Failure of American Dream in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

Abstract

John Steinbeck, in Of Mice and Men, represents two poor characters, George and Lennie, who are obsessed with the dream of prosperous life in which the dreamers may get freedom and pursuit of happiness by getting rid of poverty. They are representatives of American dream because they do have a hope that success is attainable if hard working is paid. To correlate their dream, Gorge and Lennie search for a "Promised Land". So, they make California a "Promised Land" where, by bucking barley, they have thought to reap their fortune. Instead, their entrance in the ranch of California cannot correlate their dream. They become failure to shape their dream because capitalist principle is ingrained in the ranch which exploits the workers.