English Of Mice And Men

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Introduction

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John Steinbeck was a prolific American novelist who wrote many notable pieces over the course of his lifetime (1902-1968). He used his experiences from this time to inspire some of his greatest pieces, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men describes the hardships experienced by migrant workers in America During the Great Depression. During this time, people had limited possessions, meaning they were very limited in what they could do with their lives. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck conveys the theme of dreams as paradises of freedom, contentment and safety that were not possible in the 1930s. The characterisation of George, Lennie and Candy that can be found throughout the novel support this representation.

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As did all the characters in this novel, George had a dream that was unattainable for him. George's dreams are conveyed as unreachable paradises of freedoms throughout the novel. Despite the fact that he is aware of his circumstances, George cannot fight the desire for something more than what he has. This is evident in the quote "Jesus Christ, I bet we could swing her!" His eyes were full of wonder. "I bet we could swing her," he repeated softly. (John Steinbeck, pg. 90). The use of repetition and personification in this quote helps to convey the theme of dreams, hopes and plans. The purposeful repetition of the phrase "I bet we could swing her" as well as the personification of the dream ranch as being a "her" display the magnitude of this dream and the power it holds over their lives. Despite the fact that these dreams are very unlikely, the level of hope shown by George makes it clear how his dreams are what help him push through every day during this difficult time. By doing this, Steinbeck has clearly conveyed the message that many people in the Great Depression held onto unrealistic dreams.

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In 'Of Mice and Men', Lennie is presented as a character with unattainable dreams. However, it is clear that Lennie is not aware of the extremely low chance of his dreams coming true. This is emphasised by his obvious low intellect, possibly due to some kind of mental disability. "I remember about the rabbits, George." "The hell with the rabbits. That's all you can ever remember is them rabbits." (Steinbeck, pg. 6). The repetition of the word 'rabbits' conveys the fact that the rabbits are the major focus of not only this conversation, but Lennie's life. From George's sharp, insulting response, it is clear that George is concerned about the immense focus that Lennie has on the rabbits, knowing that it is unrealistic and therefore it is not good for Lennie to focus all of his attention on this. Emphasis is placed on Lennie's low intellect is achieved through the phrase "...all you can every remember…" hinting at a lack of memory.

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Throughout the novel, it is apparent that Candy is another character with hidden dreams that are unrealistic for him. Candy's dreams are to be have friends and to feel wanted. In the quote "And when Candy asked "You an' me can get that little place, cant we George?" (Steinbeck, pg. 93) it is very clear that Candy is desperate to still be included. In this, Steinbeck has utilised collective language, such as "you" and "me" to symbolise Candy's desire for friends and to be valued. By making connections between himself and George as being part of something together, Candy is conveying the desperation with which he desires inclusion.

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Conclusion

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Overall, the theme of dreams, hopes and plans was clearly represented throughout the controversial novel 'Of Mice and Men'. The representation of 'dreams' in Steinbeck's novel was done through the characterisation of George, Candy and Curley's wife, to show that dreams were paradises of freedom, contentment and safety that were not possible in the 1930's. Unlike America in the great depression, Australia in the twenty-first century can provide many opportunities for the residents to pursue their wishes and dreams. All themes presented in the novel are relevant today as although most citizens of Australia are provided with the chance to accomplish their dreams, some members of society are still deprived of them. This is especially linked to asylum seekers, refugees and citizens in third world countries as their opportunities are very limited due to lack of resources, government control and persecution from third parties. Steinbeck's novel 'Of Mice and Men' contains universal theme's that are still relevant and relatable to todays society as it sends a message of empathy to the audience and encourages readers to acknowledge their blessings and work hard to achieve their dreams.