The dream is one of the ideas used in the text. Without dreams on one has a reason to keep going. A dream is something you indulge in, to escape from life. This seems to be the context that Steinbeck planned for his characters. When Steinbeck refers to the ranch workers dreams he is referring to the American Dream, this was a common belief of Americans in the depression. It is a dream that they can own their own land and work for themselves.

The character George a migrant ranch worker “a small and quick man, dark of face with restless eyes and sharp, strong features” dreams of one day saving enough money to buy his own place and be his own boss. His only set-back is his mentally handicapped friend Lennie who travels with him and has since George promised Lennie’s aunt Clara he would look after him after she died. George’s

Lennie knows George may get angry and frustrated sometimes but as Lennie says, “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you and that’s why.” So when George had to shoot Lennie after killing Curley’s wife, just like Candy’s dog he didn’t want a stranger to do it so he killed Lennie.

He likes hearing about the dream that they share of owning a farm “ an’ live off the fatta the lan’.”

By giving the novel such a tragic ending, Steinbeck leads you to only one conclusion: that even George and Lennie, the best of friends, could not break the typical stereotype and show crooks that dreams really do come true. Now his new burden is despair and loneliness, the life of a homeless ranch worker. Slim’s comfort at the end “ you hadda George “ indicates the sad truth that you have to surrender your dreams in order to survive, and they’re not always the easiest of things to do.

Loneliness is another idea explored by Steinbeck. Loneliness is a disease, making people feel isolated and wanting companionship. In ‘Of mice and Men’ Steinbeck outlines characters loneliness showing the strong and weak and how its devastates there lives.

At the heart of all these emotions and the strength of the novel I think lies the power of the friendship between George and Lennie. George doesn’t have to take of Lennie except for the fact that her promised his aunt Clara who now is dead. George wants to but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t think about what life would be like without Lennie. I think he secretly fantasises about what his life would be like, ” without Lennie pulling him down “God almighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could get a job an’ work an’ no trouble.” However, he also knows that he wouldn’t be able to leave Lennie, because Lennie is defenceless. He does sometimes wish he was alone and carefree ‘If I was alone I could live so easy. I could go into town and get whatever I want. An’ whatta I got? I got you.’ But then when it comes down to it I think George it glad to have Lennie, a companion someone to talk to even if he isn’t all that bright so he is not like Candy who only has his old dog or Carlson who has no one to talk to he doesn’t want to be lonely.

Some topics in this essay:
Lennie George, Men’ Steinbeck, American Dream, Curleys Wife, George Lennie, John Steinbeck, Curley Candy, Lennie Lennie, Curley’s Wife, Mice Men’, lennie george, george lennie, curley’s wife, dogs’ death, ranch workers, ‘of mice men’, aunt clara, curleys wife, george doesn’t, own own, kill candy,