Of Mice And Men- John Steinbeck

Running head: OF MICE AND MEN- DREAMS 1

Introduction

The novel which is authored by John Steinbeck narrates the lives of Lennie Small and

George Milton. They are displaced migrants who work in a ranch. The exploit many places in

California during the Great Depression in search of new job opportunities. The novel is based on

Steinbeck’s own personal experience in the 1910s when he used to work together with migrant

farm workers. Steinbeck explores the lives of the characters in their search for companionship,

comfort, and decency in a cruel, lonely world. Their quest for better lives is evident from the

dreams that most of the characters have had. Almost all the dreams are not achieved at the end

therefore raising the question whether dreams are important or not. This paper will thus discuss

the role that dreams play in the lives of the characters.

Objectives of the study

The objectives of the study are to explore the predatory nature of human existence and

the implications of American dreams on the lives of the characters that feature in the novel. This

are the two main themes that are stressed by John Steinbeck. The novel, Of Mice and Men, gives

a harsh revelation about the nature of our existence. Almost all the characters have confessed to

having a sense of isolation and loneliness at one point in their lives. They all yearn for a friend’s

comfort but have resorted for the advice from strangers.

Research methods

The research methods that were used are library research, internet research, and

interviews. The internet research was done in Spark Notes website

Research question: What role does dreams play in the novel “Of Mice and Men”?

The characters George, Lennie, and Curley’s all have cherished life aspirations which fail

to occur. Apart from being the source of happiness, dreams can also be a source of misery. The

OF MICE AND MEN- JOHN STEINBECK DREAMS 2

characters have always dreamt because they view dreaming a possibility of a happier future.

George, Lennie, and others are able to locate where they are and where they are going through

dreams. Their dreams are not only about wishes to be achieved but are also about the places they

are desiring to reach. For this reason, majority of the dreams in this novel have a physical

dimension. The dreams have turned the characters’ lives into journeys that have a purpose since

they can feel proud about their actions that aid the achievements of the dreams and condemn the

actions that do not.

The characters’ dreams make them participate in their own lives. This is because they

have a belief that their actions can yield tangible benefits in their lives. The dreams are also

crucial in helping the characters to deal with their sufferings and hardships hence they are able to

avoid succumbing to the difficulties which they regularly encounter. For example, in their

hardest times, George and Lennie are seen to summon their dream ranch as a spell that can stop

their regular injustices and sufferings. Their fantasies about the ranch always come after a

traumatic event

Towards the end of the story, the author reveals that apart from dreams being beneficial,

they can also be dangerous. He brings out the fact that dreams are always, in most cases, an

imagination of things that cannot be. As such, dreams could be a source of acute bitterness. This

is because they can lead cynical men to believe in them too much then afterwards mock the men

for their gullibility. The characters’ love for Western magazines depicts their relationships with

dreams. At the end of it all, George and Lennie’s dreams of ranches and rabbits are what undoes

them.

OF MICE AND MEN- JOHN STEINBECK DREAMS 3

Interview questions.

Five people were interviewed with ten interview questions, five of which were open

ended and five which were multiple choice. Their answers were gathered and analyzed.

Question 1: Why does Curley pick on Lennie?

Answer: Curley is a guy who has a case of a small guy complex. For that reason, he

attacks guys who are big-bodied that he is sure he can intimidate.

Question: Why does George trust Slim?

Answer: George and Slim realize that they have kindred spirit in each other.

Question: In what way did George treat Lennie in the past, and why did that change?

Answer: George used to prank Lennie for fun but changed after Lennie jumped into the

river after he was pranked by George.

Question: Why did Aunt Clara offer Lennie a rubber mouse?

Answer: Lennie was given a rubber mouse because he was not going to be able to kill it.

However, he failed to like it because he thought that it was not good to pet.

Question: Why is the dream of Curley’s wife a typical American dream?

Answer: Curley’s wife had dreamt to be a movie star. Just like many American drams, a

lot of challenges prevent her from achieving her dream.

Analysis of the answers.

George and Slim realize that they have kindred spirit in each other. Slim is seen as an

introspective gentleman who understands the politics that goes around the farm and the special

friendship that exists between George and Lennie. George thus finds another friend with whom

they share intellect and sense of life.

OF MICE AND MEN- JOHN STEINBECK DREAMS 4

George expressed that when they first started travelling with Lennie, he used to involve

Lennie in a lot of pranks for fun. However, there is one incident when he jokingly told Lennie to

jump into a river. Lennie obediently jumped into the river even though he was not capable of

swimming. He then pulled him out, and to his surprise, Lennie thanked him for saving his life

having forgotten that it was George who dared him to jump into the river. From that day, George

decided against pulling pranks like this for the sake of having fun.

Curley’s wife had dreamt to be a movie star. When she fails to realize the dream she

blamed her marriage and her mother to have interfered with the dream. She was discriminated

because of her race. The ranchers view her as a dangerous prostitute who can only flirt with men

and make them fall into traps of imprisonment. Furthermore, she is viewed as weak and

incompetent as compared to the men hence she is deemed unfit to work in the ranch. Gender

discrimination thus hinders he dreams of ever becoming a movie star.

Lennie failed to like the rubber mouse that he had been given by Aunt Clara because the

mouse was not soft and fuzzy like the real ones. The rubber mouse had no fur therefore he did

not like the feel of the replacement.

OF MICE AND MEN- JOHN STEINBECK DREAMS 5

References

Steinbeck, J. (1994). Of Mice and Men. 1937. Of Mice and Men & Cannery Row.

SparkNotes Editors. (2007). SparkNotes on Of Mice and Men. Retrieved July 30, 2018, from

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/

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