The Theme Of Hope In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
Despair Among People During the Great Depression
People who face great odds will hang on to hope, however, many will lose it to the cruel reality they live in. This is the story told in the novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck. In this novel, Lennie and George are traveling bindle stiffs who experience the losses that come with the Great Depression, and the hope of others that is dashed by the death of one person. This theme of hope and loss is shown through Curley's wife, Candy, and George.
Curley’s wife is a good example of hope and loss during this time period. When Curley's wife was out in the barn, with Lennie, telling her life story, we hear how her hopes and dreams never amounted to anything. ”an’ I met one of the actors. He says I could go with that show….If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet”(pg88). This scene shows that Curley’s wife never wanted to be on the farm, she wanted to go be a star and get out of her small town. This dream ended when she married Curley, who moved her to an even smaller town. In addition, during this time period it was practically impossible for women to divorce their husbands. This meant she couldn’t leave Curley, even in the name of the law.
…show more content…
The theme of the novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is hope and loss. This is shown through the perspectives of Curley's wife, Candy, and George. In this story they all have a period where they hope for something more, but later on lose it. Although it is hard to remain hopeful in horrible situations, it is best not to lose hope and give into the situation you find yourself in. While loss is inevitable, it's better to hold onto hope, to approach life with an attitude that will allow you to succeed. Whether you leave that small town and become a star, retire peacefully surrounded by your friends, or get the land you’ve always
How Does Steinbeck Present Hope In Of Mice And Men
984 Words | 4 PagesUnfulfilled Dreams Hope is one of the key motivations towards a better future. It continually pushes people towards their goals, no matter how unattainable those goals may seem. This is exemplified within the book Of Mice and Men when the readers see how men like Candy, Lennie, Crooks and George get through the hard times with hope of what they’ll become later on in life. As well as the significance of the damaging effect of Curley’s Wife being robbed of her dreams. This novel demonstrates through it’s characters, that the hope the dream brings can be more important than the dream itself.
The American Dream In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1116 Words | 5 PagesOf Mice and Men, one of Steinbeck 's classic novellas, is constructed on the strange friendship between George Milton and Lennie Smalls and their journey to achieving the American Dream. On their quest, they arrive at a farm where they meet a nameless farm wife who is simply referred to as Curley 's wife. Throughout the novella she is objectified and isolated which helps develop the theme of loneliness. Because she is a woman, she is deprived of many opportunities to have dreams and goals in her life. Steinbeck crafts Curley’s wife’s character to demonstrate the role of women in the 1930’s, and to prove that women will never be able to achieve the American Dream because of the sexist society present during that time period.
Of Mice And Men Isolation
516 Words | 3 PagesThe novel takes place during the Great Depression. Many Americans went through obstacles that caused burden and stress in their lives. Throughout the novel, Of Mice and Men, characters fight against isolation and loneliness. The readers can easily see Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Candy struggle to escape
Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Analysis
201 Words | 1 PagesWomen found themselves explicitly questioning the ideals of freedom and independence that were critical aspects of their family heritage as the drought and dust storms threatened their livelihoods. Curley's wife had ambitions be a bigger part of the world but due to the circumstances at the time this dream was viewed as being unachievable. So instead she sought to reach out in society by leaving
Seclusion In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
544 Words | 3 PagesCurley’s wife describes her childhood, “I never got that letter. I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ she says no. So I married Curley…” (Steinbeck 88).
Hope In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
118 Words | 1 PagesIn this chapter, the gloom is relieved by the hopeful planning of the three men — George, Lennie, and Candy — toward their dream. For the first time in his life, George believes the dream can come true with Candy's down payment. He knows of a farm they can buy, and the readers' hopes are lifted as well, as the men plan, in detail, how they will buy the ranch and what they will do once it is theirs. But while Steinbeck includes this story of hope, the preponderance of the chapter is dark. Both the shooting of Candy's dog and the smashing of Curley's hand foreshadow that the men will not be able to realize their
How Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
666 Words | 3 PagesThe novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck is a gripping tale of two men and their lives during the Great Depression. George Milton and Lennie Small are two migrant workers who travel together finding work. They take on a new job “bucking barley” at a ranch in central California for the ranch owner and his son. While working at the ranch they encounter Curley the ranch owner’s son and his wife, a flirtatious woman. The story reaches a climax when Lennie unintentionally kills Curley’s wife and runs back to the Salinas River just as George instructed.
