John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men displays high-soaring dreams and the harsh reality that crushes them. The cast of characters living in the Great Depression, each an outcast of society, hope to make their lives better. George and Lennie want to buy a farm, and plan to, but are unable to due to Lennie constantly getting in trouble. Curley’s wife wants to be an actress, and even has even found an agent, but she is never invited to perform. George hopes for Lennie to be happy, and cares deeply for him, but no one else seems to understand companionship. After carefully scrutinizing the text and evidence, it is clear these conflicts share similarities. All these conflicts are examples of dreams and reality, one of the greatest battles in life.
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There is the contrast between dreams and reality, of how cruel the latter can be and the lasting scars that result from one’s fall. Moreover, the corruption and destruction of dreams seems to have an even more specific and common effect - loneliness. Crooks and Curley’s wife both have a want for companionship, Crooks has always been an outcast and dreams for attention and Curley’s wife has failed to achieve her dreams of becoming an actress and s left yearning for attention. George and Lennie dream of their ranch, but despite this, they acknowledge that they are, in a way, already living a dream. They have companionship; they have each other. George says to Lennie, “Guys like us… are the loneliest guys in the world… With us it ain’t like that” (Steinbeck 13-14). While many of the other characters dream of attention, companionship and friendship, George and Lennie are already blessed with each other. Sadly reality does not allow them to savor their luck. It comes in the form of Lennie’s ignorance and kills him. Reality is too cruel, giving the two a taste of happiness that no one else seems to have, and then ripping it away. In the end, it truly seems as if dreams are happy utopias to where people can escape, but only temporarily, for life’s reality never fails to cut off our feelings of hope, sanctuary and
There is the contrast between dreams and reality, of how cruel the latter can be and the lasting scars that result from one’s fall. Moreover, the corruption and destruction of dreams seems to have an even more specific and common effect - loneliness. Crooks and Curley’s wife both have a want for companionship, Crooks has always been an outcast and dreams for attention and Curley’s wife has failed to achieve her dreams of becoming an actress and s left yearning for attention. George and Lennie dream of their ranch, but despite this, they acknowledge that they are, in a way, already living a dream. They have companionship; they have each other. George says to Lennie, “Guys like us… are the loneliest guys in the world… With us it ain’t like that” (Steinbeck 13-14). While many of the other characters dream of attention, companionship and friendship, George and Lennie are already blessed with each other. Sadly reality does not allow them to savor their luck. It comes in the form of Lennie’s ignorance and kills him. Reality is too cruel, giving the two a taste of happiness that no one else seems to have, and then ripping it away. In the end, it truly seems as if dreams are happy utopias to where people can escape, but only temporarily, for life’s reality never fails to cut off our feelings of hope, sanctuary and