Of Mice and Men controlled assessment:

Explore the ways thwarted dreams and aspirations is developed in Of Mice and Men.
‘The ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved.’ This is the American dream, it describes the aspirations of most American citizens. Even though the American dream is strongly cemented into the hearts of their Society, during the great depression of 1937, it began to fade and break down due to the lack of trust between individuals. The author John Steinbeck’s ideas are woven into the text through the characters language and actions. They demonstrate the destruction of dreams and the emotionless minds of the individuals with their dreams previously broken.

The idea that the American dream is unobtainable was very common during the Great Depression, but George and Lennie still securely held on to the idea that their dream was achievable as they had each other. “We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” This demonstrates that their relationship is the predominant reason for their chance of achieving the unachievable. Their relationship is held together by this story and their shared dream, this is common in any relationship as relations share a future aspiration or past story to cement the bond between two individuals. George repetitively attempts to reassure Lennie with their story, but the repetitiveness of their craving for the story begins to demonstrate the reassuring affect it has. Due to the detail given when the story is expressed, the story begins to become less realistic and more of a calming lullaby. ‘George’s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before’, John Steinbeck portrays this effect through the language, expresses the tone of the voice is also an aspect which contributes to the calming process to Lennie.

During the ‘Great Depression’ relationships were rare as people commonly isolated themselves to avoid a friendship or simply interaction as people’s outlook on relations were extremely narrow. As people scorn dreams as unrealistic, therefore they are protecting themselves from the idea of failure. ‘They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’ every damn one of ‘ems got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a god damn one of ‘em ever gets it’. This directly demonstrates the negative attitude of those stubborn to pursue their dream due to the element to failure overthrowing their willingness to do so. The language used such as an’ shows the accent of the character but also their status. It expresses that the character is and the end of the chain. As well as that the tone of the quote is stern as it sharply addresses his opinion with few words. Crooks uses energetic colloquial language to express his opinion emotionally, it is energetic as he has an emotional mechanism defending himself against the possibility of having a dream. Due to his emotional opinion he condemns anyone striving to achieve a dream, ‘God damn’ is the condemnation used, which portrays a strong opposing opinion to the any individuals pursuing their dream. Steinbeck uses Crooks as a character to rebel against the possibility of having a dream, as he refers to ‘They’, not including himself that ‘nuts’ category.
Then though Crooks is openly so rebellious against the fact the people have dreams and some choose to pursue them, his emotional barrier begins to break down when his own American dream becomes apparent. ‘I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to’. This shows that Crooks began to buy into the fact that their dream is actually obtainable. Therefore it shows even those too stubborn to the fact that dreams cannot be achieved, have dreams too but are just over conscious of the possibility of failure. Steinbeck uses Crooks to show everyone has a dream and everyone wants to be a success and achieve the American dream, yet at that time is faded due to the depression and the relationships between people being so non-existent.

The language is a major tool used by John Steinbeck to portray his thoughts and emotions through characters. ‘But not us and why? Because I’ve got you to look after me, an’ that’s why’. This is a quote from George attempting to reassure Lennie, by confirming they have each other and that’s all they need to be happy and safe. There is a rhetorical question used, this is to ask the question to Lennie but then immediately after he answers his own question, therefore is a question and an answer in just one sentence. This has a reassuring affect that they defiantly have each other and they will achieve their dream because of that. As well as assuring Lennie, George actually reassures himself too. As well as the reassuring affect it has, it is also foreshadowing due to the fact that it end with Lennie being killed by George which is ironic as they was always meant to comfort and protect each other. Colloquial language indicates an intimate relationship or friendship, therefore ‘An’ that’s why’ expresses the bond between the pair and indicates a universal understanding to the language that they use. This shows their friendship status is strong, and they feel comfortable to adapt their language and still the other will understand.

Once the reality of their dream is revealed, the dreams of others begin to be expressed. Even Curley’s wife begins to reveal that she has a dream and she thought that she would achieve it but then her dream was broken and that is the failure, which is the predominant reason people were afraid to pursue their dreams. ‘He said he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural’, this reveals Curley’s wives dream to be an actor. This shows that once a dream is being pursued, it encourages others to reveal, even pursue theirs too. Every character which was so negative had a dream, or still has one, but the aspect of failure became too much and they began angry at anyone near to achieving theirs, therefore expresses a clear jealous trait. The language use is sharp as Curley’s wife is keen to express her dream and she is exited to finally tell people with the common outlook on dreams. Steinbeck uses these character to also portray the effect that thwarted dreams and aspirations are constant throughout the novella, and that all the characters are subject to failure that that is the main reason for the negative and heartless attitude of the country during the depression, not just at the ranch.

‘Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?’ this shows the emotionless response when people’s dreams are broken and that it is so common that they expected such as a poor outcome. Thwarted dreams and aspirations are the main reason Steinbeck begin his explorations to uncover the true outlook of people during the 1937 Great depression, and he portrayed his opinion and findings through the language and actions of the characters, by showing a rebellious attitude. Then once a dream is revealed, express everyone has a dream, only to break the dream and show the reason why everyone is so heartless is because of the thwarted dreams. John Steinbeck portrays the society as a vicious cycle which will only be broken when a dream is finally achieved.