Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is set in 1929, when the Great Depression caused economic disintegration, dust bowls and crop failure in the United States, leading to its enormous economic depression. The short story illustrates a story in which various characters who suffer from the negative influences of the economy view their individualized American dreams as extremely vital, to the point that they constitute their sole motivating force. At the end of the short story, all the characters have failed to achieve their dreams, mocking the unattainability of the dream. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The American Dream is the national ethos that describes 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 inaccessibility 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 "vegetable garden" and "chickens", reflecting how basic necessities are considered a dream, reflecting how the collapse of the economy has given rise to a shortage of resources and a decline in quality of life. This highlights the extent to which the effects of the Great Depression penetrated the life of every American, turning a normal, warm life into a dreamlike life, producing a melancholy atmosphere. Curley's Wife's dream of being in a "movie" and Lennie's dream of having a "farm" with "rabbits" emphasize how widespread and individualized the American dream is, causing different perceptions and illusions, pushing different groups of people in society to fall into the trap. the abyss of deception, carrying a feeling of dread. Curley's wife later said that "a man" said she "was a natural," encouraging her to realize her unattainable aspirations. Steinbeck reveals how the American Dream involves different people motivating and helping each other to believe in the deception and achieve a cooperative narrative together, implying the absurd nature of the dream. Therefore, the author reveals the horrible environment of the times and mocks the illusion, influencing the reader's thoughts on the American dream. Furthermore, Steinbeck describes the American dream as a deception that acts as a source of motivation in the character's incessant toils and fatigues. As the economy fell, many worked as itinerant workers, performing physically demanding tasks just to ensure they had enough pay to support themselves. As Lennie and George headed to their second ranch, George declared 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 that the dream of 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 fact that people in society think they are continually moving toward the dream as they tread in place, sparking a sense of worry. Before the murder, George told Lennie to "look across the river" and stated that he "could almost see" their dreamland, implying that the dream is like an optical illusion which seems to be so close and effortlessly attainable but which is in reality very far and unattainable. Lennie "laughed with happiness" when he talked about the dream before he disappeared. The fact that he "laughed" suggests the extent to which he.