The American Dream is the notion that anything is possible, in American. Many allusions to “the dream” are constantly made since Americans would like to believe that their fair share is available if they just work hard enough and smart enough to make the dream come true. It—the Dream—seems possible, but is it available to everyone who wants it and puts forth effort?
To illustrate the question of whether the American Dream is possible for everyone consider for a minute someone who is injured on the job, someone who has to care for a terminally ill family member, someone who is mentally ill, someone who is mentally retarded—what happens to their American Dream?
George and Lennie have a lot of big ideas, mostly George, since Lennie just wants to pet soft things. We learn early on in the story that Lennie cannot seem to control his impulse to pet a small mouse, despite George chastising him for accidently squeezing them too hard and snapping their necks. George is in for the plan of buying a small ranch with George and George needs Lennie for his strength and ability to do ranch work to make the needed money.
In the same way, think about Crooks, who was an African American man on a ranch in California during the 1920s, years before the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Crooks gravitated towards George’s version of the American Dream and as quickly as he was on board with the idea he just as quickly backed down when he was reminded by his encounter with Curley’s wife that due to racism it was not possible for him without an uphill fight—so he relented and gave up without being denied his dream.
Is the American Dream possible for everyone who wants it or is it just for the select and favored few? In short the question remains for each person to answer this for themselves upon reflecting upon their own personal and unique experience.
To illustrate the question of whether the American Dream is possible for everyone consider for a minute someone who is injured on the job, someone who has to care for a terminally ill family member, someone who is mentally ill, someone who is mentally retarded—what happens to their American Dream?
George and Lennie have a lot of big ideas, mostly George, since Lennie just wants to pet soft things. We learn early on in the story that Lennie cannot seem to control his impulse to pet a small mouse, despite George chastising him for accidently squeezing them too hard and snapping their necks. George is in for the plan of buying a small ranch with George and George needs Lennie for his strength and ability to do ranch work to make the needed money.
In the same way, think about Crooks, who was an African American man on a ranch in California during the 1920s, years before the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Crooks gravitated towards George’s version of the American Dream and as quickly as he was on board with the idea he just as quickly backed down when he was reminded by his encounter with Curley’s wife that due to racism it was not possible for him without an uphill fight—so he relented and gave up without being denied his dream.
Is the American Dream possible for everyone who wants it or is it just for the select and favored few? In short the question remains for each person to answer this for themselves upon reflecting upon their own personal and unique experience.