The American Dream Theme in Of Mice and Men Essay Example

The American Dream is like a lantern, providing light during times of darkness. In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, migrant farmers are forced to brave the harsh life of constant work, and little pay in hope of a better life. Through the characters ambitions for a better life, Steinbeck reveals that the American dream is unattainable, yet necessary to make the harsh life of migrant workers bearable. 

Throughout Of Mice and Men, many characters have ambitions and goals for the life they want to live, however each dream was cut short, merely a false sense of hope. Two migrant farmers, George and Lennie, dream of owning their own farm where the two can be in control of their own lives, and “live off the fatta the lan’” (page 16). However, throughout the story, Lennie’s mental disability get’s George and Lennie in constant trouble, making their dream of a farm, nothing but a fantasy. Lennie loves to touch things and as George says he “wants to touch ever’thing he likes'' (page 42). This proves to be a problem in Weed, when Lennie grabs a young girl's dress to try and touch it. The girl runs off claiming she’s been raped, forcing George and Lennie to flee. Again in their new ranch, Lennie kills Curley’s wife as he pets her hair, she starts to scream and“he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish.” (page 91). Lennie once again is forced to flee the scene as he will lose yet another job. George, devoted to Lennie, understands that he and Lennie are stuck in an everlasting pit of inevitable doom, and their dear dream is no longer a possibility. With their dream no longer being a possibility, George puts an end to Lennie’s life as he knows Lennie can no longer be truly happy. Despite the inevitable failure of the American dream, Steinbeck proves that these inevitable dreams are necessary to endure the harsh life of migrant workers. George and Lennie’s dream of living “off the fatta the lan’” pushes both George and Lennie to embrace the jarring life they live (page 16). Throughout the novella, the only motive George and Lennie have is their dream farm. The farm provides a form of escapism for George and Lennie as they can believe that once they earn enough money, life will be theirs to control. As George and Lennie prepare for their next job, George warns Lennie that if he gets in trouble, “I won’t let you tend the rabbits” (page 17). George and Lennie reach the bunkhouse closely resembling a prison with its “whitewashed walls” and “unpainted floors” (page 18). The small two shelved apple box holds all the ranchers personal belongings revealing how little each rancher owned. The terrible conditions these ranchers lived in, would be enough to destroy the spirit of any person, but George and Lennie push on thinking of their farm. Likewise Candy, an old rancher, has his spirits reinvigorated when George and Lennie tell him about their dream. “Candy went on excitedly, ‘How much they want for a place like that?’” (page 60). He offers George and Lennie the little money he has saved up as long as he can join them on their farm, proving that the American Dream is what allowed migrant workers to persevere. 

Through the harsh life of a migrant worker, Steinbeck reveals that although the American Dream is unattainable for many, it provides hope for those braving the harsh conditions of life.