Of Mice and Men analysis: Dreams, friendship and harsh reality
Homework type: Essay
Added: 18.01.2026 at 14:44
Summary:
Explore the themes of dreams, friendship, and harsh reality in Of Mice and Men to understand Steinbeck’s insights on human connection and social struggle.
Exploring Human Connection, Dreams, and Reality in John Steinbeck’s *Of Mice and Men*
John Steinbeck’s novella *Of Mice and Men*, set against the stark backdrop of 1930s America, offers a powerful lens through which to examine the catastrophic consequences of economic collapse, discrimination, and social marginalisation. Written during the Great Depression—a time when work was scarce and the American Dream seemed ever more remote—Steinbeck’s story unfolds among itinerant ranch workers wandering California’s rural landscapes, longing for stability and meaning. Yet, beyond its historical context, the novel explores universal themes such as the innate human yearning for companionship, the allure and fragility of dreams, and the enduring tension between hope and bitter reality. This essay will explore the ways in which Steinbeck interrogates these themes, focusing on the complexity of relationships, the multifaceted force of dreams, the insidious presence of power and violence, and the deployment of symbolism to deepen meaning. Through close examination of characters, Steinbeck’s narrative craft, and the cultural context of both the 1930s and the present, we can appreciate the continuing relevance and tragic brilliance of *Of Mice and Men*.
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I. The Complex Dynamics of Friendship and Dependence
A. The Relationship Between George and Lennie
Central to *Of Mice and Men* is the relationship between George Milton and Lennie Small, two itinerant workers who travel in search of employment—unusually, together, rather than alone. In an environment where the prevailing ethos is one of self-reliance and emotional reserve, their partnership is unique. George is sharp, practical and, at times, irritable; Lennie, in contrast, is physically powerful but mentally childlike, trusting George implicitly. This dynamic subverts traditional portrayals of masculinity within working-class communities of that era, where emotional dependence between men was seldom acknowledged.Steinbeck builds on this complexity by infusing Lennie with animalistic traits—from his passive “snorting” of water like a horse to his grasping fondness for “petting” small, soft things. These characteristics foreground his vulnerability just as much as his raw, destructive strength. George’s role is intimately bound to Lennie’s needs: he acts as protector, carer and, at times, parent. He recounts their shared dream to inspire hope in Lennie, but also in himself, revealing an emotional depth and interdependence that challenges the supposed stoicism attributed to men in rural communities. The way George assumes responsibility for Lennie renders their friendship both a burden and a salvation. In British schools, comparisons are often drawn with literary relationships such as that between Piggy and Ralph in *Lord of the Flies*, where social expectation and individual identity collide in close, sometimes fraught, companionship.
B. The Significance of Loneliness Among Other Characters
Steinbeck doesn’t portray George and Lennie’s bond as typical; rather, he uses other characters to emphasise the suffocating loneliness that is the norm for most on the ranch. Candy, an ageing swamper, is isolated by physical disability and the fear of redundancy in a harsh working environment. His only companion is his ailing dog. When the dog is shot—rationalised as an act of mercy—it underscores how both animals and humans can be cast aside when perceived as useless.Crooks, the only Black worker, suffers racial segregation, living alone in a small room. His initial bitterness when Lennie enters his room is a defence against hurt, but the hope sparked by the possibility of joining the dream farm briefly softens his cynicism. Meanwhile, Curley’s wife is defined almost entirely by her loneliness; unnamed and seen through the perception of men, she seeks connection but is repeatedly rebuffed, a reflection on the stifling gender roles of 1930s society. Steinbeck thus positions loneliness as a universal human blight, only rarely lifted by fleeting moments of understanding.
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II. Dreams and Aspirations as Beacons of Hope
A. The Shared Dream of Land Ownership
The dream of “livin’ off the fatta the lan’” is more than escapism for George, Lennie, and eventually Candy; it represents a yearning for autonomy, safety, and dignity. In the United States, owning a piece of land was historically seen as a path to self-sufficiency, but for migrant workers—much like impoverished labourers in Britain’s post-industrial North—it was little more than a fantasy. The hope is infectious: Candy offers his savings, for a brief moment transforming their improbable aspiration into something almost tangible.Crucially, the dream’s real power lies not in the prospect of fulfilment, but in its capacity to uplift, unite, and console. The trio’s quiet excitement as they imagine their sanctuary is a rare moment where class, age, and limitation are transcended. The emotional security it provides is, arguably, more vital than practical security; Steinbeck shows us that dreams are both a lifeline and a source of vulnerability.