Lennie's Failure In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck
461 Words | 2 PagesIn addition, as Curley's wife begins her story, she recites, “I wasn’t gonna stay where... I couldn’t make something out of myself… [so] I married Curley”(88). She was in a rush to become someone, so she can do whatever she wants. She had plans of becoming famous, and Curley's wife wanted to be renowned.
The Significance Of The Pivotal Moment In Of Mice And Men
1311 Words | 6 PagesOf Mice and Men: John Steinbeck Pivotal Moment Essay John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, explores the story of two migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small during the period of the Great Depression in the United States. The two men are quite contrasting with George being “small and quick and dark of face” whereas Lennie, who is a large, unintelligent man. Throughout the novel, the characters experience conflict however, remain unified as they dream of owning a ranch in the future. A pivotal moment in the novel occurs in chapter five when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife marked by “ And she continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror... and her body flopped like a fish.
The Use Of Tone In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1223 Words | 5 PagesTone in Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck famously said, “All great and precious things are lonely.” This was the mindset he had when he wrote Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men tells the story of George and Lennie, two displaced ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States. When they find the ranch, Lennie’s habits progress and guarantee trouble. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses the literary devices of imagery, simile, and personification to create a graceful tone.
Role Of Disappointment In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
543 Words | 3 PagesIn Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, many of the characters faced times of great disappointment. They are disappointed because dreams or plans didn’t go as they wanted them to. George, Lennie and Curley’s wife are disappointed with their current place in life due to many of their plans going awry. George is one of the “main characters”, and faces times of hardship and disappointment.
The Role Of Hope In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
793 Words | 4 Pages“With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us” (14). That quote was the hope of their future that George always told Lennie during the Great Depression to get through the rough time, not knowing the troubles they would have at the ranch. Two farm laborers or best friends, George and Lennie, have always travelled together to keep each other company, but their hope shined through the dull lives in their era causing them to be outcasts.
Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Essay
1173 Words | 5 PagesThe Death of The Unborn Female American Dream Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, takes place during the time of The Great Depression; an era extremely difficult for women. The novella contains many iconic characters that serve as a metaphor to our societal standards. Curley’s wife is introduced just like any other; however, the emphasis on her feminine features are metaphoric to where women stand in society. In order to prove that society makes it impossible for certain people to attain The American Dream, Steinbeck objectifies, sexualizes, and kills Curley’s wife to show that women cannot reach The American Dream. Steinbeck uses specific vocabulary to objectify Curley’s wife; alienating her from The American Dream.
The Power Of Dreams In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
877 Words | 4 PagesCurley’s wife has lost her dream and she lives an unhappy life. Curley’s wife had a dream but that dream turned out as hopeless as her fate in the end of the book. She could have made something of herself but she quickly gave up on her dream as soon as something discouraging happened. Now she has to live regretting giving up so quickly. " ’I tell you I ain't used to livin' like this.
Of Mice And Men Reflection
658 Words | 3 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men discusses many different themes throughout the book such as dreams, friendship, innocence, violence, and the hopefully ensuing justice. Throughout the 1930’s, Steinbeck worked as a manual laborer before achieving success as a writer. He understood the hardships faced in the Great Depression and how desperate times can impel people to do unthinkable things. Of Mice and Men revolves around the lives of George Milton and Lennie Small as they struggle to make a living during the difficult depression.
More about The Theme Of Hope In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
How Does Steinbeck Present Hope In Of Mice And Men
984 Words | 4 PagesThe American Dream In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1116 Words | 5 PagesOf Mice And Men Isolation
516 Words | 3 PagesOf Mice And Men Curley's Wife Analysis
201 Words | 1 PagesSeclusion In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
544 Words | 3 PagesHope In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
118 Words | 1 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
666 Words | 3 PagesLennie's Failure In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck
461 Words | 2 PagesThe Significance Of The Pivotal Moment In Of Mice And Men
1311 Words | 6 PagesThe Use Of Tone In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1223 Words | 5 PagesRole Of Disappointment In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
543 Words | 3 PagesThe Role Of Hope In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
793 Words | 4 PagesOf Mice And Men Curley's Wife Essay
1173 Words | 5 PagesThe Power Of Dreams In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
877 Words | 4 PagesOf Mice And Men Reflection
658 Words | 3 Pages