Of Mice and Men Expository Essay
Of Mice and Men Expository Essay
John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a book that describes the chase of the American Dream. Although achieving the American Dream is a great desire for all, seldom does it actually come true. George and Lennie, the two main characters in the book, have a goal of pursuing their version of the American Dream, as do many other characters. However, due to relationships and other conflicts, that dream is not achieved. Almost immediately, Steinback poses the question of whether or not companionship leads to failure of the American Dream. For example, George says, “’Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to,’” (13-14). In this quote, George is explaining the unfulfilling life of a typical rancher. He describes how he’s always on his own and has nothing pleasant to look forward to. A typical rancher is lonely and has almost no expectations of himself. With no expectations, there is no achievement. Through this quote Steinback shows that the average rancher does not accomplish anything remarkable due to his isolation. Isolation and solitude show up more than once in this novel. Another example is when Slim says, “’Oh, I dunno. Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. I hardly never seen two guys travel together. You know how the hands are, they just come in and get their bunk and work a month, and then they quit and go out alone. Never seem to give a damn about nobody,’” (39). In this passage we see isolation, and how none of the ranchers seem to do anything significant with their lives. These two things link together to show the reader that one cannot achieve great things without a companion. The word “quit” also implies failure. In order to
John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a book that describes the chase of the American Dream. Although achieving the American Dream is a great desire for all, seldom does it actually come true. George and Lennie, the two main characters in the book, have a goal of pursuing their version of the American Dream, as do many other characters. However, due to relationships and other conflicts, that dream is not achieved. Almost immediately, Steinback poses the question of whether or not companionship leads to failure of the American Dream. For example, George says, “’Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to,’” (13-14). In this quote, George is explaining the unfulfilling life of a typical rancher. He describes how he’s always on his own and has nothing pleasant to look forward to. A typical rancher is lonely and has almost no expectations of himself. With no expectations, there is no achievement. Through this quote Steinback shows that the average rancher does not accomplish anything remarkable due to his isolation. Isolation and solitude show up more than once in this novel. Another example is when Slim says, “’Oh, I dunno. Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. I hardly never seen two guys travel together. You know how the hands are, they just come in and get their bunk and work a month, and then they quit and go out alone. Never seem to give a damn about nobody,’” (39). In this passage we see isolation, and how none of the ranchers seem to do anything significant with their lives. These two things link together to show the reader that one cannot achieve great things without a companion. The word “quit” also implies failure. In order to