The Great Gatsby
Of Mice and Men
Death of a Salesman
The American Dream
"…If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I'd have my own little place, an' I'd be bringin' in my own crops, 'stead of doin' all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground."
A simple Dream 1930's-1940's
 The American dream ideally constitutes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as stated by America's forefathers in the Declaration of Independence. This vision has been extremely warped in the 20th century to fit the new breed of Americans, which are greedy and self-centered. The main characters opinions in the novel Of Mice and Men of The American Dream substantially differs from each other, and from today's society.
Of Mice and Men takes place in the 1930's of America during the Great Depression. The American dream was no more, and the land of opportunityhad become the land of misfortune. It was during this time that many farmers best hope for a new life lied in California.
Lennie and George are best friends, and how ever different they may seem both share a common goal. Their main ambition is to "get the jack together," purchase a few acres of land they can call their own, "an' live off the fatta the land", to own a humble home, where they can work for themselves and be free of the persecution and scrutiny of society. A kind of sanctuary from the flings and arrows of the outside world, where it seems Lennie was not meant to live in.
About the characters
Most of the characters in Of Mice and Men admit, at one point or another, to dreaming of a different life. Before her death, Curley’s wife confesses her desire to be a movie star.
Crooks, bitter as he is, allows himself the pleasant
fantasy of hoeing a patch of garden on Lennie’s farm one
day, and Candy latches on desperately to George’s vision
of owning a couple of acres. Before the action of the story
begins, circumstances have robbed most of the characters
of these wishes. Curley’s wife, for instance, has resigned
herself to an unfulfilling marriage. What makes all of these
dreams typically American is that the dreamers wish for
untarnished happiness, for the freedom to follow their own
desires. George and Lennie’s dream of owning a farm,
which would enable them to sustain themselves.
