In John Steinbeck’s novella, “Of Mice and Men”, George and Lennie’s dream of a farm was doomed to fail from the beginning due to it being a mere calming thought for Lennie, along with the fact that they tried to do too much too late, as well as the unfortunate fate Lennie was doomed to fall into, which leaves George to abandon the plan. Soon after Lennie is killed by George, he realizes that he never really wanted the farm, it was all for Lennie and not him. Shortly after George kills Lennie, Slim comes to George and Steinbeck writes, “He led George into the entrance of the trail, and up toward the highway” (107). This quote metaphorically shows that George is being led by another angel like individual, away from the dream that he had been giving Lennie false hope about ever since they started the …show more content…
This quote also metaphorically symbolizes a new beginning for George, as the story is finished for George where it started, on the trail next to the bank of water. Later on in the story, George, once again, shows that he is almost resistant to the heaven like dream. Just after Lennie threatens to leave, he pleads that George tells him the story about the farm, in which, “George snapped, ‘You ain’t gonna put nothing over on me’” (13). This obviously shows that George is not even willing to articulate the dream, but finally does when he is dragged into telling it for another time, a time where he can repeat the words,”rhythmically as...he has said them many times before” (13). This shows that George has obviously told the story many times but is still hesitant to tell it again because he thinks of it as more of a distraction for Lennie, than an actual goal for them to achieve. Earlier in the story it is shown that George uses the dream as a safety tool to use against Lennie. This is described time and time again as whenever Lennie does something bad, he thinks to himself that he won’t get to
“The best laid schemes o’ mice and men, Gang aft agley often go wrong, And leave us nought but grief and pain, For promised joy!” Robert Burn’s quote makes us believe that even the best laid out plans for joy often go wrong and brings us grief and pain. George and Lennie’s plan was for a better future. The future where they didn’t take commands from someone; where they took care of themselves. As George and Lennie keep talking about the farm and more people joining in on the plan, it looks like it might happen. But with the foreshadowing through this quote: “Look, Lennie. I want you to look around here. You can remember this place, can’t you? The ranch is about a quarter mile up that way. Just follow the river. (15)” This quote foreshadows Lennie messing up and it creating a larger gap between the dream farm and them. When Lennie kills Curley's wife, the idea of the dream farm slowly starts to disappear. As George finds out about what had happen, he realizes that plan for a farm was just an idea, an illusion. “—I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would”
That ain’t no good, George.’”(Steinbeck 97). Because Lennie killed Curley’s wife, he committed a felony. George wanted Lennie to be thrown in jail at first. He wanted Lennie to be arrested because he thought it was the best thing for Lennie but then Slim told him it would not be good for Lennie. It would be bad for Lennie because Lennie would not understand his rights because he’s mentally challenged and locking him up in a cage would just hurt Lennie. George then realized he needed to kill Lennie so nobody would mistreat him. George is protecting others from Lennie.”’Lennie-if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before…’”(Steinbeck 15). George has been with Lennie for many years and he knows how Lennie will never learn and he will keep committing bad stuff. George knew something was going to happen at the ranch because Lennie has always done something wrong. George tried to prevent something from going wrong but he couldn’t. As a result he had to put down Lennie so he would not hurt anyone ever again. George felt the hard choice of killing Lennie was the right decision for George because Curley wanted to get his revenge, Lennie would be mistreated in prison and he was
Steinbeck uses foreshadowing throughout the story that hints on them not achieving their dream. Crooks one of the workers, predicts that Lennie and George will never get their own farm. Also, George looses hope and stops talking about the dream. As Crooks and Lennie discuss the plan to get a farm, crooks docent think that Georges and Lennies dream will become possible.’‘I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, …’em has a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever get it…” In other words Crooks has seen many people with the same dream as George and Lennie that haven't come true. Crooks says that none of the peoples dreams come true, this foreshadows that Georges and Lennies may nit come true. As a result, The failure of dreams creates an effect creates an uncertainty that their dream will come true. Not only does Crooks think that their dream will not come true, but George lost hope in their dream too. While George and Lennie are sleeping by the water, George tells Lennie a story about what their farm would be like, but George breaks down and doesn't want to talk about it. While George and Lennie are sleeping by the water, George tells Lennie a story about what their farm would be like, but George breaks down and doesn't want to talk about it. “I aint got time for no more…” in other words, George is tired of having dreams he doesn't think he can
Within the beginning of the story, the dynamic of George and Lennie’s relationship is introduced, one that is uncommon and presents a fatherly vibe. The readers are thrown into the novel at the height of the great depression, an economic catastrophe that shook the world. Within these dark time, an unlikely friendship is in full blossom and we are meet by Lennie and George setting up camp for the night by a riverbed. After the duo’s personalities are expressed, they begin to set up the idea of a commonly shared dream which exists according to Lennie “Because... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie is seen as a quite simple minded and extremely dim-witted character from just the first
Life for ranchers in the 1930’s was very lonely. They have no family, and they do not belong anywhere. They come to the ranch, earn their pay, go into town, waste their money, and start all over again at another ranch. They have nothing to look forward to. But George and Lennie are different; it is not like that for them because they have each other. It was George and Lennie’s dream to own a piece of land and a farm. That dream is long gone. In the story, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, Curley caused the death of his wife and Lennie’s death; Curley also shattered George and Lennie’s dream.
The sound of ice swerving in the crystal clear glass echoed through my ear. I was at the Old Susy’s place regretting the decision I took for Lennie. I drank until noon and went back to the ranch. As I entered, I noticed everyone was looking at me with deep concern in their eyes. I wasn't in the mood to talk so I went straight to my bed. I heard Candy’s footsteps inch closer to me.
