Dreams (Theme) Flashcards
3 main topics to write about
George and Lennie’s hopes - to be able to buy a plot of land themseleves
Curley’s Wife - to be in the movies
Crooks - dreams of equality
George and Lennie’s hopes and dreams - “The thing they’d never really believed in was coming true”
This conveys how migrant workers hoped for better living and working conditions and at this moment, Candy, George and Lennie are overcome with emotion as they believe they can unite to buy a ranch. By uniting the 3, Steinbeck may be promoting the idea that men should work together as opposed to competing with one another.
George and Lennie’s hopes and dreams - “An’ live of the fatta the land” (says Lennie)
George and Lennie are hopeful of the future at the start of the novella. Their American Dream might seem mundane to others; to simply have some “land” of their own. They want to make their own produce which this Earth provides for them through their hard work. Lennie repeats this dream at the end of the novella although we discover how even the most mundane dreams were unobtainable in the harsh environment of America during The Great Depression.
Crooks’ Dreams of equality - “A guy needs somebody to be near him”
Crooks’ American Dream is to have full rights and be equal to white people; he believes that if everyone was equal, he wouldn’t be so lonely.
Crooks’ Dreams of Equality - “But I can’t play because I’m black”
Crooks’ disability, race and society holds him back from being treated with respect resulting in him not achieving his American Dream as racism was a very prominent issue in 1930s America which is when the novella is based in
Curley’s Wife’s dreams to be in the movies - “I tell you I ain’t used to living like this. I could’ve made somethin’ outta myself. Maybe I will yet”
Perhaps before marrying Curley, she had more freedom and now she’s tired of being trapped by her controlling husband. The shift from “could’ve” to “will yet” implies she still has hope for the future and still dreams of escaping her confinement and becoming an actress as she claims she “coulda’ been in the movies an had nice clothes”
