How Character in 'Of Mice and Men' Depict the American Dream
The fulfillment of the American Dream is not always achieved a clear example is a novel entitled Of Mice and Men. American Dream is a phrase that has multiple meanings to different people. For some people, the American Dream might be an education. To others, it means having the freedom to practice their own religion. In the novel “Of Mice and Men” American Dream is presented, and in the essay this concept is seen through many characters such as George, Crooks, and Curley’s wife.
George is a character who aspires to be a landowner. The mistakes of his friend cost him his dream. George shares this dream with his friend, Lennie. Lennie’s mindset is on taking care of the rabbits. “Sure, you’d go out in the alfalfa patch an’ you’d have a sack. You’d fill up the sack and bring it in an’ put in the rabbit cages”. Candy, an old swamper who loses his dog comes into the picture offering “Tha’s three hundred, and I got fifty more comin’ the end of the month. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some”. George describes the piece of land as “....a little house and a couple of acres an'a cow and some pigs”. “We'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with going to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof”. His dreams come crashing down when Lennie kills Curley's wife. Lennie’s ignorance and strength cost George his dream. George lost faith in buying the land and suggested they just give up.“I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would”.
Curley’s wife had dreams of becoming a Hollywood actress. Curley’s wife’s marriage and her mother contributed to the failure of her dream. An actor in a show had encountered her and said that she had talent. “Come there when I was a kid. Well, a show come through, an’ I met one of the actors. He says I could go with that show. But my ol’ lady wouldn’t let me. She says I was on’y fifteen. But this guy says I coulda'. She had met a man who reassured her of her dreams of becoming an actress. He tells her that he would mail her a letter about it and up until her death she has no idea if he did. She believes that her mother has hidden the letter from her. “Nother time I met a guy, an’ he was in pitchers. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write me about it. I never got that letter”. She yearned of a luxurious lifestyle which she describes as “Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes-all them nice clothes like they wear. An’ I coulda wen to them, an’ spoke in the radio, an’ it wouldn’t cost me a cent because I was in the pitcher'. Curley’s wife’s marriage is one with no trust. Curley does not trust his wife for her to have friends in and out of the ranch. It would be impossible for Curley’s wife to become an actress while married to Curley. Her mother is another reason for her defeated dream. The actor told her that she would be a good addition to the show her mother did not give her permission to join. Curley’s wife might have been a star if her mother allowed her to join the show.
Crooks' dream was that of equality and belonging somewhere where he is wanted. Crooks grew up in California not knowing what segregation was. He moved down south is when he started to experience segregation. As a result, he has become very defensive and tough. “I was born right here in California. My old man had a chicken ranch, ‘bout ten acres. The white kids come to play at our place, an’ sometimes I went to play with them, and some of them was pretty nice. My ol’ man didn’t like that. I never knew till long later why he didn’t like that. But I know now”. He never felt like he was welcomed on the ranch and was excluded from every activity that the men participated in. He wasn’t even allowed to live in the bunkhouse with the men. Crooks was not treated with any respect because of his race “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room”. He continues to tell Lennie how bad they ill-treat him “Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me”. Crooks is lonely and when Candy comes in speaking of the piece of land that they were going to own he joins. He is desperate for company and wants to be a part of something he offers them “...If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing-just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want so”. Crooks’ dream collapses because he fails to believe in himself. He does not think that any dream is possible with white men. Crooks has seen how much contempt white men show to him, and he sees this dream as unfeasible. When Curley’s wife entered the room and insulted him he was reminded where he lived and his surroundings. “You guys comin’ in an’ settin’ made me forget. What she says is true”. This makes Crooks reconsider joining George, Candy, and Lennie. He tells Candy“Member what I said about hoein’ and doin’ odd jobs? “Yeah,” said Candy. “I remember.” “Well, jus’ forget it,” said Crooks. “I didn't mean it. Jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’t want to go no place like that”.
In conclusion, the American Dream is not attained for characters in the book denominated Of Mice and Men such as Crooks, Curley’s wife, and George. Crooks who dreamed of being a part of something had failed due to the lack of confidence in himself. Curley’s wife who aspired to be an actress dreams came crashing down because of several reasons. Her marriage and mother contributed to the decline of her dreams. George who yearned to be a landowner with his friend, Lennie, and co-worker, Candy failed due to the ignorance and strength of Lennie. Not all dreams are possible and achievable and Of Mice and Men is an excellent reminder of it.
