The first time I read chapter 5 of Of Mice and Men I was on a stationary bike at Gold’s Gym. When Lennie broke Curley’s Wife’s neck, I had to stop, walk outside, and collect myself. Today’s literary quote of the day comes from Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.
Intro Music
Crooks sees a lot. He sees what the reader probably sees, which is George and Lennie aren’t going to buy a piece of land.
In Crooks’ own words:
Quote: I seen hunderds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads. Hunderds of them. They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’ every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a damn one of ’em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Everybody wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head. They’re all the time talkin’ about it, but it’s jus’ in their head (81).
And after the fact, George chimes in:
Quote: I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would (103).
Classroom Application
Analysis: Crooks comments on Lennie and George’s dream and foresees their eventual disappointment. Crooks’ negativity goes beyond merely doubting George and Lennie’s dream, but can be extended as a comment on the death of the American Dream.
Life Lesson
It’s safe to say these migrant workers have it tough, but is George and Lennie’s dream really impossible? I mean they actually almost have enough to buy the place. How much money does George waste on booze and prostitutes?
It’s easy to look back after a failure and blame our circumstances. It’s easy to blame society. After all, when people become losers in the US, they claim the American Dream is dead. Did you know that right now there are people walking from Honduras to Texas for a small chance of what writers like Steinbeck says is dead.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your dreams are dead just because you’ve failed once or twice.
Links
- Of Mice and Men Themes Blog Post
- Of Mice and Men Unit
- Short Stories for Teaching Empathy Lesson Plans
