Are dreams really worthwhile, do they matter?  My parents say, “Dreams are important. You should have a dream so you can set a goal for life and eventually achieve it.”  Martin Luther King Jr. had a famous speech about his dream of equality, which was his goal and purpose in life.  He shared his dream to inspire and motivate millions of people even years after his death.  The characters in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, have dreams that are shared throughout the book.  Dreams give George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife a goal to work towards and a purpose in life.             On the surface it would seem that George and Lennie have nothing in common, but they actually share the goal to fulfill their dream of getting a little house with cows, pigs, and rabbits.  For example, they constantly talk about their dream together like when George says, “O.K. Someday – we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and –“.  “an’ live off the fatta the lan’,” Lennie shouted.  “An’ have rabbits…” (15).  George and Lennie’s dream is what keeps them together and working hard to save for their future.  Their dream inspires Lennie to try to do the right thing and it gives George the patience to put up with Lennie.  For instance, Lennie knows he should not be with Curley’s wife when he says, “If George sees me talkin’ to you he’ll give me hell,” (96).  Lennie is trying to be responsible and follow George’s instructions so he can fulfill his dream of having the house and the rabbits.  Lennie knows what he’s supposed to do but momentarily forgets and ends up making a mistake or harming something or someone.  In addition, George feels he and Lennie have the same goal when he says, ”With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.  We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go.  If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.” (15).  George doesn’t believe they are like the other guys who just work on ranches for a meal and a bed because their purpose for working is to get their own place.  George loves Lennie like a brother and looks out for him by reminding him to do the right thing so he doesn’t get in trouble or fired.  The dream of having their own place gives George and Lennie a purpose for their hard work, a reason for George to constantly keep Lennie safe, a reminder for Lennie to do the right thing, and especially to have a goal to focus on.

Crooks and Curley’s wife share a common dream of being treated equally and having the respect of the men on the ranch.  For example, Crooks explains his dilemma to Lennie with, “S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you like that?” (80).  Crooks, thinking Lennie will have empathy for the unequal treatment, shares his misery.  Crooks dreams of being included in the fun, being able to hang around with the guys, and be an equal and a friend.  For example, in a heated discussion Crooks and Curley’s wife argue about her right to be in the barn when Crooks says, “You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all. Now you jus’ get out, an’ get out quick. If you don’t, I’m gonna ast the boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more.”  She turned on him in scorn. “Listen, nigger,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (88).  Curley’s wife has no respect from her husband or the ranch hands and dreams of having respect and authority so she takes the opportunity to assert herself over Crooks because he is black.  Crooks dreams of being an equal of the white ranch hands so he steps up and states the authority he thinks he has over Curley’s wife.  In addition, even after Curley’s wife is dead there is no respect for her as proven by Candy angrily saying, “You God damn tramp,” he said viciously. “You done it. Di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” (104).  Candy shows the ultimate in lack of respect towards Curley’s wife by calling her a tramp, saying she is no good, and blaming her for ruining his dream even after she’s dead.  She is always chasing after her dream of respect but it is not attainable because she never shows respect for the men she hopes to gain it from.  Crooks and Curley’s wife go about obtaining their dream of equality and respect differently but with the same outcome of never achieving either one.

Candy is a typical ranch hand who works day to day with no future plans but with

George and Lennie, he finds a chance to have a purpose for his hard work and share their dream.  For example, Carlson complains, “Well, I can’t stand him in here,” said Carlson. “That stink hangs around even after he’s gone.” He walked over with his heavy-legged stride and looked down at the dog. “Got no teeth,” he said. “He’s all stiff with rheumatism. He ain’t no good to you, Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n't you shoot him, Candy?” (49).  Candy sees himself becoming more like his dog, old, useless, and having nothing to offer anyone.  Candy, with only one hand, is like his old and crippled dog with no more purpose in life and nothing to dream for.  Furthermore, hearing their plan to get a ranch, Candy tries to convince them to include him by saying, “I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’. An’ they give me two hundred an’ fifty dollars ’cause I los’ my hand. An’ I got fifty more saved up right in the bank, right now. Tha’s three hundred, and I got fifty more comin’ the end a the month. Tell you what – ‘ He leaned forward eagerly. ‘S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some.  How’d that be?” (65).  It appears that Candy found a purpose for losing his hand by using the money to help buy the house and land to make their dream come true.  Candy seems desperate to have George and Lennie include him because he wants to make sure that he has a secure future.  Furthermore, Candy is devastated as he says, “I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys.” (105).  Candy’s life was finally on the upswing when George and Lennie accepted him as a partner.  After Lennie killed Curley’s wife, Candy’s dreams were smashed apart and his purpose and dreams for the future vanished.  Candy’s life has been like a rollercoaster with ups and downs of tragedies and the short-lived hope of a purpose for a future with George and Lennie on the ranch.

George and Lennie are very similar because they share the common dream of owning a house and having animals which gives them a common direction for their lives.  Both Curley’s wife and Crooks wish to be respected and treated as equals but neither seem to accomplish their dream.  Candy’s directionless life was turned around once George and Lennie supplied a way to fulfill a dream of being useful and having a secure place to live.  The dreams of the characters in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck give them a crucial direction for their lives and a purpose to fulfill.