The Significance of Dreams in of Mice and Men - 839 Words

The Significance of Dreams in Of Mice and Men A major motif of John Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men is the American dream and the drive to attain it. The life of a ranch hand is grim, yet the characters in the novel are still vulnerable to dreams of a better life. The dream of owning land, called the American dream by some, is what motivates George and Lennie in their work on the ranch. It is their friendship that sustains this dream and makes it possible. While the dreams are credible to the reader, in the end all dreams are crushed, and the characters are defeated by their circumstances. The characters in Of Mice and Men have very little to look forward to as migrant ranch hands. They travel from ranch to ranch with all of†¦show more content†¦However, George needs Lennie just as much as Lennie needs him, which is apparent at the end of the novel. When George kills Lennie, he also kills the friendship, which results in the death of the dream within himself. Friendship is an underlying factor in the dreams of others, as well. Candy and Crooks befriend George and Lennie when they learn of the possibility of owning land. They share the same dream as the two new workers, a dream that would have seemed impossible before the friendship began. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck offers clues that lead the reader to believe that the dream will be fulfilled. Candy and Crook s interest in George and Lennie s dream is the main factor that causes the reader to believe that these two newcomers might actually succeed. Candy believes in the dream to the extent that he offers three hundred dollars that are needed to buy the land. Crooks, the Negro stable buck, adds to the effect. At first he is skeptical of George and Lennie s plan: Ever body wants a little piece of lan ... Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It s just in their head (Steinbeck 74). However, when he learns of Candy s offer to contribute almost all of the money needed for the land, he wants to join them. Candy and Crook s desire to join George and Lennie is an important factor in interrupting the pattern of inevitablity and causing the reader to think that these characters mightShow MoreRelated John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men Essay976 Words   |  4 P agesJohn Steinbecks â€Å"Of mice and men† Of Mice and Men is set along the Salinas River a few miles south of Soledad in the fallen world of the Salinas Valley, which Steinbeck places east of Eden the Promised Land is only a painful and illusory dream. This land is populated by sons of Cain, men doomed to walk alone. One of the major themes that comes from this is loneliness, or fear of apartness. One of the themes of Of Mice and Men is that men fear loneliness, that they need someone to beRead MoreThe American Dream in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck710 Words   |  3 PagesThe American Dream is something that many individuals have desired for countless years. Although it has evolved during the past couple of years, many individuals still strive to achieve it. Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men illustrates this American Dream of the 1930’s, which is looked upon as impossible through the failure of George and Lennie’s achievement. â€Å"The story Of Mice and Men and the American Dream is known to be somewhat different; it can define the independence and self-sufficiency forRead MoreTo What Extent Does Steinbeck Portray Dreams as Futile in ‘of Mice and Men’?1544 Words   |  7 PagesTo what extent does Steinbeck portray dreams as futile in ‘Of Mice and Men’? In Of Mice and Men, the hopes and dreams of the men on the ranch are a continuous focus and theme throughout the novel. 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And the two characters that mainly stood out were George and Lennie because they both t raveled and worked together, to get money for their dream ranch. So the author writes about their problemsRead MoreOf Mice And Men : The Great Depression s Poverty Of Low Expectations1081 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream has devolved from Gatsby’s ostentatious lifestyle to the Great Depression’s poverty of low expectations. In Steinback’s novella, Of Mice and Men, the story is shaped by the intense friendship between these disparate characters, Lennie Small and George Milton, and their legitimate aspirations to achieve a dignified livelihood by owning land. Lennie and George lead strenuous, arduous lives. Lenny’s intentions are always pure, but it always ends in death. George’s entireRead MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men Essay726 Words   |  3 PagesSummer Key Quarter 1 Book Report English 9 10/12/16 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck About the Author: John Ernst Steinbeck was born on February 27th, 1902. He died on December 20th, 1968. He was an American author of 27 books, one of them is â€Å"Of Mice and Men.† (Which was published in 1937) Most of Steinbeck’s work is set in southern, and central California. He was the winner of the 1962 Nobel Prize in LIterature. The story takes place on a ranch in Soledad, California. This story takes placeRead MoreOf Mice And Men By John Steinbeck1452 Words   |  6 PagesThe novella â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck (published in 1937) and the play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller (published in 1949) both focus on the idea of the American dream creating a better life for oneself in a land of opportunity. However, both texts question whether this dream is achievable or just an illusion which is unattainable. Steinbecks novella â€Å"Of Mice and Men† tells the tale of two migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie, with a dream of getting their own farm. The genuineRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston And Of Mice And Men1508 Words   |  7 Pagesprevail. Everyone wants the same things in life which are love, social acceptance and companionship, in the hope that once these things are obtained one will feel complete. In the novels Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, readers witness the characters struggle to find their identity while also trying to meet the need for partnership. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, readers see the main character Janie, grow as a women while showing