LENNIE SMALL Dreams QUOTES USED THROUGHOUT Quotes used

LENNIE SMALL Dreams

QUOTES USED THROUGHOUT Quotes used throughout the novel and this presentation include; • "an' live off the fatta the lan" • "An' have rabbits. " • "But not us! An' why? Because. . . because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you and that's why. • "Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George. "

WHAT IS LENNIE'S DREAM? • In 'Of Mice and Men' Lennie's dream is to one day have a home and plot of land with George, as the novella progresses many other characters such as Candy and Crooks also share this dream. Throughout we see George telling Lennie that they will "live off the fatta the lan'" "An' have rabbits. We, however, know that this dream doesn't become a reality as in 1930's America many people had seen their 'American Dream' fail once the Wallstreet Crash happened in 1929. This meant many ranch workers had once had a dream (like Lennie) but lost hope when the Great Depression started. Lennie still believes in his dream because, due to his mental disability, he doesn’t understand that this 'American Dream' is unreachable. Lennie's dream includes "Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George. " He knows exactly what his and George's dream is but prefers George to tell him as he idolises George; it is clear that George is a paternal figure to Lennie and Lennie's dream is somewhat dependent on him having George there to look

WHY DID LENNIE'S DREAM FAIL? Before Lennie was able to achieve his dream he was shot by George. In the novel, he was not able to achieve his dream because he was trapped in a society that was Abelist and did not support people with disabilities like Lennie, instead, casting them off as "crazy". Despite this, Lennie wanted to "live off the fatta the lan an have rabbits", he wanted the freedom that, at the time as ranch workers, they didn’t have. From past choices and obligations, they lacked control over their lives and were at the mercy and decisions of others. Lennie needed George's help if was ever going to be able to reach his dream and "live off the fatta the land tending the rabbits". But after Lennie's mistakes, George's belief of the dream would have died. Ultimately, Lennie didn't know how to behave in society, he got into too much trouble and his dream, consequently, failed. From the opening of the novella where it is Lennie's fault that they are being run out of Weed, Steinbeck foreshadows that Lennie will be the cause of his own dream's failure.

HOW DOES LENNIE'S DREAM LINK TO CONTEXT ? AO 4 The ‘American Dream’. is the idea that in America, it is possible for anyone to achieve success and improve their lives through hard work. ’. For the men on the ranch, having dreams gives them some hope that their hard work will be rewarded. In 1930's Society a dream such as Lennie's would not have been possible due to the Great Depression, it also wouldn't have been possible as he wasn't accepted in 'normal' society due to his mental disability. Lennie will never be able to achieve his dream because George shots him which ruins his chance of ever being able to "live off the fatta the lan" with George. Lennie's dream also ends before it even starts as he is considered an 'outsider' and never fully understands society and why he only forms a relationship with George.