Destroyed Dreams Dreams, although often cut off are necessary to keep the hopes of people alive to fight against the hardships of the social perils of life. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a powerful depiction of life during the Great Depression in rural America. Life during 1930’s America was tough, and hope was the only escape from hard reality. To most people, Lennie and George’s futures seem grim, but we discover how resilient they are and that they refuse to give up. Candy joins in on Lennie and George's idea of buying land, and almost becomes a reality when Candy offers almost all of the money needed for the plot of land. Crooks dream is to be a part of something, but he doesn't believe the dream will ever come true because of
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Crooks is the stable guy who responsibility is to take care of the horses. During this time discrimination was still a prominent problem, and because of this Crook is not allowed in the bunkhouse along with the other men, and has to live by himself. He remembers his childhood fondly where he played with white children who came to his family's chicken ranch, “The White kids come to play at our place, an’ sometimes I went to play with them, and some of them was pretty nice” (Steinbeck70). Crook talks about his childhood of how his family was the only black family with a ranch for miles. He remembers of the good relationships he had with the kids from his ranch and dreams for relationship the same relationship he had before with white people. But, is put in his place when Curley’s wife comes in and tells him that no black man’s rights will be equal to those of a white man’s. She threatens him, “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny” (Steinbeck97). Crook's dream is shattered by Curley's wife's nasty comments putting him right back into his place. Reminded that he has to accept the harsh treatment, he refuses to say that she is wrong. He understands the fact that he lives with ever-present racial discrimination and realized the fact that is …show more content…
Lennie and George, Candy, and Crooks all have dreams so they have something to look forward to, but are all destroyed both in and out of their control. Lennie and George have the same dream of owning their own plot of land, but this dream ends with George having to kill his best friend Lennie. A big change occurs in Candy’s life just after Lennie and George begin work at the ranch, but ends when Lennie dies. Crooks dream is to be treated the same regardless of skin color, like when he was a kid, but soon understands the problem of discrimination of that era. Dreams give us a reason to continue and push through difficult times and situations. Looking at light at the end of the tunnel during the hardships that one faces, is what helps people to live and
Crooks is the stable guy who responsibility is to take care of the horses. During this time discrimination was still a prominent problem, and because of this Crook is not allowed in the bunkhouse along with the other men, and has to live by himself. He remembers his childhood fondly where he played with white children who came to his family's chicken ranch, “The White kids come to play at our place, an’ sometimes I went to play with them, and some of them was pretty nice” (Steinbeck70). Crook talks about his childhood of how his family was the only black family with a ranch for miles. He remembers of the good relationships he had with the kids from his ranch and dreams for relationship the same relationship he had before with white people. But, is put in his place when Curley’s wife comes in and tells him that no black man’s rights will be equal to those of a white man’s. She threatens him, “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny” (Steinbeck97). Crook's dream is shattered by Curley's wife's nasty comments putting him right back into his place. Reminded that he has to accept the harsh treatment, he refuses to say that she is wrong. He understands the fact that he lives with ever-present racial discrimination and realized the fact that is …show more content…
Lennie and George, Candy, and Crooks all have dreams so they have something to look forward to, but are all destroyed both in and out of their control. Lennie and George have the same dream of owning their own plot of land, but this dream ends with George having to kill his best friend Lennie. A big change occurs in Candy’s life just after Lennie and George begin work at the ranch, but ends when Lennie dies. Crooks dream is to be treated the same regardless of skin color, like when he was a kid, but soon understands the problem of discrimination of that era. Dreams give us a reason to continue and push through difficult times and situations. Looking at light at the end of the tunnel during the hardships that one faces, is what helps people to live and