“Do Dreams Really Come True?” Most people have a dream they work toward within their lifetime. It could be for a job, a relationship, or a new home. In the novel “Of Mice and Men” by, John Steinbeck, each character has their own dream. Steinbeck writes of a pair of family friend workers George Milton (“slim, smart, and sharp”) who takes care of Lennie Smalls (simple, friendly, and mentally challenged). Steinbeck follows their journey, looking for work in California during the 1930’s. Stock markets crashed, resulting in the Great Depression. Men relied on a fickle source of income. This resulted in moving from place to place for work. The novel shows, no matter how hard people try, they often fall short of reaching their dreams. During Curley’s wives’ time on the ranch she dreams of what her lonely life could have been like. One example of this is the following statement, “I lived right in Salinas” she said. Come there when I was a kid. Well, a show come through, an I met one of the actors. He says I could go with that show. But my ol’lady wouldn’ let me. She says because I was on’y fifteen. But the guy says I couda. If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet.” (Steinbeck, 34). Curley’s wife yearns for an acting career, but that doesn't get her very far in the …show more content…
This is clear during the following conversation between George and Candy, “Then-it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily… “I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks an I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house… an then I’ll work another month an I’ll have fifty bucks more. (Steinbeck, 79, 80). Lennie, while arguing with Curley's Wife yelled. Stating, “ Oh! Please don’t do none of that, George gonna say I done a bad thing. He ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits.” (Steinbeck, 91). As many plans as George tries to make Lennie will never get to live at his dream
Steinbeck believed that friendship was important. Lennie knows that George will always have his back, although Lennie cannot really protect George he feels like he can (Steinbeck 14). Even though George says, he does not want Lennie with him, he does not want to leave him by himself (Steinbeck 13). When Lennie and George first get to the ranch, the boss starts to ask them questions. George answers all of them even if they were asking Lennie. He knows that if Lennie talks, he might say what happened in Weed (Steinbeck 22). The boss, at the new farm, thinks that George only wants to take Lennie money. But George tells him that he only wants to take care of Lennie. The boss tells George that he had never seen two men traveling together like him and Lennie (22).
The first description of Curley’s Wife states that she gives multiple ranch workers “the eye” despite being “married two weeks.” From this we can instantly deduce that she is somewhat of a “tart” however if we evaluate further this could explain that she is lonely and not content with her new husband. The fact that she is giving other ranch workers “the eye” despite being married makes us feel no sympathy for her and instantly portrays her as endeavouring and potentially dangerous, although, on the other hand we can understand her restriction by Curley which makes us feel sympathy.
Everyone dreams about something. However, it is important to know when the right time to dream is, and when to wake up. A major theme that Steinbeck conveys in the book Of Mice and Men is the pursuit of the American Dream. The book tells the story of two men trying to earn a better life. Their American Dream was to get their own place somewhere and live together. Although, through the characterization of Lennie, the symbolism of rabbits, and the setting of the book, Steinbeck is trying to convey that people cannot continue to live in a dream.
??He won?t do it,? Lennie cried. ?George wouldn?t do nothing like that. I been with George a long time. He?ll come back tonight?? But the doubt was too much for him.? (Steinbeck,78).
Curley’s Curley’s wife represents her broken dreams of becoming an actress. Lennie and George represent a dream in progress, it is uncertain if their plans will work out as intended or plummet before takeoff, even Crooks and Candy see the appeal in Lennie and George’s fantasy and join them. The dream in progress gives hope to Lennie and George and continued to even after losing previous jobs. Curley’s wife is constantly restricted, she married Curley so that she would no longer be alone but now is in the same state as before, just on a ranch of men.
The 3 themes in “Of Mice And Men” are loneliness, powerlessness, and dreams often fail.
Curley's wife, comparable to most other characters in the novel, is a type of character with little discrepancy, moreover being the only woman in novel. Curley’s wife is demonstrated by her position and part. This part is however, being a possession of Curley or a wife. She is heavily insulted and looked upon as inferior: George and Candy call her "jailbait" and "tart", which supports the fact that he has no voice and as a matter of fact, no name – simply being referred to as Curley’s wife. Due to her lack of power, she attempts to gain it by leeching off those with power. This leeching is portrayed as her seducing the other men on the ranch who have large presence like Slim: “Hi Slim” supports a casual and somewhat flirtatious approach to the other men. She seduces other by wearing far too much makeup and dressing like a "whore" with “red fingernails” and red shoes with ostrich feathers.
Every person has an American dream, no matter how big or small, everyone has one. Their dreams however, vary from person to person, based on past experiences. While some people will chose to try to own a small farm in California, others will want to go to Hollywood and become an actress. Though American dreams are commonly found in living people they are also able to be within fictional characters as well; such as in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. Only American dreams can go astray due to problems that were not foreseen. In Of Mice and y Men, Lennie was the unforeseen problem with George, Candy, and his American dream because of his ableism. His mental ableism made him love to touch soft things such as hair, even though he could end
Lennie looked timidly over to him. “George?” “Yeah, what you want?” “Where we goin’, George?” “So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again do I?” “I forgot,” Lennie said softly. (Steinbeck 4)
What is the role of dreams in John Steinbeck’s novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ In John Steinbeck’s novella, ‘Of Mice and Men,’ the role of dreams plays a very important part. The book was written during the ‘Great Depression,’ which occurred just after the well known ‘Wall Street Crash.’ The book Of Mice and Men was set in the depression of the 1930’s in California in a place called Soledad. Men travelled around looking for any work they could find, they had to leave families and their homes just to make money. Even firms and companies went bankrupt; these were depressing and desperate times, with no hope and definitely no future.
You have to dream before your dreams can come true”- A.P.J Abdul Kalam. John Steinbeck seems to suggest with his tales. John Steinbeck seems to suggest in his novella Of Mice and Men That progress can’t be made without strong focus on your dreams. This novella rings throughout the entire story and it doesn't just touch the main characters it spans throughout the entire story. So let's jump in and find out why I think that
In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck depicts the main characters as dreamers who constantly contemplate on the thought of living their dreams. Since Lennie believes that the lovely dream will occur, he eagerly tells Crooks about how they are going to
...deal with them that together, they could “get a big stake” (63) in order to buy a “little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’” (63). Candy says he would “cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (67). However, after Lennie accidently kills Curley’s wife, Candy in “his greatest fear” (107) asks George if they could still “get that little place” (107). But he knew it was no, and right at that moment his American Dream comes to an end. Therefore if Candy would be all by him following his American Dream without depending on George and Lennie, he would have been successful.
a better way of life - but something always seems to get in the way of
In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck illustrates the dreams of George,Lennie, and other characters and how these dreams are unrealistic and unattainable .Their dreams were the reason that these characters kept moving forward but because of difficult circumstances the dreams of George,Lennie,Candy and Curley's wife are shattered , they knew that their dream was never really attainable but they still had hope but because they were so greatly impacted by Lennies actions their dreams are never accomplished.