Introduction
In many of John Steinbeck’s works there are themes and elements that parallel
his other works. Steinbeck often tackles the result of people’s ill fortune
and the realization that their dreams have been destroyed. We can see that in
his Pulitzer Prize winning The Grapes of Wrath and his critically acclaimed
novella Of mice and Men Steinbeck shows us the results of people having their
dreams destroyed. Steinbeck shows us that in his work he gives different
characters similar goals and aspirations and has them destroyed in similar
ways.
In both of the above mentioned books key characters have their dreams
destroyed. “Steinbeck often created characters possessing lofty goals; lofty
goals in a world of despair and corruption. His characters did not have a
dream of tangible luxuries, but a dream of corporal well being and refuge with
loved ones”(Thomas 238).
In Of Mice and Men, Lennie and George travel to
California in order to find work. Once they salvage up enough money, Lennie
and George plan on being independent and not worrying about the outside world
and its enigmas. George stated “Someday we’re gonna get all the jack
together and were gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow
and some pigs.” (Roberts, 187).
George’s dream ran deeper than a love for
The Essay on The Dream Of Lennie And George – "Of Mice And Men" By John Steinbeck
In “Of Mice and Men”, Steinbeck shows every character’s desire for some kind of achievement in life as an example of the American dream and how unattainable it really is for them. The American Dream is one of liberty, untarnished happiness and self-reliance. At the beginning of the novel George and Lennie immediately bond together building a close friendship that teaches them ...
farming and independence. The motivation for this dream was not just a
product of the poor state of the country and widespread unemployment, but it
was a dream that could ensure a happy ending for Lennie “George is anxious to
secure his own place so that Lennie can live the type of life where he can be
happy and not be hurt by people who do not understand his simple ways. George
would run the farm; Lennie would tend the rabbits. This was Lennies dream, to
tend the rabbits. He could think of nothing else more enjoyable than tending
the rabbits. “Lennies dram is to have all the rabbits that he can take care
of, and his attempts to do the right thing are motivated by his fear that
George won’t let him take care of the rabbits.” (Tedlock 243).
In The Grapes of Wrath the Joad family also dreams of moving out west. They
do this in hopes of escaping the direful situation in Oklahoma. “Gonna buy a
car and shove out west where it’s easy living.” (Steinbeck 57).
The Joads
like Lennie and George plan on saving up enough money for their own plot of
land. Once this task is accomplished they hope to live a self-sufficient life
and rely on one another. They (the Joads) believe that once in California they
will find life easier and find all they need in surplus. “Jus’ let me get out
to California where I can pick me an orange when I want it. Or grapes,
there’s a thing I ain’t never had enough of. Gonna get me a whole bunch of
grapes off a bush, or whatever, an’ I’m gonna squash ’em on my face an’ let
’em run off my chin”.(Steinbeck 105).
There is clearly a parallel between the
themes of these two books. As both works have the same basis for the
characters dreams.
How the dream was destroyed
George and Lennie never had their dreams come true. When they arrived at the
homestead for work; George and Lennie at once felt hostility from the ranch
The Essay on Lennie George Curley Dog
... ranch. Lennie is a man who doesn't think for himself, and relies on George for guidance. They travel together, forever chasing the dream ... about his hand." (p. 97) Curley had been waiting for revenge on Lennie since ... guy." (p. 26) This foreshadows that Curley will fight Lennie at some point later on. "Curley's gonna wanna shoot 'im. He's still mad ...
owner’s son Curley. Curley was a sinister short-tempered man possessing
little physical stature. From Curleys first encounter with Lennie, Curley was
looking for an excuse to fight the simple-minded
Lennie. “Curley develops a hatred for the bigger man which will be expressed
in his desire to mutilate Lennie in the final scene.” (Magil 4296) Lennie
ended up killing Curleys wife. This was not a malicious act however. It was
an accident that had an unfortunate consequence. “Lennies greatest difficulty
is remembering. While he never plans to do anything wrong, he simply cannot
remember what is wrong and what is not.” (Magil 89).
That consequence being
the death of Curley’s wife, and that Curley ordered the men to kill Lennie.
The workers assembled and took up arms. George knew that the men were not out
to right a wrong, but out to seek vengeance. George decided that he must kill
Lennie. George knew that this was the only solution that would spare Lennie
the misery that would be inflicted on him by Curley and his men.
Like George and Lennie the Joads never saw their dreams materialize. They to
were victims of the greed of this time period. The people of the west were
averse to change. They were afraid of the migrants because of their different
life styles. “Sure they talk the same language, but they ain’t the same.
