causes the novella to reach a new high that was seemingly unattainable prior to this passage, while also foreshadowing the inauspicious future.

Before this passage, Candy’s dog was shot as a means of being “... put out of its misery.” This event not only foreshadows the fateful ending, but it also establishes a sombre mood before this pivotal moment in the novella. After, George and Lennie talk about this dream which informs readers that they don’t have a place of their own, a place where they don’t have to work for anyone, where they have freedom. As soon as Candy enters this dream too, it becomes tangible. “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 repeats “We’d just go to her,” three times in this passage, which illustrates his excitement about being able to live a new luxurious life where they would be free to do as they please. By including George’s statement of the men having their own place “Right squack in one month,” it demonstrates the eagerness the men feel to finally achieve this dream.

Hope is explored in detail through the sense of the American Dream where you have your own land and you are succeeding in life through the hard work you put in. Steinbeck gets us close to this dream and makes readers believe that it really is going to happen, while also making this dream seem very unrealistic, something like that of a fairytale. This is clear when George says “We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus’ say, ‘We’ll go to her,’ an’ we would. Jus’ milk the cow and sling some grain to the chickens an’ go to her.” This creates an ominous feeling as readers feel like this dream is just an illusion, as it is too colourful and vibrant and perfect to be real. We get a glimpse of how protective George is of this dream, how “George was on guard immediately,” and how he is also very protective of Lennie, ensuring that Lennie will always have a place in this dream, saying to Candy, “Then you an’ Lennie could go get her started.” Loneliness is also highlighted in this passage through Candy and how he also wants to be apart of this dream to have somewhere to belong, somewhere to escape his loneliness. Candy doesn’t have anyone left for him, “I ain’t got no relatives nor nothing,” his dog was killed and he is getting old and knows that “They’ll can [him] purty soon.” This shows how ranchers just go through the motions, work, have some fun, grow old, get canned and then die. Steinbeck spreads the message that even simple dreams are sometimes unattainable, especially in 1930’s America during the Great Depression.

 This passage highlights George, Lennie, and Candy’s eagerness to achieve this great American Dream, and demonstrates the importance of this dream. This dream gives the boys purpose and something to strive for. It is what holds their friendship together. This is most evident when George has a revelation, and this is prominent when he says “I bet we could swing her,” which shows him trying to convince himself that this dream is within arms reach.

At the end of this passage, Candy makes a comment to George, “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.” This creates a gloomy feeling that the dream will only be achievable for so long before something comes in the way of that. We soon discover what that thing is when Curley comes in looking for his wife and picks a fight with Lennie, resulting in Curley getting his hand crushed, which causes this optimistic passage to be sandwiched between two dull scenes which creates a feeling of concern in the reader.

This passage is instrumental in giving the audience an insight into George and Lennie’s means of living, which can be seen through this recurring motif of the American Dream. We see how important it is to George, Lennie and now, Candy. It establishes the friendship between George and Candy and also gives readers a sense of hope. Steinbeck uses this passage to toy with the readers emotions and to foreshadow the ending of the novella.