Steinbeck represented the economic migrants in his book as two friends travelling together named George and Lennie. Even though they were American and lived in America all their life, they still had the same dream of getting a piece of land ‘We’ve got a future, we’re gonna get a little place.’ In his book, Steinbeck also shows that all the economic migrants have different reasons for moving around the country for example George and Lennie moved around because Lennie kept getting into trouble and then had to run away before getting shot. This would not be the case for anyone else as George and Lennie were the only two men that travelled together. The reason for this is because George promised Lennie’s Aunt Clara that he will take care of Lennie as he can not do so himself.
Even though many people’s American Dream was to get a piece of land, some people had other very different American Dreams, getting a piece of land was only the most common American Dream. Steinbeck also proves this in his book through the conversation between Lennie and Crooks the Negro stable bunk. Lennie’s American Dream is to get a piece of land and raise some rabbits ‘The rabbits we’re gonna get,’ where as Crooks’s American Dream is to have equality. ‘This is just a nigger talking so it don’t mean anything,’ was the way in which everyone saw him. He wanted America to be a free country, for example that he could be allowed to live in the bunk house with all the other men. Since he was not able to do this he had to keep himself entertained in other ways. To do this, he exercise different interests, like reading. Other black people would not be as lucky though, most black people were not allowed to be educated, therefore could not read or write. This shows us that he probably had a good childhood and maybe even attended school. That is probably the reason why he feels even more rejected by society. When he was small the other white children in his class probably did not know about inequality and therefore treated him as one of them, but now that he is older he is treated like an adult, therefore inequality is forced upon him.
The American Dream turning into a nightmare was not the only problem faced by America at the time, there was also a cig problem with racism against the black people brought from Africa to work the American land as slaves a few hundred years before. People thought that they were dumb, filthy, insignificant creatures that had no right to say or do anything without permission, because of this they were separated in every way for example Black and white people where not allowed to use the same toilets, sit next to each other in busses or dine in the same restaurant. ‘Racism was one of the biggest problems faced by America in the 1900’s.’ ( - America in the 1930’s) America saw that there was no other way then to give the black people equality, but this did not happen immediately. America abandoning inequality was the image of a free country for the black people living in America.
Crooks was the character representing America’s problem with racism. While Crooks was talking to Lennie in the stables, he told him that the only thing he wanted was to be seen for who he is and not for the colour of his skin. All he wanted was to be with other men, to talk to them, to play cards with them and most important, just to know that they were there. ‘S’pose you couln’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black.’ He told Lennie the only thing he wanted was to be equal, nothing else.
Women at the time was treated better though still thought to be incapable of obtaining and managing a piece of land and therefore not allowed to achieve the common American Dream. In other words, they were not allowed to buy a piece of land and the only way for them to achieve the American Dream was to marry a wealthy man in the hope that he will leave the land to her in his will. ‘Women were thought to be incapable of doing the same work as a man. They were to stay at home, obey their husbands and look after the children.’( - America in the 1030’s) This type of view did not change much until the late 1940’s. Even though this problem has decrease dramatically, there are still some jobs today that are frowned upon when done by a women for example being the president of the USA.
Steinbeck shows us what some women thought about the point of view that the public took, by creating the character of Curley’s wife. During the conversation that she had with Lennie, we can share her feeling and understand what she must have gone through. She did not want to live on the ranch, her American Dream was to become an actress, she also tells Lennie how she got offered a job before marrying Curley. ‘I tell you I ain’t use to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself.’ She tells Lennie that she only married Curley because she had nothing else left to do and that she does not really love him. This is what many other women felt, but never breathed a word about as they would be rejected be society and make their family name bad.
Even though everybody had an American Dream, not everyone achieved their dream. ‘ Although the American Dream was a big hit during the time, not many people achieved it.’( - America in the 1030’s) We can see this in the novel by looking at Crooks, America only reached equality later in the 1900’s, he was already an old man therefore he most probably not alive when equality was reached. Another example is Curley’s wife, she was murdered by Lennie before she could escape her life with Curley and make a new start without him somewhere else.
However, some people did achieve their American Dream even though ‘they probably had an advantage like being wealthy, but this was in the minority.’( - America in the 1030’s) Steinbeck showed us an example of this through the ranch owner that owns Tyler’s ranch having achieved his American Dream and therefore his son Curley has an advantage, already being wealthy and having piece of land.
We can see that Steinbeck has researched problems during the time and different types of American Dreams. He then created a character to fit each example and then created a story around it. The reason why Steibeck wrote this book was probably to let people in America and all around the world more aware of the problems in America. As well as to warn other people not to immigrate to America.
