Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is set in 1929, when the Great Depression caused economic disintegration, landfill and crop failure in the United States leading to its enormous economic depression. The novella illustrates a story in which several characters suffering from the negative influences of the economy see their individualized American dreams as extremely vital, to the point of acting as their only motivating force. At the end of the story, all the characters have failed to achieve their dreams, mocking the unattainability of the dream. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The American Dream is the national ethos that paints the idealized life of prosperity and freedom for every American. Steinbeck presents the concept of the American Dream in depth through the nature of illusion, people's perception of illusion, and the unattainability of the dream. First of all, the illustration of the nature of the dream presents a tragic sense of absurdity. Lennie and George's American dream involves having a "garden" and "chickens", reflecting how basic necessities are seen as a dream, reflecting how the collapse of the economy has given rise to a shortage of resources and the decline of quality of life. This highlights how the effects of the Great Depression penetrated the life of every American, transforming a normal, warm life into a dreamlike atmosphere, creating a melancholic atmosphere. Curley's wife's dream of being in a "movie" and Lennie's dream of having a "farm" with "rabbits" highlight how the American dream is widespread and individualized, causing different perceptions and illusions, bringing down different groups of people in society. the abyss of deception, bringing a sense of dread. Curley's wife later says that "one boy" said she "had a natural talent", encouraging her to achieve her unattainable aspirations. Steinbeck reveals how the American Dream involves different people motivating and helping each other to believe in deception and craft a cooperative narrative together, implying the absurd nature of the dream. Then, the author reveals the horrendous environment of the time and mocks the illusion, influencing the reader's thoughts on the American dream. Furthermore, Steinbeck portrays the American Dream as a deception that serves as a source of motivation in the character's incessant toils and toils. During the economic collapse, many worked as itinerant laborers, taking on physically demanding jobs just to ensure they had enough pay to keep themselves alive. As Lennie and George headed to their second ranch, George said that "it's not like that" for them and that "they have a future," affirming their belief that they can achieve the impossible. This implies how the dream of having a better “future” gives value and importance to George and Lennie and allows them to differentiate themselves from others. “We have a future” also reflects the belief that people in society are continually progressing towards the dream while in reality they are marching in place, evoking a sense of worry. Before the murder, George told Lennie to "look across the river" and said he "can almost see" their dream world, implying how the dream is like an optical illusion that seems to be so close and easily reachable but in reality it is distant and unachievable. Lennie "giggled with happiness" when he talked about the dream before his death. The fact that he “giggled” suggests that he is blinded by the overwhelming colors of the illusion. He is intoxicated by indulgence in self-deception to the point that he is unable to be aware of danger.