Of Mice and Men - dreams

George

George

• Has the dream with Lennie

• Has his own dream of life without Lennie

• Protective of dream

• Brings them hope, especially when Candy offers money

• Allows them to forget about the GD

• “Live off the fatta the lan’”

• “Gonna get a little place”

• “We was always gonna do it by ourselves”

• “If I was alone I could live so easy”

• “I think I knowed we’d never do her

Lennie

• Same dream as George

• Lives in fear that George won’t let the dream happen

• Dream brings him comfort, even just before he dies

• Death of Lennie is the death of the dream

• “Tend the rabbits”

• “I done a bad thing. He ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits”

• “Tell me George”, “tell me”

• “Tell me again” - just before his death

Curley’s wife

• Before she met Curley and came to the ranch, she met a travelling actor

• She wanted to become famous, work in the shows

• Remains optimistic

• “I could’ve went to the shows”

• “Maybe I will yet”

• Talks of her dream right until her death - death of her dream

Crooks

• Originally didn’t believe in the dream

• Later the dream gave him hope of avoiding loneliness and wanted to join them

• “Nobody gets no land”

• “A guy needs somebody to be near him”

• “If you guys would want a hand to work for nothing”

Candy

• Wants to join G + L dream - a chance of a better life, gives him hope, sense of purpose

• Offers money - makes the dream possible

• Protective of the dream

• Selfishly concerned more about the dream than Curley’s Wife’s death

• “His eyes were wide open”

• “I ain’t much good but I could cook and tend the chickens”

• “Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in

• “We’re gonna do it”

• “You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we….can’t we….can’t we”

• “”Then it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily”

Context

• American Dream (James Adams 1931) - desire to achieve freedom and happiness through work - most wanted their own land

• The Wall Street Crash (1929), The Great Depression (1930s) - unemployment rose to 30%, people needed some hope during a time of poverty, despair

• The Roaring Twenties - new technology, film (e.g Hollywood films) became more popular

• To A Mouse by Robert Burns - “the best laid plans of mice and men often go askew”