The underlying central theme of Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men is that often what we want is different from what we end up doing, which Steinbeck develops through the misfortunes of the novella’s characters. George and Lennie, the main characters of the book, fit perfectly in the theme, because from the very beginning the pair have wanted to own a farm yet deep down George knows it’s impossible and ends up never succeeding in buying/owning land for them. George tells Candy, “...I think I knowed we’d never do her” (Steinbeck 94). In the quote George is explaining to Candy about the situation with the farm him, Candy, and Lennie were going to try to buy. The book explicitly shows these characters are migrant workers, most of whom want to
