The Theme Of Failure In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Very often, people leave behind their dreams for more practical solutions to dismal situations. In Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, dreams often serve the purpose of giving characters new opportunities. Dreams are also typically unattainable, yet characters in the novel spend much of their time trying to achieve them. Because the Depression era was so destitute, Lennie and George’s dream is a positive distraction from their seemingly hopeless situation. These reasons expose a deeper, more tragic truth of the era. Lennie and George's dream affirms that dreams are often unattainable distractions from real life.

“So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again , do I ? Jesus christ, you're a crazy bastard!” George says (4-5). You can infer that the two characters have some issues with each other. In Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck shows the weaknesses that most of the characters have and the trials they face with those weaknesses. The characters such as Lennie, Crooks and Candy all have something that happens to them in the story that brings out their weaknesses. John Steinbeck portrays the effects that weak people reveal through the characters Lennie, Crooks and Candy.

Throughout life, individuals are constantly told the proverbs encompassing the idea that never giving up is the key to success. However, adages such as these are erroneous and will engender the opposite effect in the weak-willed. John Steinbeck’s 1937 novella Of Mice and Men explores the idea of an inevitable failure by communicating through the story that the path seeming to promise success is only an illusion. In the story, itinerant workers George and Lennie, unlike everyone else, possess big plans for the future. Unfortunately, they lack the competence to pursue their dreams without major challenges, such as Lennie’s unintentional affinity for trouble. Although their desire to achieve their goals appear to be a path leading straight to success, what they don’t realize is that the path is a vicious cycle that eventually brings them back to the beginning, if they survive through it at all. Steinbeck demonstrates that not all dreams hold the potential to succeed by killing off Curley’s Wife immediately after she affirms her desires and ambitions, destroying Candy’s meager hopes for a mere sense of belonging, and finally terminating the dreams of George and Lennie after establishing their high potential to succeed.

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the American Dream is proven to be an unobtainable commodity, as the attempt at living a fulfilling life by George and Lennie is mercilessly destroyed due to behavior derived from eccentricity and madness. Lennie’s eccentric behavior ceases George and Lennie’s dreams of buying their own farm and achieving the life they wanted and deserved. Lennie’s illogical actions, however, are not Lennie’s fault, as his mental handicaps, compounded by the unfavorable situations he is put in, are what induce Lennie to fail at succeeding in his goals. Although Lennie puts in an earnest effort in making his aspirations a reality, his coming up short resembles much of what the lower class experience when chasing their

Aspirations of success often drive individuals toward success. However if one only focuses on their dreams and not on working to achieve their goals, they will not be successful. Charles Dickens and John Steinbeck in their respective novels Great Expectations and Of Mice and Men, use their main characters failures in manifesting their aspirations to warn about the dangers of aspiring about the future and not focusing on success in the present.

To become successful you must overcome to obstacles, and continue to work hard even when giving up seems to be an easier solution. Lennie and George are two migrant workers who dream of owning a ranch some day. They are now going to go work at a new ranch in Soledad,California. Escaping from the weed, thanks to Lennie’s childlike behavior for soft items. Hoping this time George and Lennie will get enough money to buy a ranch. John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men effectively uses the literary devices of conflict,foreshadowing and symbolism in an attempt to reveal how some dreams that will not come true,no matter how much hard work and effort is put into it and is easier if you just give up.

In today’s world, humans in many areas are able to succeed in achieving even their wildest dreams. However, some unfortunate people have illnesses or setbacks in their life that prohibits them to achieve those dreams. In literature, authors will often use these challenges that people could have to create tragic events that shatter the main character’s goals. John Steinbeck’s protagonist, Lennie, in, “Of Mice and Men,” and Daniel Keyes protagonist, Charlie, in, “Flowers for Algernon,” both attempt to achieve nearly impossible dreams, which ultimately end in tragedy and sorrow, but impacts Charlie’s broken dream was more devastating.

“Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew up his knees and embraced them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly” (Steinbeck 4). Despite his large frame and age, Lennie is still unable to completely think for himself and will follow his companion’s example for guidance. He is still learning to live in a world that is harsh and selfish. Yet only a few chapters later, Lennie has accidentally killed Curley’s wife. Instead of panicking, Lennie merely apologizes to her and is more worried about George’s reaction. “‘I don’t want ta hurt you,’ he said, ‘but George’ll be mad if ya yell’” (Steinbeck, 91). Unlike an adult, Lennie fears his parent (George), more than the law itself. Like a child, he will do anything to avoid his parent’s wrath, even if it is something morally wrong. And before Lennie and George arrive at the ranch, George asks Lennie what he will do when questioned by the boss. He surprisingly remembers George’s instructions from before. “George gestured with his spoon. ‘What you gonna say tomorrow when the boss asks you questions?’ Lennie stopped chewing and swallowed. His face was concentrated. ‘I...I ain’t gonna...say a word’ ‘Good boy!’” (Steinbeck 15). Because no one else besides George will care for Lennie, Lennie feels that everything

Your hopes and dreams are bound to go up in flames, so there’s no reason to strive towards them in the first place. It would be cruel to announce this to anyone, but reality declares this statement loudly along with a slap to the face. The novella Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is a parable about what it means to be human and the inevitable struggle of loneliness, sacrifice, dignity, and hope. He explores the relationship between the mercilessness of reality and the struggle of man to fulfill their aspirations. Despite a person’s most unswerving dedication, Steinbeck stresses the impracticalities of dreams and where they will lead in the long run.

George is left with the tough decision on whether or not to kill Lennie. He chooses to kill. George does the right thing because Lennie could be kept in prison, beaten or killed, and he has no use. To begin with, Lennie has committed a crime and could very well be kept in prison. For a guy like him, prison is no place to spend.

The forest came alive in the night, sounds coming from this way and that. George crept onto his knees again, staring straight ahead, seemingly haunted from the rabbit made of bad memories and smoke. In a shaky voice, George said “I hadda Lennie. You know I did. And I know what I hav’ ta do now too Lennie, I do.” And with that statement, George groped on the ground for his fallen gun. His hand brushed the leather, and he grasped the handle and pulled the gun up to his temple with a steady hand.

Hard work and dedication are ways to achieve your dreams or goal. You need both to achieve your dreams or goals. When you have a certain goal you’ll be motivated to work hard, and you’ll be dedicated to achieve the dream or goal. In the book “Of Mice and Men” written by John Stienbeck, the characters George & Lennie, and Curley’s wife had dreams and goals that are motivators.

One of the major themes of John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men is that having a dream breeds hope, friendship, and determination, enabling one to strive onward in life with a sense of importance. Three examples show this idea, Candy’s loss of his dog and joining George and Lennie’s dream of owning land, Crook’s memory of his father’s chicken ranch, and George and Lennie owning their own place. These display the theme that having high aspirations breed hope, friendship, and determination, enabling one to strive onward with a sense of self-worth or importance.

There are certain goals that others have. To own a house, to work at their dream job, or even just to be happy. The dreams or goals of the two main characters, Lennie and George, was to own their own land, and be their own boss. The goals that these two characters had -Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck- was normal for this time. Lennie had needed help for a long time, so George helped him out. They travel and find work together, and most of all look after eachother, like they are brothers. The two find a small town where they can work as farm hands, of course there was trouble along the way and George had to help Lennie get out of it. The story ends in tragedy and the goals were not reached by Lennie but maybe George. Dream as big as you can, work really hard to try to achieve that goal.

America, land of the free, home of the brave, and in the 1930’s, where people starved to death alone. In the 1930’s, people had no one, no hope, and nothing to call their own. The book, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, was written in the midst of the great depression, even though there was nothing great about it. People lived in hoovervilles, walked around in soleless shoes, and starved to death, with no one to help you. Steinbeck wrote this novella to show the american people how cruel they were being, and how bad america was as a whole. Three of the themes that were shown repetitively throughout the novella was, isolation/loneliness, innocence, and women and femininity.