Of Mice and Men
Set during the 1930's in the Salinas Valley of California, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men captures the life and struggles of lonely migrant ranchhands. George and Lennie, an unlikely pair, travel together working for a subsistent living, and the only thing that keeps them going is their dream of owning a piece of land they can call their own. Juxtaposed against the friendship and dreams of George and Lennie are the tragic lives of other rootless ranchmen who have no hopes of a better future, and Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife, who although possess dreams, either have no one to share them with or have no hopes of ever reaching them. Clearly, the ability to dream is inextricably tied to having someone to share that dream with.Although George, a small and sharp man, complains about Lennie who is large and clumsy, he knows that the bond that exists between them is rare and valuable. Lennie's simpleminded nature, especially his love of petting soft things, constantly results in trouble for the pair, and at times George complains "...if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble...and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want...a gallon o
Overhearing George recite the dream to Lennie, Candy, although dubious, sees his chance to secure a future and asks: "You know where's a place like that?"(59). Once George confirms the existence of such a place, Candy wants in and offers all his savings to George and Lennie: "I ain't much good with on'y one hand. f whisky, or set in a pool room and play cards or shoot pool"(11). They come to a ranch an' work up a stake and then go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they're pounding in' their tail on some other ranch. Yet her dreams are shattered, for Lennie, who likes to pet soft things, accidentally kills her with his clumsy strength while touching her hair. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it. When Crooks realizes that they already have the money, his loneliness and need to belong is emphasized, for he quickly asks if he can join them. talkin' to another guy it don't make no difference if he don't hear or understand. George, having lost Lennie, is left utterly alone and hopeless as he walks off with Slim to "blow his jack" in a pool hall drinking away a dream that is no longer worthwhile. But ultimately, his dream means nothing without Lennie. While Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife have either a space they can call their own, the means to purchase it, or a dream in their heads, what they lack is having someone to share it with. Crooks lets down his guard only when Lennie, in his simpleminded unawareness of social mores, visits him.
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Acceptance Essays
