Of Nicer Men One of the major themes in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men is that having a dream spreads hope, friendship, and determination, which helps to strive onward in life. Three major examples inside the novel show this idea. The first example is Candy’s loss of his dog. The second is George and Lennie’s dream of owning land. A third example is Crooks’ memory of his father’s chicken ranch. In the world Of Mice and Men describes, Candy's dog represents the fate awaiting anyone who has outlived his or her purpose. Once a fine sheepdog, useful on the ranch, Candy's mutt is now debilitated by age. Candy's relationship with his dog is significant to the novella because it mirrors and foreshadows George and Lennie's relationship. Both Candy and his dog are
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Carlson urges Candy to put his dog down, but Candy continually puts it off until Carlson eventually kills the dog. Example number two connects around Crooks and his memory of his fathers chicken ranch.
Like the other men in the novella, Crooks is a lonely figure. Like Candy, a physical disability sets him apart from the other workers, and makes him worry that he will soon wear out his usefulness on the ranch. Crooks’ isolation is compounded by the fact that, as a black man, he is relegated to sleep in a room in the stables; he is not allowed in the white ranch-hands’ quarters and not invited to play cards or visit brothels with them. He feels this isolation keenly and has an understandably bitter reaction to it. In the third example, George and Lennie are not destined to attain their dream, and it is simply imaginative thinking that helps them get through their rough lives. In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie's dream of owning their own place is not realistic, but a wishful hope for the future. This example of includes having that a dream breeds hope, friendship, and determination is George’s and Lennie’s dream of having their own place.
Carlson urges Candy to put his dog down, but Candy continually puts it off until Carlson eventually kills the dog. Example number two connects around Crooks and his memory of his fathers chicken ranch.
Like the other men in the novella, Crooks is a lonely figure. Like Candy, a physical disability sets him apart from the other workers, and makes him worry that he will soon wear out his usefulness on the ranch. Crooks’ isolation is compounded by the fact that, as a black man, he is relegated to sleep in a room in the stables; he is not allowed in the white ranch-hands’ quarters and not invited to play cards or visit brothels with them. He feels this isolation keenly and has an understandably bitter reaction to it. In the third example, George and Lennie are not destined to attain their dream, and it is simply imaginative thinking that helps them get through their rough lives. In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie's dream of owning their own place is not realistic, but a wishful hope for the future. This example of includes having that a dream breeds hope, friendship, and determination is George’s and Lennie’s dream of having their own place.