The novel "Of mice and men" is classed by some as John Steinbeck's best novel.

Monday, 27 January 2003

Sam McDevitt

English Literature Coursework

The novel “Of mice and men” is classed by some as John Steinbeck’s best novel. It portrays the tale of two friends, Lennie and George, and their voyage towards the goal of owning their own farm. Their journey runs parallel to the American dream, the dream that, that’s perception varies from people to people. The dream that promises freedom, work and happiness. Steinbeck illustrates the downside to the dream, the way it can go horribly wrong.

People from all walks of life hold the American dream in high regard. It promises to accept all hard working folk. The general belief of the dream is similar from man to man but people see a different goal at the end of their journey. This idea has a huge impact on American society. Citizens of America and abroad alike feel encouraged to work hard by the dream. The gift of “the statue of liberty” from the French relates to the American dream and symbolises the effect it had and has on the world.

Lennie and George alike had the dream of owning a farm together and rearing livestock. George saw it as “freedom”. Freedom from being ordered about and freedom to make the decisions, whereas Lennie was more excited at the prospect of keeping rabbits. Lennie was “retarded”, and did not know his own strength, this is evident when he revealed to Curley’s wife, “He was so little, I was jus’ playin’ with him…an’ he made like he’s gonna bit me…an’ I made like I was gonna smack him…an’…an’ I done it. An’ then he was dead”. He was obviously a kind and caring man and looked to George as a brother. He never wanted to let George down, but managed to on several occasions. Like when he was stroking a women’s dress and wouldn’t let go. This resulted in him being accused of rape, and the pair had to escape from the town of weed. George in contrast is very focused on the dream and takes good care of Lennie. Reminding Lennie every time he forgot about things and their plans. Despite the setback of Lennie’s disability, “the couple wanted to be answerable to no-one”.

Candy was the farm swamper, tending to the cleaning and washing. He lost a hand when he was younger and always had his trusty dog with him. His dogs was very old, had no teeth and stunk. Candy’s dream was similar to Lennie and George’s and wanted to buy into their farm in a last-ditch effort to accomplish his dream. Candy never realised his dream and never even saw the farm. He was very much like his dog. Excellent at what he did in his prime, but now to old and frail to make a difference. Candy was eventually persuaded ...

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Crook’s was the only black man on the farm and suffered due to his crooked spine caused by a horse kicking him when he was young and by racist views. He was segregated from the white men and slept alone in a barn. He was a proud man and had no time for the others. He got on with his job and kept out of their way. When they crossed his path, he challenged them and said such things as “I aint wanted in the bunkhouse, and you aint wanted in my room”.

He was banished from playing cards and was very lonely. This explained his reluctancy to mix with Lennie. Crooks’ father once told him not to mix with white children, and Crook’s was forced by the other workers to believe in his father’s opinion.

Crooks’ American dream was never fulfilled and this was down to one thing, one thing he couldn’t and shouldn’t have needed to change about himself, his skin colour.

This was the case for black people all over the world back in the 2oth century, and unfortunately, still occurs.

Curley’s wife was a beautiful woman who was feared by most on the farm. She swannaed around and threatened men who challenged her. She also had her dream and that was to be an actress in Hollywood. A man lured her with the idea when she was only a teenager, but his promise to invite her to Hollywood when he arrived back never materialised. She put it down to her mother ceasing the letter and stopping her exit. The truth was he only wanted her for one thing, and that was sex. Her mother saw this, but she failed to. Thousand of girls flocked to Hollywood to become film stars but return unsuccessful, Curley’s wife never even got that far. Throughout the novel, her name is not revealed and this indicates the fact she’s very lonely, not considered worth talking to and to herself, a failure.

She even said to Lennie one night, “I don’ like Curley”. This indicates she only married to get out of her house and away from her mother.

Lennie and George’s dream was to own a farm, and grow crops, alphalpha and rear livestock. Unfortunately the couple like most people never realised their dream. This one and only reason was the mistakes Lennie made. He accidentally killed Curley’s wife while stroking her beautiful, smooth hair and is discovered, by the farm as a murderer. The whole farm began a witch-hunt for Lennie and Lennie was mercifully shot in the back of the head by George as he told him about the farm, and the rabbits. He wanted his “brother” to suffer as little as possible. The other workers discovered Lennie dead, and realised George had done it. They perversely rejoiced and applauded George but he sat and thought. Curley and Carlson could not understand what George and slim were upset about, and this shows the nature of the two men.

The couple have a strong link with the title, “Of mice and men”. They both have their plans, and inadvertently ruin each other’s dream. The early incident in the book when Lennie pets the dead mouse could be considered a prophecy showing he had a mouse’s brain in a huge mans body, and never, understood his own strength.

Few people ever realise and reach their American dream. The few that do reap the rewards and the rewards are great. The majority of workers, migrants and citizens who have their dream, never make it to the last stop, but many come mighty close, and Lennie and George are just two names, on that long, long list.