Hopelessness is not a common theme in novels, mostly because it is hard to write a hopeless novel that can still hold a reader’s interest. Nevertheless, John Steinbeck was able to successfully write Of Mice and Men, a hopeless book from the start, but it still remains one of the most popular stories ever written. Steinbeck creates the illusion of hope by introducing their dream in the first chapter. However, it is hinted at that this will not ever be achieved, on page seven, “Lennie looked puzzled. ‘Like I done in Weed?’ ‘Oh, so you forgot that too? Well, I ain’t gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again.’”. George is speaking in the second half of the quote, and is foreshadowing that the events in Weed are bound to reoccur. Other hints throughout the book also strengthen this statement, but this is the first we come across. Once we see how Lennie is such a problem to society, through the events in Weed, it is apparent that they can never reach their dream. Because Lennie is holding back George, they cannot move forward far enough in life to live by themselves. From the beginning we know that Lennie must either go through a significant character change, or must be removed from society. It is a hopeless situation because we, as readers, are hopeful for Lennie-George continuum to succeed more than anything. Once Lennie moves out of the picture, our hope is lost. Even if Lennie were to change his character instead of dying, it would have the same effect because readers love Lennie as a child, not an adult.
Overall, John Steinbeck uses the character of George to represent the harshness of 1930s society and how rare companionship was, even though his companionship with Lennie ended
With the setting as the Great Depression in the 1930s, George and Lennie of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men have overcome the adversity of being unemployed as they pursue work through Murray and Ready.In addition, they are bindle stiffs and are among other dispossessed males who must ride railroad cars and migrate from job to job. However, they are not alone like most of the other workers; due to the fact they have the friendship and trust of one another. In the beginning to the end George and Lennie share the hope of having a little farm of their own on which they can live on "the fat of the land" someday. (Citation) With this dream, they conquer the terrible alienation that men without homes encounter. Thus, George and Lennie overcome the adversities of poverty, alienation, and despair while staying true to their friendship.
When Richard was young he would always be the person to help out. But as he became older and more feeble, his capabilities were not as they were before. This was difficult for Richard to cope with because other people would reject his help, but this did not stop him from accomplishing his dreams. The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck contains the character Candy, an old ranch worker who lost one of his hands in a farm accident. Like Richard, Candy is old and disabled and faces problems with people discriminating against him. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses dialogue to characterize Candy as a neglected, misunderstood idealist.
Perhaps the most powerful example of this cruel tendency is when Crooks criticizes Lennie’s dream of the farm and his dependence on George.One of the reasons that the tragic end of George and Lennie’s friendship has such a profound impact is that one senses that the friends have, by the end , they lost a dream larger than themselves.The farm on
Consequently, Lennie’s end goal of a secure home with financial freedom only leads down a grim path. His dream is to have sustainability for himself and George, which is the ultimate dream in American society. “The dream of the farm originates with Lennie and it is only through Lennie, who also makes the dream impossible, that the dream has any meaning for George” (Lisca 1). Lennie cannot help but to pursue this goal due to his innocence. He believes that this dream of attaining his and
George’s relationship with Lennie has made him selfless; his conversations, with and with out Lennie, are generally revolving around Lennie, although in the case of their dream-ranch George seems to find fulfilment for himself as well. Due to these altruistic tendencies that he shows throughout the novel, a danger is bestowed upon George; he tends to care for Lennie far too much, and too little for himself. In occasional moments, he escapes his sympathy and compassion for Lennie, and realises the burden that he causes. This usually results in George taking his frustration out on Lennie, which can often harm his simple mind, leaving Lennie upset and forced to confess to his own uselessness, and George feeling guilty for what he has caused. We can learn very little about George through his actual conversations, which made it necessary for Steinbeck to focus the novel on him in particular, and let the reader gain an closer insight on him through his actions. Generally, he seems to be caring, intelligent and sensible, but is greatly worn by the constant attention Lennie requires. This illustrates a major theme in Of Mice and Men, the dangers that arise when one becomes involved in a dedicated relationship.
In the classic, “Of Mice and Men”, there is a recurring theme of imagining a better life throughout the story. The characters in the book are unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives and often look to their imagination as their only solace. One character, in particular, Lennie, looks to the rabbits that George had told him would be on their future farm when he is not feeling too hot. John Steinbeck continually uses the characters' imaginations throughout the book to show their misery.
John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ focuses on the relationship between two itinerant workers: George and Lennie. The average itinerant worker moved from place to place to find work, travelling alone. They led very lonely lives, and the majority had no family and didn’t belong anywhere. But George and Lennie travelled together, the simple desire for company and friendship; as well as their dream binded John Steinbeck’s main characters together. George and Lennie’s dream is to live on a farm with a bit of land and a few animals; somewhere that they can call their own. John Steinbeck based ‘Of Mice and Men’ on the American Dream, which was thought to be every man’s goal in American in the 20th centaury. People wanted to feel fulfilled and respected, to belong somewhere and feel safe, happy and content. The dream was rooted from The Wall Street Crash of 1929 that was followed by The Great Depression in the 1930’s. Many people lost their jobs and were forced to travel to different places to find work. ‘Of Mice and Men’ shows just how unachievable and unrealistic this shared dream really is. The title of the book is based upon a line from Robert Burns poem ‘To a Mouse’ it quotes “The best laid plans of Mice and Men will always go astray” suggesting that however much you plan and however hard you work things can always go wrong.