Of mice and men (themes and characters)

American dream, hope, belonging, friendship, george/lennie/candy

“our own place”

george describes the dream to lennie (later candy)

it symbolises the american dream and represent belonging, stability and independance showing why the men keep going despite their harship

hope vs reality, male friendship, american dream, george and lennie

“we got a future”

george reassured lennie by repeating the dream.

this shows the dream gives emotional security. The inclusive “we highlights companionship and this quote is a contrast between optimism and harsh reality.

illusuon vs reality, american dream, hope, Lennie (his innocence)

“livin’ off the fatta the lan”

the ideal version of the dream george repeats.

this sounds fantasy-like and almost unrealistic to show how the dream is romanticised. the repetition makes it feel like a story rather than reality.

loneliness, american dream, failure, isolation, crooks/working men

“don’t belong no place”

crooks talking abt workers

double negative emphasies emptiness showing workers don’t belong anywhere and challenges the promise of the American dream.

loneliness, friendship, crooks, mental impact of isolation

“a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”

crooks explaining the psychological effect of isolation

this shows loneliness causes mental suffereing and highlights the importance of companionship, reflecting on crooks’ own isolation

powerlessness, weakness, american dream, candy/working men

“ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live”

Candy expresses his bitterness about his future.

this shows the lack of control over his life and reflecting how working men are discarded, challenging the idea that hard work = success

male friendship, companionship, loneliness, george and lennie

“because I got you”

George explaining why his life is different from other workers

This emohasises the emotional support George has by having lennie around, showing friendship as protection against loneliness. This contratst George and Lennie with '“guys like us”

Loneliness, Society, working men, friendship (contrast)

“guys like us”

George generalising the experience of migrant workers

This creates a shared identity showing how loneliness is normalised and highlights how unusual their friendship is compared to other workers

loneliness, prejudice, Curley’s wife, powerlessness

“all alone”

Curley’s wife describing her life on the ranch

Simple language reflects emotional emptiness and shows gender-based isolation. This encourages sympathy for her character

prejudice, power, violence, Crooks/Curley’s Wife

“I could get you strung up on a tree”

Shows racial power imbalance and how violence is used as control, revealing how power shifts depending on context.

Fate, Failure of the drea, Candy, hopelessness

“I think I knowed from the very first”

Candy after Lennie’s death

Suggests invetability and shows the dream was doomed, reflecting loss of hope.

Weakness, prejudice, power, Crooks/Candy/Lennie

“an’ they left all the weak ones here”

Crooks referring to the powerless on the ranch

Highlighting social hierachy showing society abandons the vulnerable. Links weakness with isolation.