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

Quotes

• “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

Quotes

• “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

Quotes

• “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

Quotes

• “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

Quotes

• “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”