...Webster’s Dictionary defines dreams as “an idea or vision that is created in your imagination and that is not real.” Dreams are achieved by hard working people. These hard working people strive to achieve the goals they set for themselves. However, in Of Mice and Men George and Candy work hard all day to get their dream farm but the dream got terminated. In Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck clearly supports the theme that dreams can be taken away in a blink of an eye through the characters of George, Candy and Curley’s wife. George is one example who illustrates the theme that dreams can be taken away in a blink of an eye. George is a small man who travels and takes care of Lennie his best friend. He always speaks about how much better his life would be without Lennie due to his childish actions but he is clearly devoted to him. He had a dream that him and Lennie would get a farm. For example, when George and Lennie were talking George mentioned them getting a farm and Lennie...
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...Throughout the 1930’s and the depression era the American dream was heavily desired. In “Of Mice and Men”, we can see how Lennie and George are determined to fulfill their dreams of owning their own farm. Steinbeck introduces the idea that the American dream might not have been possible. The American Dream can be difficult to describe as it is different for everyone. Since it is the American “dream”, it might not have been attainable in this depression era. The most important dream in this novel is that of Lennie and George, two poor and homeless migrant workers. Throughout the novel, Lennie is intrigued by George’s stories of their own little place. It is ironic how Lennie and his mental disabilities cause him to forget almost everything anybody says to him, yet he is able to remember every single detail stated in George’s stories. George even points this out when he asks Lennie why he doesn’t just tell the story since he knows every part of it. George and Lennie get potential help from Candy , an old swamper, when he says that he wants to be part of this farm and that he has money save up in the bank. With Candy contributing, George realizes that this dream might even be possible. George and Lennie are not the only characters that have a dream. Curly’s wife has a dream of becoming an actress in Hollywood. This dream was derived when she was a kid but once she married Curly this dream vanished. She became basically a prisoner of her own home devoid of social contact. The...
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...The theme in Of Mice and Men is that dreams don’t always go as planned. Throughout the book the author John Steinbeck shows this in multiple cases.One example is from the beginning of the book, Lennie talks about his dream of living off the land with George. He states, “O.k. Someday were gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs an- An live off the fatta the lan.” (Steinbeck 14). In the text Lennie rambles on about his dream with George, but later on Crooks stomps on the dream and rips Lennie about it. On page 74 Crooks says, “an’ every damn one of em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it.” (Steinbeck 74). Crooks is having none of Lennie's dream because he knows nobody's ever seems to end the way they want. Another example is when Lennie realizes his dream of tending the rabbits won't happen after the hallucination he had. On page 14 Lennie says, "An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An' have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages…” (Steinbeck 14). In the text Lennie talks about his dream of tending rabbits and taking care of them. This changes when he starts getting strange hallucinations...
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...Dreams. They motivate us to persevere in spite of challenges, just to achieve these goals, big or small. Often times, we miss out on opportunities concerning these dreams by letting other things take priority, even if it’s accidental. In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the circumstances of Lennie and Curley’s life demonstrate how fleeting dreams can be, no matter how hard one tries to realize them. Curley’s wife, who never even received a name in the story, is one of the most under developed characters in literary history. One of the few things we know about this girl is that her dreams were crushed, which prompted her to marry for money instead of love. Curley’s wife was scouted as an actress at the tender age of 15, but her mother refused to let her join the traveling show she so desperately wanted to join. This...
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...The book Of Mice and Men was written in 1937 by John Steinbeck and takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. The novel follows two migrant workers, Lennie and George, as they travel around California looking for work. When Lennie and George find jobs at a ranch in Salinas, California, they have to work extra hard just to be able to survive the harsh and cruel environment. Throughout the book, dreams of the characters are a reoccurring motif. Throughout the book, many of the characters share their past or present dreams with one another. The former dreams the characters hold onto, or the new goals they set for the future give them something pleasant to look forward to when the rest of their life is not as enjoyable. The strongest and most reoccurring dream is Lennie and George’s. Lennie and George rely on each other throughout the book and need each other to make it. They are polar opposites; George is a small, smart, pugnacious man, and Lennie is sweet, giant, and slow. The qualities that Lennie lacks, such as his intelligence, George helps...
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...Many of the characters in the novella Of Mice and Men had dreams, that with the circumstances, were unattainable. Does that mean that they should not dream? Due to the lack of hope caused by the Great Depression, dreams were crucial in order to motivate the workers. The Great Depression resulted in a lack of steady jobs, which contributed to the increase of migrant workers. John Steinbeck, the author of Of Mice and Men , described the lives of two migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Smalls, who spent their lives in California, moving from place to place...
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...Of Mice and Men is a novella by John Steinbeck about the price that one may have to pay in order to pursue the American dream, especially when one is a woman. The American dream drives a woman to success causing a lack in sense of belonging.When a woman pursues a dream of the unordinary society is taken back and is quick to root against them. Steinbeck shows a women chasing the American dream often results in dragging personal relationships. Curley's wife is the loneliest character in the story, not only was it a challenge to be taken seriously as a woman back then, but she was also stuck in an unhealthy marriage. In the 1930’s it was very much a “dream” for women to pursue their goals, for most women they were known for working indoors...
