The American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The American Dream is the dream of many people living and immigrating to America. Everyone has his or her own personal dream, but not everyone can attain the American Dream. There are a lot of different reasons as to why the dream cannot be attained. An example of this is can be found in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. George, Lennie, and Candy have obstacles in their way that was keeping them from attaining the American Dream. George, Lennie, and Candy have their own personal goals. George’s goal is to have independence: he wants to get away from Lennie. Lennie’s dream is to pet the rabbits. Candy’s dream is to be able to work somewhere where he is not discriminated against for only having one hand. Candy states,
I ain’t much good with on’y one hand I ain’t much good with one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’. (Steinbeck 59)
He just wants a job where he is accepted. He wants a job that is earned and not a job that he is given. Since he is
discriminated against, he will not have the opportunity that most people have. Therefore, he cannot achieve his dream. Candy then asks to join the plan with Lennie and George. George says “I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves” (Steinbeck 59). George was interrupted by Candy,
I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, ‘cause I ain’t got no relatives nor nothing. You guys got any money? Maybe we could do her right now? (Steinbeck 59)
Candy is trying to make George feel bad for him. He is trying to manipulate George into letting him into their plan. He is doing what he knows how to do. By Candy doing this, it is holding George back from getting his dream. At the same time giving him money, which he and Lennie are lacking. At first George tries to say that it was just him and Lennie, but then Candy ends up winning him over. Candy’s manipulation works, George fell for his trick. In a way this helps George achieve his dream because Lennie will have Candy. George was trying to keep the friendship by not letting Candy join them. George says, “Sure, we’d have a little house an’ a room to ourself.” (Steinbeck 58) Now it seems like Candy ruined their plan for the two of them. With Candy there George can leave Lennie anytime he wants. In a way this would be taking advantage of Lennie because of his mental disabilities. Lennie would be clueless as to what was going on. George took Lennie in, to betray him would be wrong. This hurts Lennie’s dream because he needs someone that knows him best, like George, to guide him on the path of his dream.
All through all of these events occurred, the three did not attain their goals.
This backs up the idea that the dream is unattainable, previously stated in the intro. Lennie kills the puppy while George is playing horseshoes. Curley’s wife came in, Lennie pet her hair, she pulled away, he clenched on and Curley’s wife screamed. Lennie put his hand over her mouth because she was screaming. He shook her head and snapped her neck. Now Lennie’s dream is even more unattainable because he killed Curley’s wife. Candy finds the body, but does not find Lennie. Candy says “He’s such a nice fella. I didn’ think he’d do nothing like this” (Steinbeck 95). George’s response is, “Lennie never done it in meanness” (Steinbeck 95). The two are saying that Lennie cannot control how strong he is due to his mental disabilities Lennie needs George with him to be able to know right from wrong. He needs George to help him achieve his dream. This means George’s dream is
unattainable.
As shown throughout this paper, none of these characters can achieve the American Dream. Candy cannot because he is disabled. Lennie cannot because he committed murder. George cannot because he has an obligation to Lennie. As portrayed by these characters, the American Dream is not easy to achieve. This is what it is like for most of the Americans in the world. The American Dream is not as easy as people think it is to achieve.