Lennie's American Dream

By 1932, over 25% of the normal workforce was unemployed. The Great Depression left many businesses bankrupt, so there was little margin of error for the workers lucky enough to find a job. The few businesses that survived the Depression and the Dust Bowl weren't willing to put up with unwilling workers. This brings us to two of them, George and Lennie, looking for a way to make money anywhere they can get it. They travel the nation looking for money to achieve their American dream. Lennie wasn't able to take care of himself because of his mental illness, so George chose to take care of him voluntarily. However, as Lennie falls short of George's expectations, their American dream falls out of view. Throughout Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
It was his decision to take on this "challenge" and take care of a nearly helpless grown man. Although he has positive feelings towards him, he advances the novel with his leadership and frustration over Lennie. Furthermore, George's constant conflicts with Lennie makes George seem as if he feels responsible for all of Lennie's actions. For instance, George is constantly complaining about how Lennie is a burden on him ― "I got you! You can't keep a job and you lose me ever' job I got!" (11). George isn't strong enough to leave Lennie, so he has to put on a happy face and stick with it. However, deep down he is frustrated, and that anger comes out sometimes, as shown here. Lennie's behavior causes George frustration and anger, which causes George to not consider Lennie's side of any situation. Upon George coming back from leaving Lennie home, George says, "Jesus, seems like I can't go away for one minute" (83). George's personality expresses both deep care and frustration with Lennie and his actions. George doesn't necessarily trust him enough to leave him alone, he sees the letdown coming ahead. However, he feels the need to give himself a break from Lennie's constant needy attitude. George is treating Lennie like disciplining a child, however, this may not be the right approach. Even if Lennie's mind is thinking like a child, nothing else about him is childish and everyone else in their environment sees him as nothing but a man. George has a difficulty understanding Lennie's emotions when all he desires is for Lennie to "behave" for him. George is responsible for Lennie's actions because he is like Lennie's parent all of the time, and if George is controlling every aspect of Lennie's life he is ultimately responsible for his