John Steinbeck’s classic novella, “Of Mice and Men,” is a powerful exploration of dreams and their significance in the lives of its characters. Set during the Great Depression, the story follows two friends, George and Lennie, as they navigate the challenges of migrant farm work in California. Throughout the narrative, dreams serve as a source of hope and motivation, offering a glimpse into the characters’ desires and aspirations. In this article, we will explore some of the most memorable quotes about dreams from “Of Mice and Men.”
One of the central themes in “Of Mice and Men” is the idea that dreams are often unattainable. Despite this, the characters hold onto their dreams as a way to escape the harsh realities of their lives. Through their dreams, they find solace and a sense of purpose. These dreams range from owning a piece of land to starting a new life elsewhere, but they all share the common thread of offering a better future.
Throughout the novella, Steinbeck uses powerful language to convey the characters’ dreams and the impact they have on their lives. These quotes about dreams in “Of Mice and Men” capture the essence of the characters’ hopes and desires, and serve as a reminder of the power dreams hold in the face of adversity.
Read these quotes about dreams in “Of Mice and Men”:
“I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads… every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it.” – Crooks
“I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.” – George
“S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing.” Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea. “We’d just go to her,” George said. “We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus’ say, ‘We’ll go to her,’ an’ we would.” – George
“I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.” – Crooks
“Some day—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…” – Lennie
“Everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus’ som’thin’ that was his. Som’thin’ he could live on and there couldn’t nobody throw him off of it.” – Crooks
“Sure, right now. I gotta. We gotta.” – George
“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” – Lennie
“I think I know’d we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.” – George
“I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.” – Candy
“I ain’t got no people. I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain’t no good. They don’t have no fun. After a long time they get mean.” – Crooks
“Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.” – Crooks
“We could live offa the fatta the lan’.” – Lennie
“You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad.” – Lennie
“I got a right to have a light. You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.” – Crooks
“I remember about the rabbits, George.” – Lennie
“I tell you, I tell you a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.” – Crooks
“I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.” – Crooks
“I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her.” – George
“If you don’ want me, you only jus’ got to say so, and I’ll go off in those hills right there—right up in those hills and live by myself.” – Lennie
“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.” – Lennie
These quotes about dreams in “Of Mice and Men” give us a deeper understanding of the characters’ desires and the role dreams play in their lives. They serve as a reminder of the power dreams hold to inspire and provide hope, even in the darkest of times.
