Of Mice and Men - dreams

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

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* “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

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* “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

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* “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

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* “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

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* “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”