Look how they live. Think any of us would live like that? Hell no!”
(Steinbeck 302).
The Joads soon learned that the people of the west actually
hated the “Oakies”. An Oakie being someone from middle America who was
currently in the west. A man returning back to the Midwest from California
told of the troubles to be found ahead. “People gonna have a look in their
eye. They gonna look at you an’ their face says, “I don’t like you, you son-
of-a-bitch.” Gonna be deputy sheriffs an they’ll push you aroun’. You camp
on the roadside an they’ll move you on. You gonna see in peoples faces how
they hate you.”(Steinbeck 306).
As the Joads arrive into California they see
The Essay on “Of Mice and Men”: George’s actions at the end of the novel
... chance of the men actually getting the ranch. By killing Lennie, George puts an end to the unrealistic dream in which Lennie would have ... that only the strongest lived during the Great Depression. John Steinbeck gave the reader a realistic view on what would ... also prevented a further painful and torturous death for Lennie, as Curley plans to ‘shoot that big bastard’s guts right outta ...
that their dreams will go unanswered. The land looked beautiful but the
circumstances would not allow for prosperity. “Looking into the valley the
Joads regret that theirs cannot be the tranquil life that it
promises.”(Tedlock 40).
The dreams of George of and Lennie were destroyed as a result of apathy.
Throughout this novella we can see how Steinbeks characters have a total lack
of interest in others well being. In the first chapter the bus driver drops
George and Lennie off miles from their destination. The driver did this just
to spare himself a few minutes of work. The dream was not destroyed due to
killing of Curley’s wife at the hands of Lennie. But as a result of Curley’s
lack of empathy. If Curley were more understanding and considerate of Lennies
condition the dream may have grown and bloomed into reality. However given
the circumstances George had no choice but to sacrifice he and Lennies dream
so that Lennie would not suffer at the hands of Curley. George decided that
the only solution was to kill Lennie. “George’s tragic last action is the
last gesture in their extraordinary relationship – a relationship that others
fail to understand because it is based on tenderness rather than greed.”
(Magil 4296).
The Joads also had their dreams destroyed at the hands of apathetic people.
The Joads were treated and looked at by the ranch owners like a team of oxen.
They were expected to work long and hard hours for insulting wages. The
authorities did not have any concern for the poor who were being taken
advantage of. Children were not even spared from the work and, like their
parents went hungry. “The kid’s yo ought to see them. Little boils, like
comin’ out, an’ they can’t run around. Give ’em some windfall fruit, an’ they
bloated up.” (‘Steinbeck 363).
They turned their heads away from the
atrocities that were taking place in front of them, and bowed their heads to
the almighty dollar. The migrants had no choice if they wanted to work. If
The Essay on John Steinbeck George And Lennie
... expect to find work. George, the small and keen one of the two, goes in front. Lennie, a big shapeless man with a feeble ... of a place where he will be equal to white men. Steinbeck seems to be uninterested in creating individuals, but makes them ... too far away and cannot come true in real life. George and Lennie dream of his own little farm, Curley s wife of ...
they refused the wages somebody else would be glad to take the job. “Suppose
you got a job an’ work, an’ there’s jus’ one fella wants the job. You got to
pay him what he ast’s. But suppose them men got kids, an’ them kids is
hungry. Spose a dime’ll buy a box of mush for them. An you got a hundred
men, jus’ offer ’em a nickel. Why, they’ll kill each other fighting for that
nickel”. (Steinbeck 324).
It was a rat race. The only way to get ahead in
the world portrayed by Steinbeck was to turn your back on your fellow man.
In these to works of Steinbeck the plight of the migrants is examined. Often
it’s the wealth of the landowners pitted against the poor. In both works this
wealth has molded the authorities into cold heartless men. These greedy
individuals destroy the dreams of the migrants. “Steinbeck see’s man as
corrupt , bent, fallen, a sinful creature who has reached for a promising
fruit only to realize dark knowledge in a world that is also distorted and
hostile. (Donohue 258).
The villainous characters he portrayed only had a
sense of present pleasure. They had no concern for the fact that at the
present moment a child had no life or food. The lower class had no way of
getting ahead. Dreams and ideas of a life of stability and equality were
never achieved. Steinbecks charecters never had their dreams materialize into
achieved goals. This was true in both of Steinbecks above mentioned works.
George and Lennies followed their dream only to have it turn into a nightmare.
The roads journey led them from the barren, the sterile to the green, the
fertile, yet poisonous land. In the end dreams turned out to be just that,
dreams, nothing more.
