Of Mice and Men4

Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, takes place on a ranch in the Salinas Valley of California, against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Steinbeck writes of two ordinary men trying to live the American Dream. Unfortunately they fail to fulfill those dreams. Steinbeck opens the book by vividly painting a picture of the Salinas River Valley. Two traveling laborers, George Milton and Lennie Small, are on their way to a job at a Californian ranch. George decides that they were to stay the night along the Salinas River’s bank before reporting to work the next day. Over dinner George and Lennie discuss their plans. Through this conversation, Steinbeck reveals the contrasts between Lennie and George. Lennie is big and slow witted and George does the thinking for the pair. Lennie obeys George’s every word like a dog to his master’s commands. At this point in the book it becomes apparent that George and Lennie want to pursue the American Dream. Lennie asks George to tell him of their future home. It would be just George and him. They plan to have many orchards, pigs, cows, rabbits. They plan to live off the fat of the land. The next morning the two friends travel to the ranch to obtain their work a

Crooks explains the difficulties of being a black person on the ranch, and Lennie talks about his future farm. At this point in the book it is apparent that Candy also wants to follow the American Dream. Candy enters the room and tells Lennie that he is going to put money towards the farm, Crooks asks to be included, too. She talks to Lennie about her life dreams. George warns Lennie to stay away from her because she is trouble. Later in the bunk George tells Slim about his life. He tells them of the ranch and its inhabitants. Curly enters the bunk again and spots Lennie smiling. The characters lived their lives believing that their American Dream would come true. As the arrive at the ranch they are greeted by a man name Candy. The next day while the others are at a whorehouse, Lennie goes into the barn to pet his puppy. Unfortunately, for Lennie and George their American Dream fell one week and one hundred dollars short. Curly"tms wife walks into the bunk looking for her husband. George asks slim if Lennie could have one of his puppies.