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The American Dream has its roots in the notion of a better life elsewhere. Fleeing persecution
from England, America¶s forefathers created a µcity on a hill¶ free from cultural imperialism,
espousing the ideals of Emersonian self reliance, connection with nature and companionship.
The concept of escaping adverse situations manifests itself in Of Mice and Men and American
Beauty, but so too do shallow corruptions of the dream such as the pursuit of materialistic
success and a life without depth or meaning.

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While the genuine dream focuses on distancing oneself from the paradigm of a flawed society,
many reductions focus on complying with it further. In American Beauty, Carolyn is constantly
associated with Broadway, materialism and commercialism; common in Clinton¶s economically
prosperous 1990¶s America. ³Lester, you¶re going to spill beer on the couch!´ she states during a
close, sexually charged interaction between them. Mendes uses dry humour to display Carolyn¶s
priorities and the importance she gives possessions. He disenfranchises her dream because it
doesn¶t allow her to escape, but rather binds her to an object obsessed society.

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Of Mice and Men depicts a world plagued by economic hardships, industrial labour and
loneliness. While Steinbeck privileges dreams that focus on escaping the cycle of poverty during
the great depression, we also see dreams that involve µmaking a little stake¶ and then µblowing it
at the cathouse¶. The ranchers and their shallow aspirations never achieve the genuine dream
because they do not attempt to break away from the bleak bunkhouse. Rather, they continue to
exist within the parameters of the life prescribed for the agricultural worker. ³Guys like us are
the loneliest guys in the world«With us, it ain¶t like that¶. Steinbeck uses contrast throughout
the novella to emphasise whose dream is genuine, and whose is a superficial expression of lust.

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The true American Dream involves a better life elsewhere. As a result, Steinbeck¶s dream is an
antithesis to the world Of Mice and Men was composed in. Where 1930¶s America was
characterised by poverty, loneliness and industry, George and Lennie¶s dream revolves around
material prosperity and companionship set amongst the natural world.

³Some day were gonna have a little house and a couple acres of land«The cream on the milk is
so thick you can hardly cut it«´
Imagery of rich creamy milk is literal; they want to be rich, and live in abundance uncommon at
the time. The desire for material prosperity represents an escape from the world where a man¶s
possessions are encapsulated by an apple box.
 Of Mice and Men also champions the ideals of companionship, an attempt to escape the
isolation experienced by the other characters. ³We got a future. We got someone that gives a
damn about us´. Steinbeck contrasts the other µloneliest¶ workers with George and Lennie, and
emphasises their friendship through the repetition of µwe¶. Continually highlighting the safety,
hope and belonging associated with companionship, Of Mice and Men privileges the dream that
departs from the traditional alienated labourer.

The Californian Dustbowl drought was one of the worst environmental disasters of the 20th
Century. George and Lennie¶s aspiration to live amongst nature represents an escape from the
arid 1930¶s. ³Runs deep and green«yellow sands«golden foothills´ Colourful, lush imagery is
used when describing the Edenic pool, later contrasted with the sharp, angular nature of the
bunkhouse, drawing clear distinctions between them. This is the third aspect of George and
Lennie¶s dream, to escape the harsh environment they are placed in.

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In American Beauty, characters who achieve the dream are those who escape the drawbacks of
their society. One such drawback is the over emphasis on materialistic success and image. Lester
begins a µsedated¶ individual whose life is dictated by the world around him. Mendes employs
high angle shots during the meeting with Brad, and visual symbols such as the bars on his
computer screen to demonstrate this. The notion of escape emerges at the real estate function.
The hall is used as a metaphor for conformist society and the only two characters outside are the
two who achieve the dream, Lester and Ricky. Lester¶s epiphany µThis isn¶t life, its stuff!¶ shows
him escape a society obsessed with objects; further explored by the quitting of his traditional
corporate job. This is essential in his quest of reconnecting with what is important; family;
something forgotten in the late 20th century.
By the start of the film, Ricky Fitz has already achieved the true American dream, and is no
longer blinded by society¶s perceptions. His character functions as a critique of the superficial
1990¶s America; encapsulated in Carolyn, Buddy and Angela. Unlike them, he has cast off the
shackles regarding an image based society. This allows him and his zoom camera to µlook
closer¶, and see the life beyond µthings¶. Jane Burnham also detaches herself from the image of
normality, and achieves the dream. ³We¶ll always be freaks and we¶ll never be like other people´
Janie finally stops trying to assimilate into the world around her, as embraces her individuality
with Ricky. After spending most of the film focusing on her body, she is finally liberated from
this obsession. By adopting a stance above what society has deemed important, Lester, Ricky
and Janie achieve the genuine American Dream.



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Of Mice and Men concludes at the Salinas River, where Lennie is shot by George in a liberating
act of mercy . Ironically, the dream is preserved for Lennie because his thoughts are in a world
where he has escaped. For George however, the dream is destroyed. ³I would take my fifty bucks
down to a «cathouse´. The opportunity for George to break away from the stereotypical life of a
rancher is gone, and after Lennie¶s death, he will assume the role the world has built for him,
nothing more. Here, Steinbeck asserts that to truly achieve the dream, one must empower
themselves through the notion of a better life elsewhere.

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American Beauty concludes in a similar fashion, with a gunshot to a protagonist who has just
realised the true American Dream. Lester Burnham dies an empowered individual because he
rose above what the world around him deemed important. Mendes uses a flashback to emphasise
this; after a life of possessions, the things worth remembering are moments, relationships and
people. Ricky and Janie move to New York, and are breaking away from their dysfunctional
families in search of opportunity. They too have achieved the dream. The film and the novella
assert the same idea; achieving the dream requires one to adopt a stance different from the
paradigm of a flawed society.