E

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”