Hope In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Throughout the book Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses various examples of diction to convey the main theme of hope; more specifically, having hope can get you through the hardest of times. This theme is expressed through interactions and conversations between the main characters during periods of of varying hardship. 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
His diction, along with an omnipresent sense of optimism during the characters’ somewhat discouraging situation, help this message evolve and grow with the story. Although the book might not have had the happiest ending, and the future of George and the ranch left open to the interpretation of the reader, hope got the characters fairly far. Steinbeck shows us that much; it’s only reasonable that we assume hope can get them even