John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men deals with several important themes. The most important of the themes dealt with throughout the novel being the “American dream.” Steinbeck represents this theme through the hardship of the lives of two migrant workers, George and Lennie. This is the most important in the novel because it is the whole basis of why George and Lennie live the life of migrant workers. It also is important to the novel because it gives the readers something to hope for, and George and Lennie as well. The most important reason why this theme is crucial to the novel is because at least one point in the story every character imagines a different and better life. The entire storyline of Steinbeck’s novel is based off of George and …show more content…
The hope that this dream gives is most relevant in the character of Lennie. Lennie is mentally retarded, and is not capable of taking care of himself. George has take care of Lennie, and mostly keep him from getting the two in trouble. George uses this “American dream” the two have to put a sort of false hope in Lennie that life the two have will get better. Now even George at one point in the novel realizes this dream will not come true for the two men, but he does not want to let Lennie realize George’s lost hope. At one point in the novel George brings up the two’s future, and how they will not have to worry about others because they have a future. George says, ‘“ With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us”’(Steinbeck 14). This quote shows that the two want to escape this life they are living, and do not care what happens to the others around as long as they fulfill the dream they have. The “American dream” also gives the readers hope for Lennie and George that the two have will change for the good. The reader’s wish to see George and Lennie fulfill the goal they have, but as the novel continues they realize that this dream will not come true for the
The author continually exemplifies the negative effects of dreams and hopes, specifically the “American Dream” throughout the book. This dream can also be explained by an individual overcoming all obstacles and beating all odds to one day be successful. However, in the setting of Of Mice and Men, it interprets more commonly in relation to owning land, leading a better and richer life, and living an independent lifestyle. Steinbeck uses Of Mice and Men to show how although the
John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a book that describes the chase of the American Dream. Although achieving the American Dream is a great desire for all, seldom does it actually come true. George and Lennie, the two main characters in the book, have a goal of pursuing their version of the American Dream, as do many other characters. However, due to relationships and other conflicts, that dream is not achieved.
You can judge a society by its treatment of the old, the weak, the helpless and the needy. Through the narrative conventions of foreshadowing and characterisation, John Steinbeck, in his novel Of Mice And Men, published in 1937, is able to effectively reveal the imperfections of America’s capitalist
Everyone has dreams, big and small. When one dreams, there is a scent of whimsical hope in the air mixed with the powerful drive for success to obtain their luminous goals. But, many times these luscious dreams end up in grief and pain instead of a promised joy due to the hurdles in life, such as the certain circumstances that society professes or the flaws in a person that restrains them from their aspirations. The writer, John Steinbeck, incorporates this ideology in his novella, Of Mice and Men by creating three pivotal characters. Lennie, Crooks, and George all have schemes that go wrong, and yet hope to illustrate their desires of fulfilling their American Dream and to be prosperous for their own independent purposes.
This passage comes from the fourth chapter in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. George and the other workers are “gone into town” (69). Lennie, Crooks and Candy are the only men remaining on the ranch. This excerpt characterizes Crooks and promotes the themes of loneliness and dreams. In addition, this passage characterizes Lennie and reinforces the theme of companionship.
Through a variety of literary and cinematic techniques respectively, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men and Sean Penn’s Into The Wild illustrate how the fulfilment of one’s life, and their pursuit of happiness, hinge upon friendship, dreams, and one’s attitude towards life and happiness in general. Steinbeck’s 1937 novella Of Mice And Men illustrates the importance of friendship and dreams in a context of hardship and economic downturn. This is done by using George and Lennie and their dream of landownership and material possession to demonstrate how dreams give people the hope required to drive themselves, and how friendship offers them the ability to keep going even if their own spirit should break. Sean Penn’s 2007 film Into The Wild
Does Steinbeck reflect a desperate society or does he offer some hope and optimism in his novel "Of Mice and Men"
The most important dream in this novel is that of the two main characters Lennie and George. They
Right from the start of the novel, Lennie and George’s dream was made very clear to the reader. Their dream was to save money to buy their own ranch. They never accomplished this dream because George spent a lot of money on gambling and alcohol. Whereas Lennie was childlike and money or anything else did not bother him at all.
In conclusion, The American Dream left George lonely like he has never been with Lennie. Together, the two could have had anything, determination got in the way of that. Like mice, human kind has a tendency to chase after what is right in front of them, because it’s simply easier. Once the dream dust has settled, and we can see the truth, I think readers now know whether they want to continue working hard towards their dream, or start living in
By looking at Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck one can see the American Dream as a major theme which is important because through the characters of Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife Steinbeck reveals that the dream is often a myth.
John Steinbeck wrote ‘Of Mice and Men’ to show how hard life was for migrant ranch workers during the time of the Great Depression and how they were often exploited by their employers. In showing how George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own piece of land did not come true, Steinbeck explores a wider theme, criticising the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream tells people that there is ‘opportunity for each... regardless of the fortuitous circumstance of birth and position. Steinbeck criticises this as these ranch workers were given few opportunities. Settings play a very important part in the novel as they pinpoint clear times and places giving a sense of realism to the story, but they are also used to create atmosphere.
The story Of Mice and Men took place during the 1930’s. That time period was very different from today. Race and gender were very important characteristics that determined whether a person had the opportunity to make money. The 1930’s were also a time where people started questioning life and the American culture. Many people like John Steinbeck thought that life was very unfair and questioned whether if life was even worth living. In Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck demonstrates that mans dream is destined to be destroyed by a cruel reality.
Of Mice and Men was written during a period of racism. In the 1960's it was important for everyone to get along with eachother because not everyone was equal. George and Lennie showed a great part in friendship throught the whole book. At the ranch in Selinas mostly everyone showed friendship in some way. Friendship was a great factor when the book was published because of all the racism going on at the time.
other hand, is the taller of the two, but also the dumbest, due to his