The American Dream
English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men, topic 1.1.3
The American Dream as Context for Of Mice and Men
The American Deam was an ideal which many people had when they emigrated to America. It captured a sense of opportunity and hope. But it was an ideal and not obtainable.
Declaration of Independence
- The American Dream is the belief that America is a land of opportunity, and this is rooted in the Declaration of Independence. This states that “all men are created equal” and everybody has the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.
George and Lennie
- George and Lennie’s dream of owning “a little place” (Lennie, Section 4) of their own and enjoying the freedom which comes with self-sufficiency or, as they say, living “off the fatta the lan’”, is a typical example of the American Dream, and is something that many ranch workers of the 1930s would have aspired to achieve.
Curley's wife
- Curley’s wife’s unfulfilled dream to be “in the movies” (Curley’s wife, Section 5) is also a typical interpretation of the American Dream: the idea that an ordinary working-class girl can make it in Hollywood.
Failure to achieve the American Dream
- None of the characters in Of Mice and Men are successful in achieving their ‘American dreams’.
- This means Steinbeck could be criticising the concept of the American Dream, suggesting that the idea that “all men are created equal” is false.
Racism and the American Dream
- Through his presentation of Crooks, Steinbeck also seems to be making the point that the American Dream is only for white people and that black people like Crooks are supposed to be satisfied with being treated like second-class citizens.
Test yourself on The American Dream
The belief that America is a land of opportunity is rooted in what?
Where does Curley's wife want to work?