The American Dream Theme in Of Mice and Men

According to Oxford Languages, the American Dream is the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. However, this is all a lie. Throughout Of Mice and Men, we see the American Dream repeatedly conveyed as a fantasy. 

Growing up, everyone believes that hard work will bring you success but the world harshly proves us wrong. George and Lennie have toiled all their lives to have their plans abruptly shattered. After Lennie killed Curley’s wife, “Now Candy spoke his greatest fear.” And their dream was desolated. Similarly, Crooks has endured bitter labor almost all his life, yet has virtually no chance of fulfilling any life outside the ranch. “Cause I’m black.” Crooks doesn’t get a chance at a better life. Countless men come to the ranch to make money and buy land but “Nobody ever gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.”

Despite Lennie and George’s troubles, their dreams give them hope and motivation. Lennie continually wants George to repeat their dream future and no matter the number of times Lennie asks, George always repeats it. “Go on- tell again, George.” and George once again comforts Lennie with their positive future. Likewise, after Candy’s ranch accident, he knew he would be out of work soon but Lennie and George’s plan gave him optimism towards his future. “They’ll can me purty soon” and Candy will be out of the job with no way of building an improved life. Right before George killed Lennie, George recited their once attainable future and calmed Lennie for the last time. “Le’s get that place now.” but George knew there was no hope. 

The ideal of the American Dream is that everyone has an equal chance at a superior future, yet that “equality” is nonexistent. Crooks has the lowest likelihood of a future solely because of his race. Despite all his hard work, Crooks lives in “a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” even though he works no less than anyone else on the ranch. Furthermore, Curley’s wife didn’t even get an opportunity to fulfill her career because of her gender. Her mom declined her invitation to follow her dreams so she could settle and get married to a man she doesn’t love. “I never got that letter” that held the key to a different future. Candy’s injury from the ranch is the reason for his lost future. Without Lennie and George’s plan, he will soon be fired and left with no work and no way of making money resulting in a broken chance at a fair life. “When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me.” but instead he won’t have anywhere to live because he has no right hand. 

This American “Dream” has proved to be more of a nightmare than a dream. Of Mice and Men confirms that you can’t rely on hard work and patriotism to give you a perfect life. Life is verified to be unfair but Lennie and George show us that friendship is crucial in living your dreams.