Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

Dreams can be that one thing that keeps our soul alive. The hope of that dream coming to reality makes us feel like a big stabile mountain which cannot break. Will, courage and hard work are all elements which can improve your life, just like the American dream. In John Steinbeck's short novel, "Of Mice And Men" published in 1937, he describes how two men is chasing the American dream by believe that they can achieve their goals.

In the story we see how two men, George and Lennie, desperately are trying to chase the American dream. We get an introduction of George and Lennie, and we quickly find out that George is the brain and Lennie is the strength. We are also aware of the reason why they left their work in the weed, which is Lennie's accident by touching a girl's dress. While they are on the move to a ranch where they want to find work, we also get an introduction to their big dream, a dream of owning their own farm. When they later on find work at a ranch, Lennie accidently kills the boss's daughter-in-law and George makes an end to Lennie's miseries by shooting him in the back of the head. George and Lennie make many friends along their journey. And some of them are willing to make sacrifices so they can join George and Lennie's big dream.

Many characters inclusive George and Lennie, confess that they have a dream they want to achieve, some place in the story. For instance Curly's wife, before she dies she says that her biggest desire is to be a movie star. There is also a character like old Candy. He offers all his money and his inheritance to George so he can join their dream. Then we have the character like poor Crook. He is the black one on the ranch and his awareness of that fact shines through when he offers George to do the dirty work on the farm, just as doing the dishes. While all these dreams, sacrifices and ideas are being presented something happen. "They fell into a silence. They looked at one another, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true." (P. 63. L. 13 - 15)

They all fell into to silence because it could be amazing if the dream came true, but the question is, is the dream better of as a dream? Maybe something that they can believe in, which is so big and astonishing, is better than the tough reality? Then there are all the great expectations. The big dream that gives them hope would be ruined if the reality of the dream turns out to be a catastrophic disappointment. Those are thoughts running through their minds while the silence intruded and went on.

The choice of language is giving a certain impression about George's thoughts of their dream. "I remember about the rabbits, George. The hell with the rabbits. That's all you can ever remember is them rabbits." (P.4, 5 l. 32-1)

This is the place where we first hear about the dream of