Book AnalysisA rather short but interesting reading by John Steinbeck entitled “Of Mice and Men” demonstrates a kind of utopian ideology, it conveys that for the vast majority the American dream is exactly that, but a dream. George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm, which would allow them to become independent and, above all, offer them protection from an otherwise inhospitable world and what they consider to be a hopeless world, represents the stereotype of the American ideal. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As George goes into the vivid details of the farm he dreams of, his qualities become even more apparent. All the food they want will be readily available, with almost no effort. As Lennie says, "We could live off the lan." (Chapter 3, page 57.) When George talks about their farm, he describes it twice in terms of things he loved as a child: "I could build a smokehouse like Grandpa had..." George hopes for his future to reflect the grandeur of his childhood, saying "And we'll keep some pigeons to fly them around the mill like they did when I was a child." George's dreams of the future reflect the childish and almost absurd imaginative luck needed to achieve the "American Dream." Their journey, which pushes George to realize the impossibility of this dream, sadly proves that the bitter Crooks is right. Such havens of freedom, contentment and security are not found in the world as we know it. It's a powerful dream, as even the cynical Crooks falls under its spell for a short time. For Lennie the dream is an escape and he often asks George to recite the description of the farm to him. The idea of ​​the American dream is well represented in an optimistic fantasy of George and Lennie's farm. The reality of the American dream for many became apparent when characters never achieved their dreams, as many families struggled to make ends meet. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay So the book represents the American dream, both the idea and the reality. But in the end it is obvious that George will have to live his dream alone. As noted comedian George Carlin once said, “That's why they call it The American Dream, because you have to sleep to believe it.” Works Cited Steinbeck, John. Of mice and men. Np: Thornes, 1990. Print.