Lennie's Dream Of Land In Of Mice And Men

Isaac Toogood

Mr. Gallo

English 9 Honors Period 4

January 9, 2023

Dream of Land

When life seems so sorrow and gloomy, many strive for a purpose in life. Which Lennie does with the story of land to feel better. Also, Candy helps him accomplish his dream to be helpful once more. Crooks wants to show others he is useful. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the characters dreamed of owning land to feel useful.

First of all, Lennie wants land to be able to find comfort. Lennie constantly talks about the rabbits that will soon be on the land he fantasies of with George. His reason for wanting land is completely different than everyone else’s, for what he actually wants is the rabbits that will come with the land. Lennie likes soft textures,

Candy is old, the only task he can do on the ranch is clean, and the only true companion he has is his old dog. However, his dog is eventually put down for being too old to be productive. Later, he says “You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn’t no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody ‘d would shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that.” (Steinbeck 60) Candy is worried of his own usefulness after his dog dies, and he sees the plot to buy land as a chance to contribute. Lastly, Crooks, the stable buck, wants to prove his worth to others. On the ranch, he was isolated and was not allowed to speak to the other workers much. Because of him being discriminated, he put up defensive barriers leading to him being even more isolated. After a while he came to terms with this and got used to it, but after talking with Lennie and Candy about land, he says this, “… If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to.” (Steinbeck 76) He gives in to the idea of land; showing he wants to cooperate with other ranchers. However, he puts up barriers again when Curley’s wife threatens him. Crooks wants to show his worth and be with George, Lennie, and Candy in the plot of land, but, after years of being alone, he does not believe himself enough to make that