At a time of Great Depression everyone had dreams; everyone had their own interpretation of ‘The American Dream’ that they would strive for. But in this time hardly any dreams were attainable. Lennie is constantly getting into trouble which causes George and Lennie to have to move and find new work frequently and given the time and circumstances, not much work was accessible. George and Lennie search for work in the hope of achieving their dream of owning a small ranch of their own seems to get further and further away as Lennie continuously gets into trouble. It is almost predictable that where ever Lennie goes trouble undoubtedly follows.
Curley’s wife had a dream of becoming famous ‘coulda been in the movies’ but then she was let down her version of the American Dream crushed unachieved and now deceased ‘ I never got that letter’. Crooks dreams of having the same rights as everyone else. He hates working as a stable buck he is an intelligent black man who doesn’t get to show off his abilities due to discrimination, prejudice and segregation.
He literally has the same amount of rights as the animals he sleeps next to ‘a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung’ he is aware of the prejudice barrier stopping him from achieving his American Dream. No one is coming remotely close to achieving their dreams and every attempt seems to just go amiss. The fact that George and Lennie have had this dream for so long but seem so far away from it proves how having a dream to aspire towards is pointless at this time. Optimistically no matter how many downfalls they never give up hope especially Lennie, up until the moment he died he still hoped of a better life not only for him where he could ‘tend the rabbit’s’ but also for George his only companion.
Most of the characters there have experienced loneliness, at least once in their life. Crooks has been alone most of his life because of the colour of his skin, hes degraded and almost regarded as an animal. He is forces to sleep in the stables, he’s not aloud into the bunk house to converse with the other workers. He is the only black person on the ranch so he only has himself and the animals to keep him company. Curley has no real friends and instinctively becomes protective over his wife. He demonstrates bitterness towards all other people’ he glanced coldly at George and Lennie’ he is insecure about his physical features for example his height.
He is also a jealous man who fears of being left alone this is evident by him not allowing his wife to conversate with any other man on the ranch, fearing he will loose his only companion ‘Any you guys seen my wife?…. Where the hells Slim?’ In order to show his authority he seeks to intimidate Lennie ‘I’ll show you who’s yella’. Candy had to give up his best friend to the mercy of a gun leaving himself lonely with no one truly there for him. Things in the book seem to go from better to worse, not only do the characters have dreams that never seem to ever be fulfilled, they are lonely and working hard unable to trust others even those close to them.
Although throughout the novella there are a number of positives into negative situations he seems to make each situation a mix of both. For example Curley’s wife when first met a bad impression was set but as the story moved on you began to see the innocent side to her and become more understanding to her situation. Of Mice and Men has both pessimistic and optimistic aspects to it. John Steinbeck shows that despite all the problems and troubles facing everyone good spirit, and expectations can continue to thrive due to the constant hope and optimism for the future.
