The American Dream: a Double-Edged Sword

The quest for success and fulfillment in America, often embodied in the concept of the "American Dream," has been a defining characteristic of the nation since its inception. This dream, promising prosperity and upward mobility through hard work, has captivated both citizens and immigrants for centuries. However, this ideal is not without its critics. Two seminal works of American literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, provide a profound critique of the American Dream, highlighting its potential to lead to moral corruption, disappointment, and a sense of futility.

This essay explores how these novels portray the American Dream as an elusive and often destructive force.

The Illusion of Success

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald paints a vivid portrait of the Roaring Twenties, a period marked by economic prosperity, cultural change, and social upheaval. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves from Minnesota to New York in search of his own success. He soon becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and the Buchanans—Tom and Daisy. Gatsby's extravagant parties and immense wealth are revealed to be part of his relentless pursuit of Daisy, his former lover. Gatsby's dream, however, is tainted by the means through which he acquires his wealth. Tom Buchanan accuses Gatsby of illegal activities, hinting at the moral compromises Gatsby has made: “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong” (Fitzgerald). This suggests that the pursuit of the American Dream can lead individuals to forsake their ethical principles, as they feel compelled to use any means necessary to achieve their goals.

Similarly, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men underscores this theme through the experiences of itinerant workers during the Great Depression. George and Lennie, the central characters, dream of owning a piece of land where they can live independently. This dream represents their hope for stability and self-sufficiency. However, the harsh realities of their lives often lead them and their fellow ranch workers to indulge in vices like drinking and gambling. As one character puts it, “Well, a guy gotta have some fun sometime” (Steinbeck, p. 53). This statement reflects how the pursuit of the American Dream can be overshadowed by more immediate desires, leading individuals to make choices that ultimately hinder their progress.

The Disappointment of Unfulfilled Dreams

Both novels also illustrate the theme of disappointment that often accompanies the pursuit of the American Dream. In Of Mice and Men, the friendship between George and Lennie is central to their shared dream. Yet, this dream is shattered when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, forcing George to make a heart-wrenching decision to end Lennie’s life. This tragic outcome highlights the unattainable nature of their dream and the profound sense of loss and sadness it brings. George's despair is a powerful commentary on how the American Dream can end in disillusionment and tragedy.

The Great Gatsby similarly conveys this sense of disappointment. Despite Gatsby's immense efforts to win back Daisy, he ultimately fails. After a climactic confrontation with Tom, Daisy chooses to remain with her husband, leaving Gatsby devastated. Fitzgerald poignantly captures Gatsby’s despair: “He must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream” (Fitzgerald). Gatsby’s dream, like that of George and Lennie, ends in heartbreak, underscoring the idea that the American Dream often leads to unfulfilled desires and emotional turmoil.

The Futility of Chasing the Dream

Ultimately, both Fitzgerald and Steinbeck suggest that the American Dream is an elusive and often unattainable ideal. In The Great Gatsby, the novel concludes with a reflection on the relentless pursuit of dreams that remain out of reach: “It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . and one fine morning” (Fitzgerald). This metaphor of struggling against an overpowering current suggests that the pursuit of the American Dream is a continuous and often futile endeavor.

Steinbeck echoes this sentiment in Of Mice and Men through the character of Crooks, who observes the countless men who pass through the ranch with dreams of owning land: “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bundles on their back and that same damn thing in their heads . . . . every damn one of 'em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it” (Steinbeck, p. 74). This passage reinforces the idea that the American Dream is rarely realized, leaving individuals trapped in a cycle of hope and disappointment. Steinbeck further suggests that true contentment lies not in the pursuit of dreams but in appreciating what one already has, as demonstrated by the character Slim.

Conclusion

Through The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck offer a poignant critique of the American Dream. They reveal how the relentless pursuit of this ideal can lead to moral compromise, emotional devastation, and a perpetual sense of unfulfillment. These works challenge the notion of the American Dream as a universally attainable goal, instead portraying it as a complex and often destructive force. By illuminating the darker aspects of this national ethos, both authors invite readers to question the true value and cost of their dreams, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of what it means to seek success and fulfillment in America.

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