Your essay should:

• Introduce the main conflict of the novel and state your thesis in the opening paragraph.
• Analyze at least three characters (e.g., George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, or Curley's wife) and examine how their aspirations, dreams, and failures reflect — or challenge — Steinbeck's view of the American Dream.
• Examine how power and social circumstances (such as race, disability, gender, and class) influence each character's fate.
• Consider Steinbeck's use of literary devices — including symbolism, foreshadowing, and motifs — in reinforcing his thematic message.
• Conclude with a reflection on the broader social commentary of the novel and its relevance to the time period (1930s Great Depression America) and/or today.

Guiding Questions to Consider

Your essay should consist of 4–6 paragraphs with a clear thesis, textual evidence, and analysis.

• What does the farm symbolize, and why does it remain unattainable?
• How does loneliness act as both a cause and a consequence of the characters' struggles to fulfill their dreams?
• Is George's final act one of mercy, defeat, or something more nuanced? How does it relate to the novel's central theme?

> Steinbeck illustrates through the tragic friendship of George and Lennie that systemic social and economic forces render the American Dream unattainable for society's most vulnerable individuals.

In your essay, make sure to:

• Create a clear, debatable thesis that takes a stance on the statement above.
• Back up your argument with at least three pieces of textual evidence from the novel.
• Analyze how Steinbeck employs literary devices (such as symbolism, foreshadowing, characterization, or setting) to strengthen your argument.
• Consider and refute at least one counterargument.
• Conclude by reflecting on how Steinbeck's message is relevant to our society today.