Of Mice and Men Expository Essay John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a book that describes the chase of the American Dream. Although achieving the American Dream is a great desire for all, seldom does it actually come true. George and Lennie, the two main characters in the book, have a goal of pursuing their version of the American Dream, as do many other characters. However, due to relationships and other conflicts, that dream is not achieved. Almost immediately, Steinback poses the question of whether or not companionship leads to failure of the American Dream. For example, George says, “’Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ …show more content…
Through these examples, and others found throughout the book, Steinback tells the reader that no goal is accomplished through isolation. If isolation does not make for good outcomes, than it would seem that its opposite, companionship, should. For instance, George and Lennie’s dream only seems possible through their companionship and with the help of another friend, Candy. This is demonstrated where Steinback says, “They fell into a silence. They looked at one another, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true.”(60). This quote shows that the “thing they had never really believed in” could happen through each other’s contributions. Through companionship, each person would have to raise less money and therefore the dream could come true, and could come true faster. Things are often easier, quicker, and less painless when one has a partner to help them. It is only through their companionship that their dream seems possible. Once one of them is gone, the dream dies. This is shown in the passage that says, Now Candy spoke his greatest fear. “You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?” Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew. George said softly, “—I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to
A few minutes later, Lennie returned to the bunk house from the barn. Then he asked George to repeat their dream as he often did. So George began again. When we get enough money we are going to have a little house, a few acres of land, and a few animals. We will be our own bosses and do what we want to do. Candy was still in the room and got very excited at hearing this that he asked if he could go in on it with them. George hesitated until he heard how much money Candy had saved up and
Now in the story there are many similarities between candy and George besides there need to get away and deal with hard choices in life. But no matter what character there are always some differences. One of the differences between the characters George and Candy is that candy likes to think ahead and plan for his future while George on the other hand would rather make a dream and fulfill it as soon as possible. A sample would be when George first proposed the plan that they shall live on their own farm making their own money Candy thought George was crazy. But when George showed that he was serious Candy joined right on board. Showing that It took some time for Candy to agree because he thought about how it would affect his life when George just went on the same road till his dream was fulfilled.
Quote #2: "Well, we ain’t got any," George exploded. "Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God
Although Of Mice and Men definitely teaches young students about how the setting was set up back then, the themes of abuse and death included could be found highly inappropriate or offensive to young students today. These themes arise from the multiple abusive and gory deaths of characters throughout the novel. For example, the novel included a reoccurring scene of murder of innocent animals by Lennie including mice and puppies. Some readers are not able to handle such grimness, therefore finding it repugnant or simply unacceptable. Readers with their own pets may also feel a terrible sense of guilt and repulsiveness by simply reading the novel. Another example is portrayed when Lennie violently kills Curley’s wife by shaking her to death.
After Curley's wife hearing the men's were back that made her leave and Candys says to Lennie that she was glad that he beat her husband. When George came back from town, he criticizes Candy for talking about
“But, I 'm already resigned to this fate / Looking over my life, I recall / If it hadn 't been / for the loneliness / I 'd have no companion at all. ” This stanza from “Loneliness”, by Lora Colon evokes the negative impact a lonely fate has on a person. Words like “resigned” and “loneliness” establish a sense of depression and resignation. During the times of the Great Depression, many people felt similar feelings of melancholy and stoicism. Jobs were hard to come by, and realistic dreams of success were scarce. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, allows readers to see the life of the Great Depression. The two main characters, George and Lennie, search for jobs, like many other migrant workers. They dream of owning their own land, however, Lennie’s habit of getting in trouble prevents their dream from being reality. After he accidentally causes more trouble at their new job, George is forced to kill him out of mercy. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck shows that even if one meticulously plans out the road to their American Dream, fate will inevitably intervene and lead one to desolation and loneliness.
Candy is a character that suffers a lot since the time he is mentioned in the book because he is an old man who didn’t have a hand, and who had an unconditional love to his only true friend, his old dog. He admits to himself that soon he won’t be of use in the ranch when he said, “Soon I won’t be able to swamp out no bunk house” (Steinbeck 59). This quote means that Candy knows that he won’t be able to do his job and that he isn’t doing a good job thanks to his incapability. He feels miserable. However, he feels even more miserable when is left bereft when Carlson killed his dog with the argument that his dog was very old. Therefore, in order to move on
Of Mice and Men was written during a period of racism. In the 1960's it was important for everyone to get along with eachother because not everyone was equal. George and Lennie showed a great part in friendship throught the whole book. At the ranch in Selinas mostly everyone showed friendship in some way. Friendship was a great factor when the book was published because of all the racism going on at the time.
Dreams drive people to accomplish goals and live the life they want to, even if it means doing something that you won't normally do to make that dream come true. Dreams are the central idea and main theme in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. both George Milton and Lennie Smalls have the same dream of owning a place on a farm all to themselves and try to make their dream come true despite some big issues they encounter.
Candy stood in his place and said to George "Take my money George, pay it to the Judge"
Of Mice And Men The novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ reveal life in the 1930’s. A time very diverse to ours. Steinback, the author of this novel wrote about various issues such as lifestyle of the travelling ranchmen, loneliness, friendship, the American dream, racism and sexism. The book is about two migrant labourers, George Milton and Lennie Small in California.
“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place . . .With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” (Steinbeck 13-14)
Just like George and Lennie, Candy was also lonely and alone in the world, “... I ain’t got no relatives nor nothing...” it was a different matter when he
Chapter 3: “George half-closed his eyes.”I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves." Candy interrupted him, "I 'd make a will an ' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain 't got no relatives or nothing"”
When we try to chase our dreams, we end up in our own diminutive lonely world. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, has taught readers that the American dream can only ever be accomplished through hard work and determination. More times than others, we are distracted by the dream itself, and don’t chase the reality, which can then lead to high expectations, and without hard determination, that can then failure. In the end, we have been lonely for so long, chasing a dream, that when reality hits us, we become isolated and lonely. For George and Lennie, they have each other, until the American dream seemed too hard to chase.