The American Dream From the 17th Century immigrants dreamed of a better life in America. People went there to escape from persecution or poverty, and to make a new life for themselves or their families. For the American society as a whole the dream ended

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The American DreamFrom the 17th Century
immigrants dreamed of a better life in America.
People went there to escape from persecution or
poverty, and to make a new life for themselves or
their families. For the American society as a
whole the dream ended with the Wall Street crash
of 1929. This was the start of the Great
Depression that would affect the whole world
during the 1930s. However the dream survived for
individuals. Thousands made their way west to
California to escape from their farmlands in the
mid-West.
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Dreams in Of Mice and Men George and Lennie
dreamt of their 'little house and a couple of
acres'. They were migrant farm workers.
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The growing popularity of cinema was an American
Dream for many. Curley's wife was one 'Coulda
been in the movies, an' had nice clothes.'
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Migrant workers around the time of Of Mice and
Men. Migrant farm worker low-wage workers
performing manual labor in the agriculture field
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Migratory Mexican field workers home on the edge
of a frozen pea field.
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Frank and Myra Pipkin being recorded by Charles
L. Todd at Shafter FSA Camp, Shafter, California,
1941.
Children of Mexican migrant workers posing at
entrance to El Rio FSA Camp, El Rio, California,
1941.
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Migrant Farm Workers Huge numbers of men traveled
the countryside between the 1880s and the early
1930s harvesting wheat. They earned 2.50 or
3.00 a day, plus food and very basic
accommodation. During the 1930s, agencies were
set up under the New Deal to send farmworkers to
where they were needed. George and Lennie got
their work cards from Murray and Ready's, one of
these agencies.
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The story is set on a ranch a few miles from
Soledad in the Salinas Valley.
Salinas' economy is largely based upon
agriculture. Located in one of California's
richest farming regions, the area produces a
variety of fruits and vegetables, including
lettuce, strawberries, watermelons, broccoli,
carrots, cabbages, and spinach. Therefore many
major vegetable producers are headquartered in
Salinas.
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Of Mice and Men is set in the farmland of the
Salinas Valley, where John Steinbeck was born and
which he knew all his life. Steinbeck's father
owned land in the area, and as a young man
Steinbeck had worked as a farm hand. The ranch in
the story is near Soledad, which is south-east of
Salinas on the Salinas river. The countryside
described at the beginning of the book, and the
ranch itself, would have been very familiar to
John Steinbeck.
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California, Monterey County, Soledad vineyard
view from highway. Salinas Valley beyond.
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A coastal farm near Salinas, California.
A carnation greenhouse near Salinas, California.
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John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California in
1902. His most famous books were written in the
1930s and 1940s, and are set in California. They
deal with the lives and problems of working
people. Many of the characters in his books are
immigrants from Mexico or from other parts of the
United States who went to California looking for
work or a better life. John Steinbeck 1902 - 1968
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Steinbeck wrote many famous novels including, The
Grapes of Wrath, The Pearl, East of Eden, The Red
Pony, The Winter of Our Discontent, and of course
Of Mice and Men.
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Interesting Fact During his lifetime, John
Steinbeck was not well-liked by the people of his
home town. They did not like the way he portrayed
them in his novels. He actually had to move
away, and never again live on the land he loved.
Only now, after his death, Salinas, CA, honors
him as a great American author from their area.
Bust of John Steinbeck in Monterey, (near
Salinas), California
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The house in which John Steinbeck lived until he
was 17 years old in Salinas, California, has been
preserved and restored. The house is open for
tours during the summer on Sunday afternoons. The
National Steinbeck Center is two blocks away.
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Why Of Mice and Men?The title of the novel comes
from the poem To A Mouse by the Scottish poet
Robert Burns (1759 - 96)The best laid schemes
o' mice and menGang aft agley often go
wrongAnd leave us nought but grief and painFor
promised joy!