Dreams In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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A Dream Is Just That, a Dream-- An Analysis of Dreams in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck, an influential writer in the 1900’s, composed many novels that recount life in the Great Depression. Though he is most famous for his innovative novel The Grapes of Wrath, he is also well known for his unique novel Of Mice and Men. Similar to The Grapes of Wrath, the background for Of Mice and Men is also inspired by the lives of people in the Great Depression. Of Mice and Men portrays the lives of two men, George Milton and Lennie Small, who embark on an adventure for a superior life. While on their journey, George and Lennie are introduced to others who have similar dreams of a superior life. Despite the unlikely possibilities of a…show more content…
Evidence shows that Lennie is unaware of how powerful his actions actually are when he continuously breaks the necks of mice when showing them affection. Later in the novel, the mice turn into puppies and the puppies turn into humans. Lennie is constantly exempt from any punishment because of his mental state; therefore, he does not realize what he is doing when he shows affection. He does not understand that he is wrong and his actions should have consequences. None of the antagonists in the novel can understand why George is unusually forgiving to Lennie. Angela Hickey has a theory that states that Lennie is a metaphor for the death of innocence within a selfish society that cannot comprehend Lennie or his relationship with George. Furthermore, society has no understanding of the love and forgiveness shared by the two men. Steinbeck once said, “No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself” (Goodreads). Once again, readers see that society is very one sided. In short, Lennie has no idea that what he does is wrong. He only feels the affection that he is given before he overly attaches himself and hurts
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