Shattered Dreams
Another theme in Of Mice and Men is "shattered dreams". There are a few instances in the book where dreams don't come true and the characters are brought back to reality. The Depression was full of shattered dreams. The biggest instance of shattered dreams in the book is towards the ends when George finds out that Lennie killed Curley's wife. "Now Candy spoke his greatest fear. 'You an' me can get that little place, can't we, George? Can't we?' Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew." (Steinbeck, 94). I like this quote because this was the dream and goal of the main characters throughout the entire book, and it got shattered in an instant. People really feel the sadness of the book: "The never-quite-realized, too often tragically shattered dreams of men toward an ideal future of security, tranquility, ease and contentment runs like a greek choral chant throughout the novel and the play,..." (Rascoe, 337) I agree with the critic when he says that shattered dreams run throughout the book. Shattered dreams are the plot twists of the book.