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...Dreams all differ in their own ways, everyone have different dreams . The people in the book had their own dreams. Curly’s wife had her dream to become an actress. Lennie wanted to tened to the rabbits on the farm.The dreams of the people in mice of men are all vastly different and are implicated differently throughout the story. Lennie wants to tened to rabbits , Curly’s wife want’s to be an actress.In the book it said that lennie wanted to tened to the rabbits and curley’s wife wanted to be an actress.page 88 for lennie and page 88 for curley’s wife.The both of them have different dreams and want to live there own dreams.This says that everyone in the book of mice and men have there own dream. Candy was going to give lennie and george money...
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...In Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck shows that on oneself’s way to the American Dream there will be distractions and ourselves can easily be derailed. For my song, I chose MKTO-American Dream.This social issue is shown in Of Mice And Men heavily throughout the book it seems as if John Steinbeck does not believe In the American dream. The social issue of the American dream is shown in the book Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck. The evidence provided very early on in the beginning of the book. “There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway in the evening to jungle-up near water” as you read the quote you are thinking about the American Dream. As the men went down to the river, they each had some sort of “American Dream”. We each have had dreams about the future of what we want to make of ourselves. I feel as if he said that relationships are distractions unless the said persons in a relationship with is helping Themselves achieve Thou goal/dream. Another quote to support this idea is, “Lennie watched him with wide eyes, and old Candy watched him too. Lennie said softly, "We could live offa the fatta the lan'." "Sure,"...
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...In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck illustrates that purpose supports dreams, but when they are destroyed, the loss of hope prevents a dream from being achieved. As George and Lennie settle in a forest, in search of their job, George and Lennie start to speak about their dream. Lennie justifies the purpose of their dream, stating, “But not us! An’ why? Because...because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you”(Steinbeck 14). As George and Lennie talk about their dreams, they do know that the only drive or motive behind the dream is each other and that is their purpose of the dream. Steinbeck provides viewers this quote because, he wants them to think about what would happen if they lost their purpose, and that...
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...Dreams Dreaming, it is a part of our human nature. As people we dream about many things such as things we want, love, happiness and many more. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, during the great depression, the characters of the novel dream about having a better life. These dreams inspire them to persevere through their harsh lives, but many unforeseen events cause the destruction of these dreams. The two big dreamers in the novel is the main characters; George and Lennie. They always dreamed about having their own farm, which motivated the two to work and go on with life. Instead of blowing out their money every night like all the workers on the ranch, George and Lennie save up their money for their goal of having a farm. “Guys like us...
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...During the 1930’s, James Adams invented the term, “American Dream”-the opportunity given to everyone to reach their dreams through perseverance and meaningful application. (Apposition) The remembered NBA player, Michael Jordan, exemplifies the meaning of the American Dream through his life. In his highschool years, Michael Jordan tried out for the basketball team, but he was not able to make it on the team. Through daily practices, and an endless amount of effort, the boy who was not able to make it on a high school team turned out to be NBA’s most valuable player. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, the author, John Steinbeck clearly expresses his emotion on how he believe the idea of the American Dream is a complete myth through the characters of his novel. John Steinbeck argues that the American Dream will never become a reality due to racial, sexist, and social class issues. John Steinbeck shares his thoughts about the American Dream through the character Curley. In the book, Curley is characterized as a rude and ill-mannered man,...
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...The American Dream is seen as synonymous with money in contemporary culture, yet isn't it evident that some have a happy life without it? Seeing the extremely wealthy getting whatever they want, whenever they want may lead one to get caught up in the belief that money is everything. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men are texts following the dreams of common Americans who end up losing them. Hansberry’s play tells the hardships which come with sudden changes. Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, however, tells the audience that the main reason dreams are destroyed is due to others. Lorraine Hansberry and John Steinbeck both display the futility of one’s American Dream by depicting its imminent dissipation through...
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...The American Dream is represented through many books and texts that we read throughout our high school years. Three of the main text that highlight the American Dream as a whole are The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men. These stories although very different still have a similar message from the author who wrote it. The time frame for each story is different to express how the American Dream has always been there and will always be something that Americans can thrive for. These stories show how they had religious freedom, personal freedom, and material aspirations. All the characters in these stories all wanted something even if they were poor or rich. They pursued happiness and wanted to achieve the pronounced “American Dream”....
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...Most of the characters in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men at one point admit to dreaming of a different life. One of the most important themes in the story is The American Dream is difficult to achieve. There are several examples of this theme, including George and Lennie, Curley's wife, Candy, and Crooks. One of the first examples of this theme can be seen in the chapter that is focused on Crooks the stable buck. In this chapter Crooks was at first shooting down Lennie’s idea that he and George were going to own land. “You're nuts. I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their backs...an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of’ em gets it,” (72 ). Crooks starts off in denial, but after Lennie continues to talk about it and after Candy tells about how they already have the money he is convinced and even asks if he can join in on the plan. But Crooks' hope about finally being able to do something and not be ruled by anyone is short lived due to being belittled by Curley's wife. After he stands up to her she gets angry and reminds him that because he is black he doesn't have the power to do anything and she could easily get him hanged if she wanted to. Her words discourage Crooks and make him feel dumb for thinking he was actually going to be able to live on his own land and be free to do what he wants. Crooks re-realizes how...
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