The Unattainable American Dream in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men Essay Example

A frequent reason dreams cease to come true is because the dreamers don’t surround themselves with the right comrades. John Steinbeck's, historical fiction novel, Of Mice and Men, describes a past version of the United States during the great depression. Steinbeck produces different types of people not living their dream. By depicting one failed dream after another, Steinbeck argues that the American dream is unattainable. 

Curley’s wife seems to be living the American dream when in reality she’s living someone else's dream. The reader hears Curley’s wife explaining her dream to Lennie as he sits stroking Slim’s puppy; which he just killed. Curley’s wife then goes down a rabbit whole her backstory. During this Curley's wife mentions an interesting part of her life. “Well, a show came through, an’I met one of the actors. He says I could with that show. But my ol’ Lady would let me '(Steinbeck 88). At this moment we realize the only person perceived living the American dream; Curley’s wife isn't. In Curley’s wife's view, her mother has destroyed her dream of becoming an actress. According to Curley’s wife her mother has left her with a man she dreads and a life full of loneliness. When the only character in the book to possibly be living their dream; isn’t, doesn't leave much hope for Geroge and Lennie.     

George seems skeptical about their dream; where Lennie has been in his life to keep the dream alive. When Curley enters the barn house looking for his wife he picks a fight with Lennie. When Curley leaves Lennie asks George: “How long’s it gonna be till we get that little place”(Steinbeck )? Their dream is a symbol in a way as it acts as a place of relief for Geroge and Lennie. Lennie isn’t smart enough to realize that this might be the case which is why he constantly asks George to tell him about the dream. On the other hand, George seems to realize 

what their dream is but doesn’t want to believe it. When Lennie dies the dream is no longer George's dream or copying method for his loneliness. Nonetheless, Lennie’s death caused Geroge to forget about his dream and hide his loneliness by drinking. George, Lennie, and Curley all have dead dreams that have led them into bad parts of their life but it doesn't penetrate their personality; for Curley it does.           

Curley’s personality has been created through his failed attempts toward his dream of being a boxer. George and Lennie have just arrived at the Ranch when the boss comes in to talk with them. Almost immediately after the boss's son: Curley enters the room. After asking if anyone has seen his wife he “...glanced coldly at Lennie” (Steinbeck 25) Curley has disgust for anyone considered tall or big. The reason for this is that he let his failed dream of being a boxer affect his feelings toward others. Curley believes the reason he wasn’t a professional boxer is because of his height. Hence he picks on bigger guys; obviously, the people he picks on don’t like him but when everyone sees what he does they develop a disgust toward him. Curley has turned himself into a jerk because his dream failed to turn into a reality.    

Steinbeck exhibits the dreams of the characters in Of Mice and Men as shortcoming dreams; he claims the American Dream was unattainable during the great depression. Curley’s wife fails to be an actress leaving her with a man she dreads. George is left without Lennie and has no desire for his house and plot of land. Curley’s failed dream of becoming a boxer influences his personality, thus causing the people dearest to his heart to dislike him.        

Steinbeck, Jhon. Of Mice and Men. New York, New York, Penguin Group, 1993.