Common Themes In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

To A Mouse by Robert Burns and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck share many common themes like loss, the American Dream comes with pain, and Looking ahead. In Of Mice and Men, George is always worrying about the future. Their plan to have their own ranch comes with hard work. Unfortunately, Lennie and George have never been able to stay in the same place because Lennie gets into trouble. In Soledad, Lennie has the constant threat of Curley, an ex-boxer who likes beating up big guys like Lennie, and Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife is very flirtatious. Consequently, George is worried that Lennie will not be able to handle himself. Lennie kills Curley’s wife, George finds the body in the barn. George says, “I think I knowed from the very first.

George and Lennie’s dream can become real with the help of Candy, an old swamper. When Lennie makes the crucial mistake of killing Curley’s wife, their dream is over. John Steinbeck writes, “He sniveled and his voice shook. I coulda hoed in the garden and wash dishes for them guys… His eyes blinded with tears and he turned and went weakly out of the barn”(91). Lennie, George, and Candy’s dreams suddenly became impossible. They have the perfect plan. In fact, they have their own American Dream. We all live for something. We live for our hopes and dreams. If someone says that one cannot achieve their dreams when they are so close. It would be devastating. Why would one even get up in the morning? The same theme is shown in To A Mouse. Robert Burns writes, “The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew, And leave us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy” (2nd last stanza). This quote perfectly describes Candy’s reaction. He was promised a job and a great life as his own boss. In the end, the plan crumbles and the only thing left in the wreckage is sorrow and pain. To A Mouse and Of Mice and Men have the common theme of how the American Dream brings sorrow and

Lennie, Candy and George have a picture perfect life. They have all they need. They have a job, place to sleep, food, friends, and hope. Their hopes and dream are about to become a reality, until their world flips upside down. Lennie kills Curley’s wife by accident, and he has no chance of survival. Candy and George find the body first. Candy mutters, “Then----it’s all off”(90). All they have work and live for has been taken away from them in a heartbeat. George has lost his best friend and his dreams. Lennie lost his life. In To A Mouse, Robert Burns writes, “You thought you dwell, Till crash the cruel plough passed out through your cell” (stanza 5). The mouse thinks that it is safe underground, and suddenly a plough comes and takes everything from the mouse. He lost his home before winter. In both of these situations, the characters lose what they hold closest to