Writing Task

The complexity of relationships when intertwined with personal, as well as collective, idealistic dreams create very fine-lined societal structures wavering between both success and failure on a multitude of levels as explored throughout both John Steinbeck’s novella, “Of Mice and Men,” and the film by Sam Mendes, “American Beauty.” Through discussing the uncertainty of true dreams and happiness contrasted to a sometimes-harsh reality when involved with such dynamic relationships within society, both Steinbeck and Mendes manage to highlight the criticism existing towards the values of the so-called ‘American Dream.’

The nature and context of American society within the Great Depression in the early 1900’s affects the tension between the newly invigorated idealism of ‘American Dream’ and the realistic factors in place. Steinbeck exemplifies this notion through highlighting the diverse relationships between different so...

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