Dreams of Characters

The American Dream is extremely prevalent in this book.  The Dreams in this book all pertain to the American way to become rich quick and then get a place that they can all call their own and be independent while still providing for themselves.  It is a way for them to be individualistic yet still be a part of a group. 

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Curley

-His dream was shattered when he injured his hand.  From the beginning Curley had his hand wrapped or in a glove full of vaseline and his excuse was that he was keeping it soft for the Misses.  Curley was a boxer and now works on his father's ranch.  Since his hands made him money in the ring and cannot anymore, he had to put his dream job away.

Lennie

-Lennie doesn't remember the recent past very well.  But there is one thing that he remembers and motivates him throught the book and that is his love for soft things.  His dream is to live along side of George and have an alfalfa field for his beloved rabbits.  Lennie's love for soft things becomes his downfall.  His love created his dream and also ended it prematurely.

George

-George wants to own 10 acres of land and live with Lennie.  On their land they want to be totally self-reliant.  Their land was suppose to have vegtable patches, orchards of various fruits, rabbits, cows, chickens, a windmill, and a kitchen for them to smoke their food. 

Candy

-Candy has come to realize that he is not gettting any younger.  Just like his dog he sees himself in a few years getting to old to be of any use to anybody.  Yet his dream comes alive when he is introduced to the piece of land along with George and Lennie.  He feels that if he can help pitch in for the land that he can remain a part of the of their lives and still feel as though he is contributing to the world.

Crooks

-Just like Candy Crooks dream is intertwined into the dream of Lennie's and George's.  After going on a rant about how he has seen hundreds of men come through this ranch of that same dream but never succeeding, he is surprised when he hears that Candy, George and Lennie almost have enough money to get their own piece of land.  He feels that he could do some garden work for Lennie and George as long as he can live with them on the land.  This way Crooks will be able to interact with the rest of the owners on the land without being disrespected everyday by his own boss. 

Curley's Wife

-Curley's Wife dreams spiraled from a man that she once met, that told her that she would be a natural for the movie business.  He promised her that when he arrived back in Hollywood he would write her a letter to tell of her of how she could get into the business.  When the letter never came Curley's Wife continued to dream of the success she could've had.  She dreamed of being in the spotlight constantly.  Staying in fancy hotels, had "pitchers" taken of her along with speaking on the radio.  Her dream consisted of her self-centered self becoming bigger than the world and everyone taking notice of that, quite similiar to many young women throughout the course of time.