Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck vs
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald
Two American Dreams that die. Steinbeck's is a small farm dreamed by the powerless; Fitzgerald's is a green light chased by a self-made millionaire. Both end in loss.
| Of Mice and Men | The Great Gatsby | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | John Steinbeck | F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| Year | 1937 | 1925 |
| Reading time | 9 min | 15 min |
| Themes | Friendship, The American Dream, Sacrifice, Alienation | The American Dream, Love, Vanity and corruption, Dreams and illusion, Greed |
- Gatsby reaches for the past and a woman; George and Lennie reach for a future and a piece of land.
- Fitzgerald indicts the excess of the rich; Steinbeck the desperation of the poor.
- Both prove the Dream is a promise the country cannot keep.
If you're reading both, start with The Great Gatsby (1925). Then move to Of Mice and Men and watch how the same questions get a different answer.