Themes – of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men, a novella written by John Steinbeck, is a tragedy incorporating a hero with a tragic flaw, a climax, and a tragic resolution. The title of the novella, Of Mice and Men, is the first breath to Steinbecks specific cultural issues. The title is a line taken from a poem c alled, To a Mouse, by Robert Burns. This poem talks about mans enslavement to forces of both main(a) and piece nature which cannot be controlled, destroying hopes and aspirations. This stems into the theme of the loss of the American romance. Along with alienation, the American Dream is a major theme explored throughout the course of the novel.Of Mice and Men is a story about the nature of human hallucinations and aspirations and the forces that work against them. Humans give meaning to their lives by creating dreams. George and Lennies dream to own a little upgrade of their own is so central to Of Mice and Men that it appears in some form in five of the 6 chapters. The telling of the story, w hich George has done so often, becomes a ritual between the two men George provides the narrative, and Lennie, who has difficulty retrieve even simple instructions, finishes Georges sentences.To George, this dream of having their own place means independence, security, organism their own boss, and, most importantly, being somebody. To Lennie, the dream is like the flocculent animals he pets It means security, the responsibility of tending to the rabbits, and a sanctuary where he wont have to be afraid. This theme not only applies to George and Lennie, but also to Candy and Crooks. To Candy, who sees the farm as a place where he can assert a responsibility he didnt take when he let Carlson kill his dog, it offers security for old age and a home where he will correspond in.For Crooks, the little farm will be a place where he can have self-respect, acceptance, and security. Having and share-out the dream, however, are not enough to bring it to life. Each man must draw a afford or battle some other force that seeks to steal the dream away. Some of these obstacles are outer the threat from Curleys wife, Curleys violence, and the societal prejudices that plague each man others are internal Lennies strength and his need to steer soft things. For George, the greatest threat to the dream is Lennie himself ironically, it is Lennie who also makes the dream worthwhile.In addition to dreams, humans crave shock with others to give life meaning. Alienation is present throughout this novel. On the most obvious level, we see this closing off when the ranch hands go into town on Saturday night to ease their loneliness with alcohol and women. Similarly, Lennie goes into Crooks mode to find someone with whom to talk, and later Curleys wife comes for the same reason. Crooks says, A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Dont make no difference who the guy is, longs hes with you. Even Slim mentions, I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone.That aint no good. They dont have no fun. afterward a long time they get mean. Georges taking care of Lennie and the dream of the farm are attempts to break the pattern of loneliness that is part of the human condition. Similarly, Lennies desire to pet soft things comes from his need to feel safe and secure, to touch something that gives him that feeling of not being alone in the world. For Lennie, the dream of the farm parallels that security. George and Lennie, however, similarly to the American Dream, are not the only characters who struggle against loneliness.Although present in all the characters to some degree, the theme of loneliness is most notably present in Candy, Crooks, and Curleys wife. They all fight against their isolation in whatever way they can. Until its death, Candys dog stopped Candy from being alone in the world. After its death, Candy struggles against loneliness by sharing in George and Lennies dream. Curleys wife is also lonely she is the only young-bearing(prenominal) on t he ranch, and her husband has forbidden anyone to talk with her. She combats her loneliness by flirting with the people on the ranch. Crooks is uncaring because of his skin colour.As the only black man on the ranch, he is not allowed into the bunkhouse with the others, and he does not retainer with them. Of Mice and Men is a novella that tries to explain what it means to be human. Man is a very dispirited part of a very large universe in the greater scheme of things, individuals come and go and leave very little, lasting marks. Yet deep inside all people is a passion for a place in nature the desire for the land, roots, and a place to call home. Steinbeck explores the themes of the America Dream and alienation to portray the uncertainty of success.