Table of Contents
Introduction 11
Chronology 14
Chapter 1 Background on John Steinbeck
1 The Man and His Work Contemporary Literary Criticism Select John Steinbeck 19
2 Steinbeck's Experience as a Ranch Hand Informed Of Mice and Men Jay Parini 25
3 The Social Environment in Of Mice and Men Joyce Moss George Wilson 34
Chapter 2 Of Mice and Men and the American Dream
1 Characters in Of Mice and Men Search for the Promise of America Kenneth D. Swan 39
2 Of Mice and Men Describes Just One Phase of the American Dream Frederic I. Carpenter 43
3 Of Mice and Men Offers a Pessimistic View of the American Dream Duncan Reith 47
4 The American Eden in Of Mice and Men Is an Illusion Louis Owens 54
5 The American Dream Is Doomed in Of Mice and Men John H. Timmerman 62
6 Steinbeck Explores the American Dream Through Language, Action, and Symbols in Of Mice and Men Peter Lisca 71
7 Capitalism Thwarts the American Dream in Of Mice and Men John L. Marsden 80
8 Curley's Wife in Of Mice and Men Struggles Toward Her Own American Dream Charlotte Cook Hadella 89
9 Curley's Wife Is Alienated from the American Dream in Of Mice and Men Lesley Broder 96
10 Homelessness Creates Loneliness in Of Mice and Men Winifred Dusenbury Frazer 100
Chapter 3 Contemporary Perspectives on the American Dream
1 Reconsidering the American Dream David Kamp 110
2 The Dangerous Side of the American Dream Peter C. Whybrow 122
3 The American Dream Is Becoming Harder to Achieve for Immigrants Judy Keen 131
4 The American Dream Is Alive and Well Stephen Moore 138
For Further Discussion 145
For Further Reading 147
Bibliography 148
Index 152
