John Steinbeck was inspired to write Of Mice and Men, which was intended as a story for both stage and book form, by his childhood observations of the poor migrant workers scratching out a meager living traveling from one ranch or farm to another.
What was Steinbeck's purpose?
In short, John Steinbeck explained his purpose in writing The Grapes of Wrath, when he wrote to Herbert Sturtz, in 1953: You say the inner chapters were counterpoint and so they were—that they were pace changers and they were that too but the basic purpose was to hit the reader below the belt .
What was Steinbeck's ultimate goal for the story Of Mice and Men?
In the novel Of Mice and Men, Jon Steinbeck portrays the life of two common men looking for work on various ranches throughout the United States. The ultimate goal of Lenny and George is to save enough money so they will be able to purchase their own ranch .
What is the main message in the book Of Mice and Men?
The overall message is that the conditions of the 1930s betrays the American Dream and crushes and destroys individuals . Friendship and commitment are at the heart of this story and are shown most clearly through the relationship between Lennie and George.
What is the moral message of Of Mice and Men?
The Predatory Nature of Human Existence
Of Mice and Men teaches a grim lesson about the nature of human existence . Nearly all of the characters, including George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife, admit, at one time or another, to having a profound sense of loneliness and isolation.
Why did George and Lennie not achieve their dream?
The end of the dream
George and Lennie's dream is impossible once Lennie has killed Curley's wife. Without Lennie, George cannot envision himself carrying on , and he realises that the dream was never really possible. This represents the hopelessness of men like them.
What animal's does George promise Lennie he can pet in Chapter 1?
In fact, George acts as a parent toward Lennie: He treats Lennie as one would treat a child, he laughs a great deal at Lennie's words, and because he knows how much Lennie likes soft things, he promises to try to get Lennie a puppy and to let him care for the rabbits when they finally get their own ranch.
What does Lennie really want someday?
George and Lennie's dream for the future is to one day own a farm with lots of rabbits . Lennie dreams of taking care of the rabbits and other animals, and George hopes this dream comes true so that he can lead a “better” life.
Why does George shoot Lennie?
George killed Lennie, because Candy told George he wished he would have shot his own dog , Lennie killed Curley's wife, the puppie, and the mouse, and the lynch mob would have done worse things to Lennie. The first reason why George is justified in killing Lennie is because Lennie is worthless like Candy's dog.
Why was Of Mice and Men banned?
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is regularly on the banned books list put out by the American Library Association. It has been banned because of vulgarity, racism, and its treatment of women . ... Steinbeck was interested in writing a book that was historically accurate and reflected the times.
What does George and Lennie's dream symbolize?
In this dialogue between Candy and George, George and Lennie's farm, once the symbol of their hope and dreams, now symbolizes the destruction of a dream , their destroyed hope, and the loss of a friendship that made George and Candy believe in the possibility of their dream.
What does Lennie's death symbolize?
Because George is forced to kill his friend himself, Lennie's death is not only the death of a single vulnerable person , but also the destruction of a rare and idealized friendship.
Is Of Mice and Men a true story?
Of Mice and Men is a novella written by John Steinbeck. ... Steinbeck based the novella on his own experiences working alongside migrant farm workers as a teenager in the 1910s (before the arrival of the Okies that he would describe in The Grapes of Wrath).
Who Killed Candy's dog?
As the men marvel over it, Carlson offers to kill the dog quickly by shooting it in the back of the head. Reluctantly, Candy gives in. Carlson takes the dog outside, promising Slim that he will bury the corpse.
Why can't George achieve his dream?
George always sensed that the dream wouldn't happen because of the trouble Lennie got into . However, it was the dream that kept George and Lennie together and kept them going forward. Without a such a dream, George could not have continued to keep up with Lennie because of all the trouble he caused.
What was Lennie's dream?
George and Lennie have a dream: to scrounge enough money together to someday buy their own little house and a plot of land to farm. They dream of roots, stability, and independence .
