The United States of America, with the commonly known by the name “Land of the free,” is clearly the most diverse country in the world, universe even. However the ideal life for the citizens of the United States, the American dream, is a very controversial topic. The definition of the American dream is different for everybody, some might say that it consists of a successful life. Others might argue that it is more on the security viewpoint that everyone should be able to live a secure life with cares from the society and government. Overall, it is an ideal life that individuals want to achieve in this country. In my opinion, the American dream is a bit different from that. The main characters in Of Mice and Men have a dream to get a plot of land and live on it and become independent. The American Dream was not an achievable goal for many people; the book shows this failure through the characters of Lennie & George. The American dream was a great thing; we first heard about it when Lennie and George were sitting by the river at the very intro of the book. The ideal life for the citizens of America consists of three main subjects; the ability and rights to chase one’s dreams, to be accepted as yourself, and freedom from oppression.
The first characteristic of the American dream, that people should be able to pursue their own dreams, is one of the most basic idea that built up the culture of the United States as it is. It is always the ethos of the Americans to work hard to be able to get what they want and be successful. As commonly seen in today’s society, every person has a passion for something; this passion can be anything and they are encouraged by their family, their friends, and people around them to go and try to do their best to make these dreams become reality. As commonly seen in the society, there are many clubs and institutions that are created in response of people’s need of places to further participate in their hobbies and interests. Crooks, trying to prove the point that dreams are just in your head says, “I see hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out there. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody never gets no land. It’s just in their head.” This was proven later on when Lennie never got to achieve his dream of tending the rabbits. Although it remains a mystery, I wouldn’t doubt that they never got their farm. George would’ve been lonely. Although there was a possibility and nobody can stop their dreaming.
The second characteristic is rights to be accepted and respected as an individual. The ideal society for America is the society in which different people can live together in harmony. In other words, people should be unified but embrace the differences between one another. These differences can be anything. They can be a big topics such as races, ethnicities, religions, ideas, languages or small things like hobbies or interests. Equality despite differences is a very desirable thing. History has shown that by accepting the differences and acknowledgement of others can lead to prosperity. This had many healthy consequences. The American culture at last began to give shamefully overdue recognition to achievements of groups changed and spurned during the high noon of Anglo dominance, and it began to acknowledge the great swirling world beyond Europe. Americans acquired a more complex and invigorating sense of their world, and of themselves. (Schlesinger 144)
The final characteristic that defines the American dream is freedom from oppression. As the nickname of this country already says quite clear, the United States of America’s ideal environment is where freedom is given to each and every single citizen. Oppression will not be tolerated in this land of the free. As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” (Kennedy 139) The United States also clarified its stand since the early times of the nation that it will pursue the right of people and will not let tyranny be in power over the people. The example for this is stated in the declaration of independence by Thomas Jefferson. We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, government are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever when any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. (Jefferson 391-392)
In conclusion, though the American dream may be defined differently, in my point of view, it consists of a set of rights. First, people should be able to pursue their dreams and do things they want to. Second, people should be accepted as they are and they should cooperate with others peacefully. Third, all the people should be considered equals and be free from unjustified cruelty. The American dream is the ideal society and concept that people of the world, not just Americans, should try to achieve through cooperation and understanding of others around them. Before the action of the story begins, circumstances have robbed most of the characters of these wishes. Curley’s wife, for instance, has resigned herself to an unfulfilling marriage. What makes all of these dreams typically American is that the dreamers wish for untarnished happiness, for the freedom to follow their own desires. George and Lennie’s dream of owning a farm, which would enable them to sustain themselves, and, most important, offer them protection from an inhospitable world, represents an American ideal. Their journey, which awakens George to the complicity of this dream, sadly proves that the bitter Crooks is right: such paradises of freedom, contentment, and safety are not to be found in this world.