More handpicked essays just for you.
Literary analysis of the book of mice and men by john steinbeck
Of mice and men john steinbeck jstor
How is curley's wife presented as
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
How does Steinbeck show the failing dreams of all the main characters, and how easy their goals are shattered throughout the book? Throughout the book, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie, two labor workers that are run out of their previous employment in Weed, find a ranch to work on in Salinas Valley California to fulfill their dreams of being rich and having their own farm. Salinas Valley is where they plan to stay until they have saved enough money to have their own ranch and move on. Besides the dreams George and Lennie have, many other people on the ranch have ones as well. While Steinbeck illustrates the journey the characters go through to achieve their dreams, their failed attempt occurs for numerous reasons.
In the novella Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses symbolism to emphasize the importance of dreams and how George and Lennie’s dream provides the motivation for everything that happens in the story. This is evident in the passage that begins with “Lennie spoke craftily, ‘Tell me’” and ends with “to the rain comin’ down on the roof” (Steinbeck 13-15). During this part of the novella, Lennie asks George to repeat the dream that they have together, and George does, giving numerous details about their future farm. Everybody needs a goal in life, even if it seems unachievable, because it gives them something to work for. When George is talking to Lennie about other, he conveys them as “They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake
This shows the reader that Lennie has the tendency of killing things accidentally because of the unawareness of his strength and foreshadows what the consequences of this might be; that he is capable of killing an animal. Carlson, another ranch worker, pressures Candy to shoot his old dog. Eventually, Candy gives in and agrees to Carlson killing the old dog. Candy later tells George that he “ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.”
Steinbeck states in the novel, “You seen what they done to my dog tonight?”(60). An example of Candy telling George and Lennie his problems. Candy still feels upset over his dog death by Carlson. But by using that excuse he got George to agree with him, to let him live in the ranch once they earn enough money. With Candy’s help with George and Lennie’s dream, it is easier and now faster for the three of them to get their ranch.
All the other ranchers complained about Candy’s dog who he had for a long time, they said how old and smelly he was. Carlson offered to kill it since the dog was old and suffering. Candy agrees, and regrets it wishing he shot the dog himself. This quote shows how Candy’s dog was shot and how sad it made him, which shows how the dream could help him become more positive, “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t of ought to let no stranger shoot my dog.”
“No... you tell it. It ain’t the same if I tell it. Go on… George. How I tend the. rabbits.” -Lennie (John Steinbeck,14)
Dreams are just conceptions of our mind for longing for more out of our selves. The problem of trying to process or make these dreams happen is the fact that we feel that these dreams will become burden upon not just our body, but our mind as well. For many this may be true, but in the case of George Smalls, this is not the case. George’s Dream or main goal is to be able to care of Lennie. This one dream has influenced most of his choices and has actual become a part of him.
Unforeseen circumstances can create barriers to people's dreams. In Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, several characters have dreams of being better than they currently are. Add a bit about the setting and about who George and Lennie are. George has a dream, where he will have a better life than he has now. Describe his life now, and also add what is going on in the story at this time.
Not everyone can achieve their dreams, even if they work hard enough. This is seen in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In the novel Of Mice and Men there are Many dreams, some that get fulfilled and some that do not. Sometimes those dreams are affected by the person who made them, like George and his dream of having an easy life. Or like Curley’s wife's mother who destroyed Curley’s wife's dreams of being an actress.
All people have goals, but some have no chance of achieving them. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Candy, Crooks and Lennie all live on the same farm, but are faced with different circumstances holding them back from achieving what they desire. Through the characters of Candy, Crooks, and Lennie, Steinbeck shows that issues outside the control of an individual often limit the achievement of an individual’s dream. Throughout the novel, Lennie is faced with obstacles that are in the way of him attaining his ultimate goal.
As a result of Lennie killing Curley’s Wife, Candy's hope has been fated, and now dislikes Curley’s Wife because he knows that he has a slim chance of achieving his dream with Lennie and George. If Curley’s Wife didn’t die, they could have saved up for their dream. Even tho his he has a slim chance of getting his dream he still has a bit of hope left. Furthermore, Candy wanted better closure with his dog. When Carlson kills Candy’s dog Candy regrets letting him and he thinks “‘[he] shouldn’t ought to let no stranger shout my dog’”(Steinbeck 61).
Dreams are an essential of life, dreams give you hope for something you love to do. In Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, dreams are used throughout the whole novel. It is shown how dreams keep friendships together and happy through life, like George and Lennie. Dreams give hope to the characters that try to get out of working. They push people to do what they love and to get out of the ranch.
Dreams can be very persuasive and uplifting as well as discouraging, in the right moments. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck introduces the readers to a story of dreams and how those dreams can affect you and others. Steinbeck explains through his novel how dreams can give reasons for people to succeed in life, how they can draw others in and encourage others or how dreams can stray away from reality and how the dreamer can get lost in their own fantasies and never accomplish their dreams at all. Dreams have the power to change lives by giving hope.
Throughout the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the theme of the unrealized dream is displayed through characters such as Lennie, George, Candy, and Curley’s wife. The unrealized dream, also known as the American Dream, is portrayed differently for a few different characters in the book. Best friends George and Lennie have a shared dream which is to have a serene farm ranch, even if it is small, with a mediocre house, a rabbit pen, and a garden where they can grow their own vegetables and herbs. They long to live independently away from rude bosses and harsh ranches. This is seen differently for a character such as Candy who only wants to keep his job even though he is disabled.
The importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men is to give the character purpose and hope. The novel takes place in the 1930’s during the Great Depression, and life was hard because of the tough economic conditions at this time. Dreams play an important role in the novel Of Mice and Men, because the characters need an escape from the loneliness and poverty that is their reality, and it gives them something to work towards. The characters use the idea of the American Dream to feed their desire to have a better life. The characters face many obstacles along their journey, and each obstacle will have a direct affect on shaping how the character develops as well as if they reach their dream.
