Preview

The Pursuit Of Happiness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
274 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Pursuit Of Happiness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a story on the lives two men named George and Lennie. George and Lennie are on their way to work on a ranch near Soledad when it is revealed they have the dream of buying a farmhouse to live on where they can run their own small farm. George and lennie are combining their money so they can afford to buy the farm whilst they work on a farm to be able to afford the farm. The use of symbolism in the text helps to develop the central idea of the pursuit of happiness.

The use of the farm George and lennie plan to buy as a symbol of freedom helps to show the central idea of pursuit of happiness. Whilst on their way to the new farm they will be working at in Soledad George and lennie stop to eat dinner.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    They have a dream of owning their own little house and lots of land with a farm filled with animals and gardens. A place where they could go and do whatever they want without anyone having to boss them around. George and Lennie await the freedom and independence they deserve after working long and hard. They constantly remind each other of their dreams and goals and take the steps to make it come true.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck tells the story of two best friends living life on the run, struggling to keep a steady job working as ranch hands. George and Lennie are faced with many obstacles throughout the course of this book, beginning with Lennie and his slow mindedness, George is always side by side with Lennie, practically holding his hand to coach him through life. The story begins with the two men running away from Weed, the ranch they were previously employed at; we later find that George and Lennie had to flee after Lennie had touched a ladies dress and made her feel uncomfortable. Upon arrival at the new ranch, George had told Lennie to stay away from Curley’s wife, Lennie disobeyed George and similar trouble has followed them.…

    • 628 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gorge and Lennie

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The fact that George and Lennie, the two main characters of the book ‘of mice and men’ written by John Steinbeck, ‘string along together’ to fulfill their American dream is unusual in the world of ranch hands. George and Lennie know each other since they were kids, Lennie is attached to George and they are like brothers to each other ever since. Lennie isn’t really bright; however he was useful, that is why George a takes care of Lennie and takes Lennie with him to do jobs. Lennie always get in trouble for his love of feeling soft things and George has to help him get out of it. As the story progresses, it is foreseen that at some point George won’t be able to cover for Lennie anymore and the end of their relationship.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1930s novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was written during the Great Depression, a time of many financial complications and hopelessness for the American population. It takes place in rural northern California in the town of Soledad, which was where the author grew up. Steinbeck uses his memories and recollections to paint an incredibly vivid landscape in each scene mentioned in the story. Of Mice and Men follows the seemingly futile journey of George Milton and Lennie Small on their quest to make a better life for themselves. Getting to their goal does have its complications, however. Even the differences between the two main characters cause conflict. Along the way, they come face to face with difficulties including an overly flirtatious woman, a violent, pugnacious man who happens to be the boss’s son, and Lennie’s inability to realize his own strength. Steinbeck nearly perfectly creates an atmosphere that conveys mood, reveals theme, and builds dynamic characters.…

    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck) is a novel overflowing with friendship, colorful characters, vivid detail and yet a tragic storyline. George and Lennie are two guys that travel the country looking for work during the depression era. Given that Lennie is "not quite right", George must be accountable for Lennie's actions and take care of him. Throughout several sequence of events, George gives himself up to care for Lennie and his needs. Although the two do have a dream to buy a farm, George doesn't achieve it for reasons that may or may not be related to Lennie's mistakes. George is a rather tragic character because he could be very successful if he didn't have to look out for Lennie.…

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with” (Mark Twain). In the novel Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie create a special bond that will be tested. Through the character of George, Steinbeck shows that issues outside the control of an individual often limit the achievement of an individual’s dreams.…

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Even though the story ends with heartache, it still doesn’t remove the fact that Lennie and George knew that their friendship kept them going. John Steinbeck brings the time period of the 1930s to life in Of Mice and Men. The story captures the tale of two men, George and Lennie, use friendship and a dream to overcome challenges. Piece by piece as challenges add, it ends with serious consequences. Steinbeck displays that weakness leads to cruelty through the characters in Of Mice and Men by Crooks trying to acquire a position over Lennie, Candy’s dog dying, and Curley’s wife speaking to Crooks.…

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a novel about two men, George and Lennie, who are looking for work so they can make a stake and build their dream home and live out their lives in happiness. Lennie might not be the smartest man alive but he is the main reason for the success of both him and George. Not because of his physical ability alone, but because he helps George achieve his full potential. Lennie and George have traveled together for many years taking care of each other and watch each others…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many passages from the story that contribute to this overarching theme of faith and prospect. Quite possibly the most famous example of hope throughout the book is the dream that both George and Lennie share. George, at the behest of Lennie, frequently tells him about how things will be once they have their own farm, like “‘And [it rains] in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work’” (Steinbeck 15). This implies that George and Lennie desire some degree of freedom to do what they want, when they want, since most of their life is compromised of following the orders of other people without reaping the benefits. George also tells Lennie “‘We’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch” (Steinbeck 15). If anyone knows anything about Of Mice and Men, they’ll know that Lennie adores the idea of tending to his own rabbits, a dream that he has George recite for him many times throughout the story (followed by a period of daydreaming and giggling). George often tells Lennie their dream to move Lennie along and give him hope to continue their…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Capturing the curiosity being produced by the reader, George grasps most of the attention starting as soon as his name is mentioned for the first time in the novel. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck, the author of the novel, vividly shows the development in George’s character. Both George’s compassion for the world and people around him and the way in which he controls himself change rapidly as he progresses over the three days in which the novel takes place. From dealing with Lennie’s disability to simply hold himself together on the ranch, George demonstrates how people can change and mature quickly. By tracing George’s journey throughout the novel, readers can better appreciate George as a character and Steinbeck’s overall message.…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Of Mice and Men “by John Steinbeck tells of two partners- George and Lennie- with goals to get enough money to obtain a home of their own. The two are put down by those around them. They tell them that too many other people come by with the same dream and it won’t be achieved, but they keep hope. The theme of this tale is that people who are misjudged are often mistreated. Three people in the novella that suffered mistreatment are Crooks, Lennie, and Curley’s wife.…

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men George Milton and Lennie Small are on their way to work on a ranch in Northern California after Lennie’s childlike brain and his odd fetish for petting things like mice, rabbits, puppies, and women get him into trouble. One of the major themes in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men is having a dream creates hope, friendship, and determination.…

    • 859 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jobless, homeless, and unable to support themselves, many farmers during the 1930’s moved west in search of better life. In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, readers observe how dreams keep people motivated; especially through tough times. Steinbeck’s characters George Milton and Lennie Small, search for work in the struggling agricultural market of California. Although there are many hardships that the men face, both George and Lennie have a dream that they are determined to accomplish. Despite Lennie’s lack of social boundaries and the hardships of the Great Depression, it is the dream that they have together that keeps them motivated.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men chronicles the experiences of two unlikely friends Lennie and George, as they follow the path of life in pursuit of their own version of the American dream. Steinbeck incorporates thematic ideas that define dreams and what prevents them from being manifested, tensions concerning race and gender, and the significance of relationships within the story. Use of these thematic ideas amplify the strength of feeling throughout the story, and connects the reader with themes they can identify with.…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thesis of mice and men

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In "Of Mice and Men," John Steinbeck utilizes his prevailing themes of friendship and loneliness, through his deep characterization and interconnection between George and Lenny, in order to illustrate glamorized desire of "the American dream."…

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays