The American dream

The term

The American dream can be portrayed in several relevant ways, but it essentially is an idea that suggests that anyone in the US can succeed through hard work and has the potential to lead a happy, successful life.

Stereotypical dream

• As there are many different views about the american dream, the most significant is an average life that consists of ‘being married, having two children and living in a three-bedroom home’

History

• The idea of the American dream first came about in the 1600s

• The original ideas were hopes and aspirations for African Americans

• Many of these dreams included owning land, having a family and a decent business

Steinbeck's incentive

• Steinbeck wrote of mice and men to emphasise the misery and pain that was written about in Robert burns’ poem. For example, Crooks represents the black people, Curley's wife represents the typical female in the times, and Curley represents those men that because of wealth had power but otherwise were just cold hearted men.

Steinbeck’s articles

• Throughout all of Steinbeck's articles, novels and novellas, he always discusses the difficulties of workers lives. He seems to have a large amount of respect for all workers.