Shattered Dreams: A Marxist analysis Of Mice and Men
According to Idowu Koyenikan, a highly recognized financial consultant and frequently quoted author, “It takes nothing to stay in poverty, but everything to break free from it”(Koyenikan). Idowu emphasizes how people can not expect to change their economic state easily without a mindset of desperation to succeed. Poverty stricken people in the United States need to feel empowered to overcome their economic struggles. Clinging to a goal provides hope, but hope only endures if the goal is attainable. When viewed through a Marxist lens, the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck highlights the the inequality of life between the classes, and shows that members of the lower class need to embrace
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Although Lennie is quite absent minded and naive, he constantly talks about how he and George will buy their own land. “With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us…… Go on, George! Tell about what we’re gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk you can hardly cut it. Tell me about that, George”(Steinbeck 15). Lennie’s vivid images of the future ranch, “have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter….” proves how fixated he is on the idea of having his own property with George. The seemingly impossible goal gives George and Lennie a topic not only to pass the time together but also to keep their spirits high and steer Lennie away from trouble. Lennie’s tone and exclamation, “Go on, George!”, shows how passionate he is about their future and this helps keep him eager to work. “We got a future” sums up George’s mindset as he believes their economic state can be changed if they work