Explores the concept of the American dream in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," with discussions of the influence of the author's life experiences on his work and discussions of contemporary issues related to themes of immigration and capitalism.

Background on John Steinbeck : John Steinbeck: the man and his work contemporary literary criticism select -- Steinbecke's experience as a ranch hand informed Of mice and men / Jay Parini -- The social environment in Of mice and men / Joyce Moss and George Wilson -- Of Mice and Men and the American dream : characters in Of mice and men search for the promise of America / Kenneth D. Swan -- Of mice and men describes just one phase of the American dream / Frederick I. Carpenter -- Of Mice and Men offers a pessimistic view of the American dream / Duncan Reith -- The American Eden in Of mice and men is an illusion / Louis Owens -- The American dream is doomed in Of Mice and Men / John H. Timmerman -- Steinbeck explores the American dream through language, action, and symbols in Of Mice and Men / Peter Lisca -- Capitalism thwarts the American dream in Of mice and men / John L. Marsden -- Curley's wife in Of mice and men struggles toward her own American dream / Charlotte Cooke Hadella -- Curley's wife is alienated from the American dream in Of Mice and Men / Lesley Broder -- Homelessness creates loneliness in Of mice and men / Winifred Dusenbury Frazer -- Contemporary perspectives on the American dream : reconsidering the American dream / David Kamp -- The dangerous side of the American dream / Peter C. Whybrow -- The American dream is becoming harder to achieve for immigrants / Judy Keen -- The American dream is alive and well / Stephen Moore.