Words: 921
Three major examples show this idea. The first example Is Candy’s loss of his dog and his Joining George and Lend”s dream of owning land. A second example Is Crook”s memory of his father”s chicken ranch. A third significant example is George and Leonie”s dream of having their own place. These three examples display the theme that having high aspirations breed hope, friendship, and determination, enabling one to strive onward with a sense of self-worth or importance.
Candy”s loss of his dog and his Joining George and Leonie”s dream of owning land splays how a shared dream can breed hope and friendship. After the death of Candy”s dog, Candy experiences a deep sense of loss. He is empty. When Candy overhears George and Leonie talking about owning a piece of land, Candy’s emptiness begins to fill with the dream George and Leonie share. Candy tells George, “Tell you what-.. .Expose I went in with you guys. That”s three hundred an” fifty bucks I put in” (p. 33).
George’s reserved reaction prompts Candy to bare his soul to George when he tells George that he would make a will an” leave [his] share to Leonie and George]” (p_34)_ George and Leonie allow Candy to share their dream, and this quickly breeds hope, as we find out a little later when Candy is constantly “figuring” and because of his excitement about the “ranch. ” But even more importantly, Candy develops a friendship with George and Leonie which is evidenced later in the story when Candy confides in George, “l ought to of shot that dog myself.. 1 should”t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog” (p. 39). Candy confides In George about his Inner feelings regarding his dog, showing the singings of a friendship. Candy’s actions convey the concept that dreams breed hope and friendship. A second example which shows that having a dream breeds hope and friendship is Crook”s memory of his father’s chicken ranch. Whereas Candy, Leonie, and George all look to their future for their dream, Crooks looks into his past, remembering the sense of Joy he had as a small boy on his father’s chicken ranch.
Crooks explains to Leonie that the “white kids [came] to play at our place, an’ sometimes went to play with them, and some of them were pretty nice” (p. 6). In this passage Crooks alludes to his dream. He dreams of being able to communicate and be with others on an equal basis. He explains to Leonie that his man din;t like” the white kids playing with Crooks. He tells Leonie, “l never knew till long later why he didn’t like that. But I know’ (p. 47), Implying that Crook’s father was discriminated against because of his skin color.
Crooks” longing for equality In the form of companionship Is reiterated into the bunkhouse and play rummy cause you was black.. .A guy needs somebody – to be near him.. A guy goes nuts if he main”t got nobody. Don”t make no difference who the guy is, long”s he”s with you.. .A guy gets too lonely and he gets sick” (p. 51). Crooks is sick. His illness stems from complete isolation, total discrimination. His illness is a bitterness caused by those discriminating against him. A third significant example that having a dream breeds hope, friendship, and determination is George”s and Leonie”s dream of having their own place.
For George the idea of owning his own place would allow him to keep Leonie from getting into trouble. But ore importantly, this dream makes George strive toward a goal. George”s dream is not even close to becoming a reality until Candy offers to contribute three hundred and fifty dollars to the cause. At that point George, with “eyes full of wonder,” says, “l bet we could swing her” (p. 42), and suddenly the dream has become a little more solidified, a definite possibility. George, Leonie, and Candy realize that this dream may come true “[r]eight quack in one month” (p. 44).
George resolves to save every cent possible to pay off the little ranch. With the knowledge that their dream can be legalized, Leonie, Candy, and especially George not only bond as good friends and develop an optimism about their future, but they develop a determination which will enable them to improve their situation in their present lives. This determination is evidenced when George says, “We”al do her.. .We”al fix up that little old place an” we”al go live there” (p. 45). George”s and Leonie”s dream of having their own place breeds hope, friendship, and especially a strong determination to make that dream a reality.
This ultimately enables George, Leonie, and Candy to strive onward in life tit a sense of self-worth and importance. The idea that having a dream breeds hope, friendship, and determination, enabling one to strive onward in life with a sense of self-worth and importance is a major theme in Steinbeck”s novel Of Mice and Men. Three examples show this idea, which runs throughout the novel. The first example is Candy”s loss of his dog and Joining George and Leonie”s dream of owning land. Another example is Crooks” memory of his father”s chicken ranch. A third example is George and Leonie”s dream of having their own place.