Question

Consider the symbolism and meaning behind the title. Read Robert Burn’s poem, “To A Mouse”. Throughout the novel, John Steinbeck argues that “the best-laid plans of mice and men” often go wrong. Explain how he attempts to show this in the novel. Be sure to cite specific examples from the novel in comparison to the poem.

Answer 1

For many years America has remained dreaming to manifest its own destiny. It was fantasies like freedom of religion and speech or hope for a better life that fueled a spark in earlier Americans and immigrants that created a hidden movement that would later be known as the American dream. The American dream started when America began to expand to the west coast and built the transcontinental railroad. The dream described America as the land of opportunity and to conquer a new frontier. It wasn’t until the late 1920s that the dream changed drastically after the stock market crashed and the start of the Great Depression. Poverty had struck the nation and the economy collapsed. The dreams that were achieved changed after the Great Depression and more people just wish for a better life. One of the main themes of the novel, Of Mice & Men, is the American dream. The theme has a large effect on the time and place of where the novel takes place. The two main characters of the novel, Lennie and George dream an almost hopeless fantasy to have own small farm and rabbits. The American dream is important during the setting of the novel, Of Mice and Men, due to the unfortunate economic situation of the United States and California’s Salinas Valley during the Great Depression which gives each character their own hopes and aspirations of a better life.
Of Mice & Men takes place in California’s Salinas Valley during the Great Depression. The Salinas Valley is a very rural area during the 1930s. This is where the author of the novel John Steinbeck grew up and witnessed a firsthand account of the setting of the novel. Because of the poor economic state of the nation, any kind of skilled or manual labor was praised for income. Even though Steinbeck was not poor, he was a part of the working class society, and worked as a ranch hand just like George and Lennie were. During the Great Depression any kind of jobs were taken so men like Lennie and George were common to travel for work