John Lennon, a famous singer, said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality” ("A Quote By John Lennon"). John Lennon said this because if you have other people on your side, dreams can come true. This theme is used for some characters in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. This book was set during The Great Depression in the 1930s. This time was known for men being migrant workers and people did not treat women or African Americans right. Migrant workers were very lonely and became popular during The Great Depression. During the Dust Bowl farmers couldn’t work so they would become migrant workers. They would travel to different ranches in Salinas Valley in California. In the novel, Of Mice and …show more content…
Candy is an old man on the ranch with one hand. He is not of much use but he has money saved up. After hearing about George and Lennies dream he wants to be a part of the dream and help with his money. He wants to be a part of this dream so he can have a peaceful life and he said he would cook because he is old and can not do a lot of work. This is when Candy tries to persuade George, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some”(Steinbeck 65). Candy became a part of George and Lennie's dream because of the money he offered. If they work long enough their dream could come true sooner than expected. They now all believe they have a better chance of living a peaceful life. This is how Candy fantasizes about their dream to Crooks, “ But we gonna do it now, and don’t you make no mistake about that. George ain’t got the money in town. That money’s in the bank. …We gonna have a room to ourself. We’re gonna have a dog an’ rabbits an’ chickens”(Steinbeck 84). Crooks is another ranch worker and he does not believe that they could get their own land. Candy is so happy there is a chance for this dream to come true and he explains to Crooks how they can pull it off. Candy is gonna keep working to get the money he needs for this dream. This is how candy became a part of George and Lennie’s dream and how he is motivated to work towards
In this part of the book Candy proposes, he goes with them and George lets him. John Steinbeck states “Then you an’ Lennie could go get her started an’ I’d get a job an’ make up the rest.” This shows how George is faced with the choice of leaving Candy on the ranch or taking him with them to buy land for a farm. Another example of a difficult choice George makes is when Lennie kills somebody and is being chased by everybody on the ranch; he chooses to give Lennie mercy and kill him there instead of letting everyone on the ranch decide his fate.
Furthermore, Crook’s and Candy’s unrealistic notions revolving ambitions prohibited them from accomplishing them. Candy’s dreams are obstructed due to ageism. Candy is in a rush to fulfill any last ambitions before he passes away. He could finally view himself in a peaceful mindset, with proper people. However, once Curley’s wife was found dead, and Lennie was dead, Candy uttered when worried his last year of life would not be fulfilled, "You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George?
Lennie and George find themselves becoming more hopeful after Candy successfully manages to turn a dream that was originally meant for two men into a dream for three. He tries to help George and Lennie attain their dream, and convince them that, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (59). He also shows the two friends of the possibility towards failed outcomes- symbolized through Candy’s inability to kill his own dog.
Throughout this portion of the novella, George and Lennie’s dream seems to be coming true, and with the help of new companions. For example, when Candy asks to accompany the men and he feels a sense of comfort and accomplishment, “”I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. . .An’ they give me two hunderd an’ fifty dollars ‘cause I los’ my hand. . .fifty more saved up right in the bank, right now. .
Candy, an old and injured worker, offers to invest his life savings into the dream. He sees it as his only chance to have a sense of security in his old age. When George and Lennie first tell Candy about their dream, he says, “If you…guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why would I come and lend a hand” (Steinbeck, Chapter 3). Candy’s willingness to put his faith in the dream emphasizes its power. Here is a man who has seen the harsh realities of the world, yet he still believes in the possibility of the
For example, Candy, who is an old swamper, fears being fired from his job because of his age and his injury; he tells George, “I wont have no place to go, an’ I can't get no more jobs” (Steinbeck, 60). This line demonstrates the harsh reality of the time period and the constant threat of unemployment faced by all of the characters. The fact that Candy is willing to sacrifice his life savings to be a part of George and Lennies dream farm shows how desperate he is to hold on to a sense of purpose and hope. Steinbeck uses characterization and symbolism to bring all of these themes to life. For example, the character of Crooks, the stable hand, is excluded because of his race; he tells Lennie, “S'pose you didn't have nobody…
[J] George had told Lennie about the farm and soon after, Candy found out. George did this even though he didn’t believe Lennie and himself would get to live on a farm someday. [K] On renewing hope, Wilner writes “...a major factor that contributes to our level of hope is the achievement of our goals. When we are able to reach our goals and have a sense of support and validation it instills hope” (Wilner, 2). [L] It took time for George to settle in at the ranch because he felt uneasy especially with what happened in Weed.
In the story, George and Lennie move around looking for work on farms, so that they can one day use their money to buy a house on their own. Unfortunately, Lennie often makes mistakes causing them to leave a job early before making their money. At one farm, they meet a man named Candy who
Candy says, “Maybe if I give you guys my money you’ll let me hoe in the garden even though I ain’t no good at it” (Steinbeck 60). Candy is now wanting to go with them and says he has money to put in. He tells them he has money he can give them right now and that changes everything for them. They were all filled with joy when they realized things were actually going to come true. When George realizes it he says “We’ll fix up that little place and live there” (Steinbeck 60).
But in reality, they are alike because they both want to find a place of their own and are different than everyone on the ranch. In Candy’s case, it is because of his age. Meager janitorial jobs take effort to complete, so he fears he will soon be let go. Holding on to George and Lennie’s dream makes him feel secure because he knows he will have somewhere to go once he becomes too old to help. After his death, he will leave his money to George and Lennie to keep the farm going.
When Lennie explains to Crooks about him, George, and Candy getting land, crops, and animals, Crooks couldn’t believe it, until Candy comes by saying how close they are with the money and how it’s all being saved in the bank in town. Crooks wants in on this to get the opportunity to hang with whites, be treated fairly, and get off the ranch. Steinbeck quotes, “‘...If you...guys would want a hand to work for nothing just his keep, why I’d come and lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled…’” (76).
At this point Georges was confident that what they were working for their whole life was slowly but surely becoming what they were dreaming of. It seemed like at this point of the story everything was going Georges way, and Lennie was just overjoyed with all the success which motivated him to work harder than ever. Things changed once George and Lennie met Candy. Candy was a one armed old man who worked almost all of his life dreaming of a place of his own, much like George and Lennie, he was inspired by the stories George was telling Lennie and he was willing to put more than 300 dollars into buying the ten acre land. Once George and Lennie made eye contact, they knew that including Candy is not only going to boost the process tremendously, but it was also one more person to help with the financial issues.
In order to be motivated Lennie constantly ask George to explain the ranch and its surrounding areas. After being told multiple times about the ranch, George and Lennie feel hope and believe that they could get the ranch. Dreams can go two ways, a good way, and a bad way. But in the novel George and Lennie’s dream went in a good because it helped them believe they could achieve it.
Candy lost his right hand in a ranch accident, which is why the owners “give me a job swampin’” as he says (Steinbeck 59). He believes he will that he will be “can[ned] purty soon,” so he wants to go with George and Lennie (Steinbeck 60). When Carlson wants to shoot Candy’s dog, Candy does not want him to. He says “No, I couldn’... I had ‘im too long” and “I had him from a pup” (Steinbeck 45).
Candy is drawn in first. " ’ Candy interrupted him, ‘I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain't got no relatives or nothing…’"(59). Even Crooks is drawn in to this dream. “Crooks hesitated. ‘… If you … guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I'd come an' lend a hand.