Essay Sample about Steinbeck's Novel Of Mice and Men

Almost every gene in mice performs the same function as a gene in humans. We have the same organs (heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, etcetera.) and grow and develop similarly; also, we are warm-blooded. What else do we share, and is it because of the same blood? In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, Lennie, the man with a mental disability, and George, his stoic friend, face a series of unfortunate difficulties to establish the farm of their dreams. Of Mice and Men derived its name from an excerpt of the short poem "To a Mouse" by Robert Burns: "The best-laid schemes of mice and men go aft astray, and leaves us naught but pain and sorrow for promised joy." Meaning that no matter how meticulously we plan for our dreams, tragedy or accidents might still occur, resulting in minor or significant destruction. Grief affects all creatures, including insignificant mice; it is not limited to humans. Similarly, Burns' idea is shown in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, which truly portrays the absolute wretchedness and grief that follows a lost dream through characters such as Curley's wife and Crooks.  First and foremost, Curley's wife's witless aspiration of becoming a movie star is now doomed due to her untimely marriage with Curley. Curley's wife realizes her plan/scheme when she meets a shady man at the dance: "He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon's he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it." (88). Curley's wife is filled with futile information and hopes thanks to this random man she met at the Riverside Dance Palace. She definitely was lured into this idea instantly because of her 'managing' 'of lady' at home, as well as her pipe dream of fame, wealth, luxury hotels, and expensive hotels. Curley's wife must have clung to this fantasy to escape the world's harsh reality. Next, Curley's wife's hopeless movie star dream is destroyed after she marries Curley, and as she recalls that moment when she never got the letter from the scripter, she admits, "I never got that letter...So I married Curley" (88). This moment portrays her pain and sorrow as the shady individual from before never returned her letter, indicating that he was, in fact, a forger. Her goal is shattered by her marriage to Curley because once married, she will not be able to continue an acting career because she must care for the house, and Curley would never allow her to leave the ranch to pursue an acting career. She also dislikes the man since he is constantly planning to beat up everyone and never spends time with her, which adds to her agony and grief. All in all, as Curley's wife's movie star dream ends in heartache, Candy's dream also turns into pain and sorrow. Second, Crooks' wishful dreams of being a part of the farm disintegrate, consequently when he realizes his place in this world, and as Crooks hears about Lennie's, Candy's, and George's plan to have a farm, he persuades, "If you . . . . guys would want a hand to work for nothing just his keep, why I'd come an' lend a hand” (76). Crooks is a black man who has worked as a stable buck for as long as he can remember and has witnessed numerous men fall into this trap. When he learns that they have the money, his entire mind changes in an instant, Crooks would have liked to be a part of the plan to buy a farm since he has been lonely and would have others to be around if he lived with George, Lennie, and Candy; also, having a plan for his old age should offer him stability. This opportunity should also provide him with some freedom and dignity. Eventually, Crooks' dream gets crushed when he gets put back in his place by Curley's wife and when Crooks stands up to Curley's wife about being in his room, she threatens, “Well you keep your place then, N*****. I could get you strung on a tree so easy it ain't even funny.” Crooks used to have a friendly rapport with white kids, and his principles must have slipped, and he thought he was equal to the white kids for a short while. Then, Crooks, the man, is immediately put back in his place by Curley's wife, who must have believed that no black man's rights should ever be equivalent to those of a white man. Furthermore, he refuses to declare that she is incorrect, despite being reminded that he must endure the harsh treatment. He must have recognized that he is subjected to racial discrimination daily and that it is unabated. To sum up, all of these dreams that were supposed to come true brought the person the grief of failure.

Ultimately, Crooks' and Curley's wife's most cherished desires and ambitions were smashed into a million pieces, bringing them misery and sorrow. Humans, too, are animals. Moreover, life is full of difficulties, whether one is a mouse, a farmer, or a monarch. Humans are no better or worse than animals; we all have to go through this life. Furthermore, no matter who someone is, there will be moments when someone else's hard effort will not be rewarded. Moments like these can benefit people in their lives by allowing them to comprehend all the awful things that happen to everyone. Crooks is still a productive, stable buck with a relatively satisfying connection with white men, and Curley's wife's inner soul has never perished. The best-laid plans of mice and men can always go awry, but what matters is how one views it: as an opportunity to stop, reflect, and understand, or as an occasion to fall into grief and give up. It did not matter if mice and men shared blood; what mattered was how we viewed difficulties,