The Theme Of Dreams In A Duty To Family, Heritage, And Country?

While novels are not written in truth, they generally have a theme with a plot that includes a dilemma or conflict that the reader can identify with. Generally, a valuable lesson in life is learned or an important theme is reflected upon. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the main characters struggle to find their way while holding on to their personal dreams. Similarly, in the article, “A Duty to Family, Heritage, and Country” by Ying Ying Yu, the narrator struggles to attain her dreams that were imposed on her through her family and country. Chinese students are held to very high standards, and they have only one dream, which is to be successful in the eyes of their family and country. John Steinbeck 's Of Mice and Men and …show more content…
She has only a forced dream of being a lawyer, because that is a sign of success. “We struggle on because duty reminds us that the awaiting success is not just for us. It’s for our families, our heritage and our country”(Yu). Conversely, George and Lennie wait for their dreams to come true because they don’t have to worry about being judged to measure their success, Yu’s dream was not her own and she was being judged by her …show more content…
They are both written with a different perspective in mind. Steinbeck lets the reader know that George and Lennie wanted to live off the land and be on their own; whereas, Yu was obligated to work for the adulation of her family and country. In Yu’s case, her feeling of accomplishment revolved around her duty to work. With George and Lennie, their accomplishment was that they were content to survive, have dreams, and live off the land. In each instance, the main characters were responsible for pursuing their own dreams in life. George and Lennie were free to dream, but Ying Ying was not; she was forced through shame to excel in school and abandon her own