Of+Mice+and+Men+Themes

Friendship Working for a Dream Straying off the Path Fights and Hatred

**Friendship**- This book explores the relationship of George and Lennie. George does nearly anything for Lennie, and only asks that Lennie keep out of trouble. Knowing that Lennie will not follow the rules and will most likely ruin something, he has a back up plan. George has moved towns with Lennie because of the trouble Lennie has gotten into. This shows true friendship.

**Working for a Dream**-Throughout the story almost every character had an American Dream. Before Curley's wife died, she confessed that she wanted to be a movie star. Crooks has a nice fantasy of hoeing the garden on Lennie's farm one day. Both Candy and George want to own acres of land and have their own farm.

**Straying off the path**- Many men at the farm had dreams, but they wanted instant gratification. Instead of saving their money, many men on the farm blow their money on hookers and alcohol to cope with their hard lives. This only temporarily relieves the pain. After their money is gone, they head somewhere else for more work.

**Fights and Hatred**- There are people in this story who don't like others. For example, Curly didn't like Lennie because he was so big and Curly was really afraid of him. He wanted to prove he was tough and he didn't want to be picked on. Curly and Lennie fought and Lennie crushed his hand. Overall, if someone doesn't like someone else, they would have no problem picking a fight with them, even if they don't have a reason.

[|Link to other themes] (spark-notes)