According to J.K Rowling, “It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities.” This conclusion postulates that it does not matter whether a person is fragile or robust, brilliant or dull, gifted or challenged, it is the choices that they make in life that crystallize who they are as people. Yet, can these words be ripped from their simple format and be plastered to the pillars of life themselves? For example, does the child protégé always have the will power to use their knowledge and select the right path? Or does the godlike athlete always think twice before taking a third steroid pill that week? In other words, this statement truly holds the glittering gold of truth and is often exhibited throughout society, and frequently through history as well. Two pieces of literature that clearly demonstrate this idea of a person’s personal building blocks being their decisions are the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck and the Epic Poem, The Odyssey, by Homer. These texts both support this observation by requiring the protagonist to formulate great decisions that define them as people and what will be in store for them later in life. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, portrays the hard–done-by life of two California labours, who form an unlikely bond and cling together in the face of alienation. The Novel exhibits the idea of the thirst for companionship when cast into the abyss of loneliness, while unveiling the horrors and strife that the labours of the south endured during the 1930’s. Throughout the plot, one of the protagonist, George, continuously carries through with several decisions that define him as a character and subsequently, as a human being. For example, at the beginning of the story, Geo... ... middle of paper ... ...her than what they are capable of. In Of Mice and Men, the main protagonist George makes a choice to stay with his friend Lennie, even though he says he would be better of without him. Through, his choices, he is described to be a compassionate, understanding, and mature person which makes him supremely different from the other ranch hands in the novel. Likewise, in the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus calculates several decisions that reveal his wit, resourcefulness, pity, and courage, all of which define him as an epic hero. More over, each author in their own way, preferable focuses on the options the characters choose for themselves and how they are or became the basic building blocks of their humanity. Ultimately, your abilities can be fashioned and built up over the course of many years but, no life altering decision is ever made twice, and neither is each person.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a novel about loneliness and the American Dream. This book takes place during the Great Depression. It was very difficult for people to survive during this time period. A lot of people hardly survived let alone had the necessities they needed to keep relationships healthy. Of Mice of Men has a common theme of disappointment. All the characters struggle with their unaccomplished dreams. The migrant workers, stable buck, swamper, and the other men on the ranch had an unsettled disappointment of where they were at in their lives. George and Lennie, two newcomers to the ranch, aren’t like the other guys. They have each other and they are the not loneliest people in the world. Lennie has a dream though he wants to own a farm with plenty of crops and animals one day. The only problem is his blind curiosity of people and things around him. George wasn’t justified for killing Lennie because Lennie was innocent and never got the chance to find out what he did wrong.
Family, education and a person’s opportunities are significant elements that collectively define an individual, as demonstrated by both Wes Moore’s. Depending on the opportunities offered to you and whether you decide to take advantage of them through hard work and persistence will result in your success or failure in the end. Wes Moore explains “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his” goes to show that certain factors affect how you will be as an adult regardless of similar or differentiating backgrounds. (Moore xi).
In 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck George is seen as one of the main protagonists of the novella. He is portrayed as a very selfless and noble character as he takes care of Lennie and defends him from the more malicious characters, such as Curley and his wife. George represtents the lack of opportunity for workers in 1930s Amercia as he is forced to travel around constantly and make little money for his work to survive from month to month.
The decision of Adam and Cal Trask to overcome their struggles and Cathy’s decision to succumb to evil prove that the choice of what to do with one’s life is completely up to the individual. John Steinbeck’s use of the biblical story of Cain and Abel builds on the idea that a person is completely responsible for choosing what becomes of them in result of a word, an action and a memory. Undoubtedly everyone has the choice whether or not they wish to triumph over the pain and the sins they are struggling with. After all, look at Ghandi he witnessed children burdened with evil inheritance walk away surmounted because of their strength to rein over evil.
“I will do all that I can…” proclaims Oedipus (43). People can control the direction of their lives. In life, decisions are made, advice is given, but ultimately the one dealing with the issues makes the decision. Oedipus was born with a fate, as described by the oracle. His family took precaution to avoid the fate. Inevitably, the fate was fulfilled, but he made his own decisions throughout his life, as well as having decisions made for him. In Oedipus the King, we are able to see that certain things in life can be controlled: family, personality, and success.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck brings out the themes of Lonliness and companionship, and strengths and weaknesses through the actions, and quotations of the characters. Irony and foreshadowing play a large roll on how the story ends. Lennie and his habit of killing things not on purpose, but he is a victim of his own strength. George trying to pretend that his feelings for Lennie mean nothing. The entire novel is repetitive in themes and expressed views.