B. The Contrast Between Dreams and Reality
Yet the novel never allows the dream to eclipse the omnipresent harshness of reality. Curley’s wife, for example, confesses to Lennie her thwarted ambition of becoming a film actress, a dream “stolen” by circumstance, gender, and the manipulations of others. Her confession deepens the sense of inexorable disappointment that pervades the novella—aspirations are crushed not merely by external events, but by the prevailing systems of power and prejudice.The fate of the dream is foreshadowed by the setting itself: the sprawling ranch, with its itinerant, disposable workforce, provides scant opportunity for advancement or security. The near-mythic dream farm is thus a fragile bubble, always endangered by the world’s indifference and violence. Steinbeck renders hope as both a source of strength and an invitation to suffering.
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III. Conflict, Violence, and the Nature of Power
A. Expressions of Physical Strength and Aggression
In *Of Mice and Men*, power is most often measured by physical strength, violence, and intimidation. Lennie embodies brute force, but his inability to comprehend the consequences of his actions leads to tragedy, as in the death of the puppy or, ultimately, Curley’s wife. By contrast, Curley—small in stature but aggressive in manner—wields his authority as boss’s son by picking fights he expects to win, seeking to prove himself.The ranch culture lionises toughness; gentleness is dismissed as weakness. Steinbeck shows us the destructive consequences of such thinking, not merely on Lennie but on everyone—once Candy’s dog outlives its usefulness, it is summarily destroyed.
B. Power Structures: Boss, Curley, and Social Hierarchies
Steinbeck’s ranch is a microcosm of wider society, in which class, race, gender, and age determine who holds power. The boss’s status is unquestioned; Curley enjoys social immunity; Crooks is marginalised because of his skin colour. These structures create an atmosphere of suspicion and resentment. The British reader might compare this to the class distinctions depicted in novels such as Orwell’s *The Road to Wigan Pier*: not just economic disadvantage, but deep-seated power imbalances render meaningful change almost impossible.Curley’s abuse of status and the abrupt, transactional nature of work on the ranch reveal a world where authority is rarely earned and frequently abused, leaving the vulnerable—like Lennie, Crooks, and Candy—at the mercy of others.
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IV. Symbolism and its Contribution to Themes
A. The Role of Animals and Nature
Animal imagery permeates the novella; the doomed mice Lennie loves, the herons and snakes on the riverbank, and Candy’s decrepit dog all evoke fragility, instinct and the recurrent threat of death. Lennie’s accidental killings of mice and puppies mirror his own inability to survive among men; the motif of destroyed innocence recurs throughout, from dreams to lives.The natural setting, particularly the riverbank, symbolises both sanctuary and danger. It is the novel’s beginning and end; nature is impartial, capable of solace and brutality alike.
B. Objects and Settings as Thematic Anchors
Physical locations and objects acquire deep symbolic resonance. The communal bunkhouse is a site of transient camaraderie but also of exclusion; personal possessions are few, and privacy is non-existent. Candy’s dog recalls themes of utilitarian cruelty and redundancy, pressing questions about mercy and worth.The riverside clearing gains ritual significance: it is a promised refuge—echoing ancient literary tropes, such as the pastoral ideal in poetry—but ultimately becomes the site of Lennie’s death, inescapably linking beginnings with endings.
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V. The Climactic Resolution: Death and Moral Ambiguity
A. The Tragic Death of Lennie
Steinbeck’s conclusion is foreshadowed from the opening pages: the mice whose necks Lennie breaks, the talk of hiding by the river “in case there’s trouble”. When George shoots Lennie to spare him from violent retribution, the act is suffused with ambiguity. Is it an act of mercy—a parallel to the killing of Candy’s dog—or a betrayal born of exhaustion and fear?British readers may be reminded of debates on mercy-killing or “euthanasia” in 20th-century social discourse. Steinbeck offers no easy moral answer, instead presenting the event as both an act of compassion and of appalling necessity, rendered more tragic by its inevitability.
B. Varied Responses to Death and Legacy
The reactions of the others to Lennie’s death encapsulate the range of human capacities. Slim demonstrates rare empathy in comforting George, while Carlson, unmoved, cannot grasp the reasons for distress, asking, “Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?” Curley, bent on vengeance, is stripped of both nuance and sympathy. The narrative concludes on a note of subdued despair; dreams are extinguished, and hopes have withered, yet moments of genuine compassion pierce the darkness.---
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