Essay Sample: How Does Steinbeck Challenge the American Dream in His Novella of Mice and Men?

John Steinbeck, the author of the book, has chosen to set this book in the year 1929. This was a time of the great depression, when the stock market collapsed and the whole of America came crashing down with it. It was also a time of segregation, racism towards black people which caused a separation between all colored and white as well as their facilities. The novella is based on two main characters, George Milton and Lennie Small. They both necessitate and require each other in life, Lennie is big, intimidating and strong, while George is like a paternal figure to Lennie and guides him in life.

One character who challenges the unrealistic expectations of the American dream is Curley’s wife. This is because she wanted to become an actress but her dreams were unable to be fulfilled because she is married to Curley and lives in a patriarchal society which can be seen in the fact that she is not even given a name in the novella to show the lack of status and importance in the hierarchy of the society as a woman. Evidence for her possibly becoming an actress in the past can be seen in the quotation, “Everyone out there doing something and what am I doing”, another example of evidence for this point is, “I tell ya I could of went with shows.An a guy told’ me he could put me in the pitchers…”. Technique used of the first quotation is a rhetorical question, which emphasises that she doesn't want to be there and is bored as well as questioning reality. This challenges the American dream because it shows how it failed for her and now she doesn’t want to be there, and it shows the illogicality and impracticality of the American dream.

Another character who challenges the American dream in Steinbeck's novella is Crooks, because he can never do anything and will never progress in society. The cause of these points is because the society has a hierarchy and since he is black he is segregated and is alienated and seen at the bottom. This can be seen in the phrase, ‘ he is the only black guy on the ranch. He is also pessimistic and doesn't believe in the American dream since he has been alive for a long time which can be seen when he says to Lennie, “i seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back and’ that same damn thing in their heads [...]. An’ never a God damn one of em’ ever gets it.” After analysing both the phrase and the quote I can infer that he is alienated and desolate, and while talking to Lennie he is being pessimistic and trying to be persuasive and stop Lennie’s hope, destiny and motivation. Crooks challenges the American dream because since he is black he is segregated and estranged from everyone else. Also, he has seen many men with the American dream who have all failed to fulfill their dreams and expectations.

Last but not least,Candy is also another character why challenges the success of the American dream. He isn't able to work because he is disabled since he lost his hand while working with the machinery on the ranch. This also means he is at the bottom of the hierarchy in their symbiotic society because he is useless since he is old just like his dog and disabled.Speech that supports my points are, “Out of the sleeve came a round stick-like wrist with no hand” and “And they give me two hundred and fifty dollars ‘cause I lost my hand”.The first quote shows that he is useless and is discriminated in the ranch because he is old and has a disability.Secondly, the second quotation creates empathy and that the Boss (Curley’s dad) gave Candy $250 because he lost his arm and became useless on the rand and that he would never able to make money again.This challenges the American dream because Candy knows it is impossible so he tries to join George and Lennie on their plan to own ‘a fat of the.