Even from the very start of John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, the uniqueness of George, as a character, is already noticeable. He is described as “small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp strong features” and has an obvious dominance over the relationship between Lennie and himself. This lets the reader know from a very early stage in the book that George is different, and probably the essential character. George’s character seems to be used by Steinbeck to reflect the major themes of the novel: loneliness, prejudice, the importance of companionship, the danger of devoted companionships, and the harshness of Californian ranch life.
The daily struggle of the working class, fear of loneliness and the reality of putting all your energy into plans that fail are the different themes relating to John Steinbeck's novel, "Of Mice and Men". The characters depicted by the author are individuals who are constantly facing one obstacle after another. The book illustrates different conflicts such as man versus society, man versus man, man versus himself and idealism versus reality. The book's backdrop is set in the Salinas, California during the depression. The two main characters include two men, George and Lennie. Supportive characters include a few ranch hands, Candy, Crooks, Curly, Slim and Carlson.
In the great work, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck makes clear that George is faced with many struggles. Steinbeck writes of a character that has many internal and external conflicts. Yet, through those conflicts, the reader learns the purpose of the novel; what the true meaning of friendship
Of Mice and Men follows a twosome of migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, as the two field workers migrate from California and their move southward to work on a ranch. Of Mice and Men captures the realism of the men wanting the American Dream, and the obstacles the journey entails. Lennie, who garners a massive stature and means well, has a very restricted mental capacity. George, the more able-minded friend assists Lennie through much of the novel. Their search for the American Dream seems nearly impossible. John Steinbeck does a good job of showing how unattainable this dream appears to be for the two field workers, despite their tenacity and efforts. The idea of companionship is central thorough this work. The
(#4) The British naturalist and politician John Lubbock wrote, “Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it.” Do we choose our own character traits, or is our character formed by influences beyond our control? In other words, Character is the qualities that vary in individuals.Childrens character is the most concerned these days. Adults believe that character in a child is usually developed depending of how the child was raised during childhood however, rising 9th graders, believe that they can self mold themselves a character through finding friends and making mistakes in high school.What many people fail to realize is that it all varies on the child.
Everybody at one point in their life has needed somebody to guide them and make sure they are fine. In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, almost every character has faced a point in time where they have needed somebody to keep them on the right track. It could be argued that much of the character in the novella is faced with choices and road barriers. The most notable character faced with these problems is Steinbeck's George Milton, who, as a migrant rancher worker, is forced to travel around to farms to make a living while in the meantime has forgotten who he is himself.
“It would not matter for a new child's toy. But later it does matter, doesn’t it? We do not dare to let people make their own. Not safe, the Giver suggested. Definitely not safe, Jonas said with certainty. What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong?”(98) Rather, a person is free when they make their own decisions for themselves. When a person has freedom and make their own choices may they make mistakes, but from the mistake that person will grow into a better individual. “And here in this room, all alone, I re-experience them again and again. It is how wisdom comes. And how we shape our future.”(78) So, personal choice allows a person live the way they want by choosing what they think is best for them. Personal choice allows a person to have freedom which helps them to live a true and happy life with their own eyes. Lastly, personal choice is important because it lets people have freedom, to choose for themselves and live the way they want to live.
In John Steinbeck’s eloquent novella, Of Mice and Men, his controversial work demonstrates a dominant force of good which stands out of the harsh effects that occur throughout the impassioned storyline. The story first comes to demonstrate the trust handed between the characters, and later we see how that trust was maintained and developed throughout the novella. We then come to observe the dedication that forms to not only their new life, but to the characters as well. At last, sacrifice is what is needed to overcome the death and betrayal communicated as the novella comes to an end.
“You express the truth of your character with the choice of your actions” is a fantastic quote by Steve Maraboli. It is plain and simple stating that everything we do is a reflection of our traits. Our inner selves and our true traits are, in the end, what lead us down the paths we take throughout our lives. It is our character traits that motivate us to think, act, and interact the way we do.