Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-1-hopes-dreams-and-reality [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel.md) › [English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men.md) › Hopes, Dreams & Reality # Hopes, Dreams & Reality English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men, topic 4.1.1 ## George and Lennie's Dream Steinbeck presents hopes and dreams as one of the key themes in _Of Mice and Men_. George and Lennie frequently discuss their dream to have their own farm. ### The power of the dream ![The power of the dream](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/0fa4d585-d816-4713-b4e7-f0d37ff90250/chickens.jpg) - George and Lennie's dream is such a powerful source of hope that Candy and Crooks both get drawn into it. - Whether they believe in the dream or not, it provides them with a fantasy which allows them to escape the harsh realities of life on the ranch: “I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some.” (Candy, Section 3). ### The attraction of self-sufficiency ![The attraction of self-sufficiency](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/3aba260b-81c3-4c72-bceb-73d97d5aeb1c/farming-fruit.jpg) - As Crooks is quick to point out, George and Lennie’s dream of self-sufficiency and freedom is the American Dream of many impoverished ranch workers: “Every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it.” (Crooks, Section 4). ### Lennie's love of the dream ![Lennie's love of the dream](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/76873541-1614-4ebe-b684-99f52066dbd6/story-dream-farm.jpg) - For Lennie, who struggles to understand many things in the novel, the dream is more like a favourite childhood story, and hearing George talk about it makes him feel calm: "Come on, George. Tell me. Please, George. Like you done before." (Lennie, Section 1). ### Death of the dream ![Death of the dream](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/f32b714c-8f66-4eea-b157-8f6336c2b51b/disappointed-sad.jpg) - When Lennie kills Curley’s wife at the end, George admits that the dream is dead too. - He even suggests that it was never a realistic possibility in the first place: “I think I knowed we’d never do her.” (George, Section 5). ## Curley's Wife's Dream Steinbeck presents hopes and dreams as one of the key themes in _Of Mice and Men_. Curley's wife dreamt of going to Hollywood and becoming a movie star. ### The broken dream of Hollywood ![The broken dream of Hollywood](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ace969dc-347b-4d95-b905-5db8e0f2edd6/hollywood.jpg) - Curley’s wife talks about how she was on her way to Hollywood stardom: “He says he was gonna put me in the movies.” (Curley’s wife, Section 5). - However, Curley's wife suspects her mother hid a letter which meant she couldn’t fulfill her dream: "I never got that letter … I always thought my ol' lady stole it.” (Curley’s wife, Section 5). ### Marrying Curley ![Marrying Curley](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a32e93da-2885-49d5-ae74-fe350943fb35/married-wedding.jpg) - Curley's wife laments the fact that things went so badly wrong with her dream of being a star, and now she has ended up married to Curley, who she doesn’t like: “I don't like Curley. He ain't a nice fella.” (Curley’s wife, Section 5). ### An unrealistic dream ![An unrealistic dream](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/ecb126b8-0793-487f-8687-cb2c7d340634/sad.jpg) - Curley’s wife’s dream seems unrealistic and, in a way, pathetic. - Steinbeck could be suggesting that she hangs on to this unrealistic dream simply as a way of escaping from the misery that surrounds her on the ranch: “Coulda been in the movies, an' had nice clothes- all them nice clothes like they wear.” (Curley’s wife, Section 5) ## Test yourself on Hopes, Dreams & Reality - Who is drawn to George and Lennie's dream? - What does Curley's wife's dream seem? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/57ac05f4-9509-43b5-93ff-d98d2bf43cbc/section/3ec624ab-b1d5-4aaa-b2da-b3060bd02feb/session) - Previous topic: [3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-2-end-of-topic-test-crooks-candy-and-others.md) - Next topic: [4.1.2 Racial Prejudice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-2-racial-prejudice.md) ## English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men contents ### 1 Context & Overview - 1.1 Context & Overview - [1.1.1 The Great Depression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-1-the-great-depression.md) - [1.1.2 Racism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-2-racism.md) - [1.1.3 The American Dream](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-3-the-american-dream.md) - [1.1.4 Of Mice & Men](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-4-of-mice-and-men.md) - 1.2 John Steinbeck - [1.2.1 John Steinbeck's Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-2-1-john-steinbecks-life.md) - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Context & Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-context-and-overview.md) ### 2 Plot - 2.1 Section 1 - Analysis - [2.1.1 Section 1 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-1-1-section-1-plot.md) - [2.1.2 Section 1 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-1-2-section-1-overview.md) - 2.2 Section 2 - Analysis - [2.2.1 Section 2 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-2-1-section-2-plot.md) - [2.2.2 Section 2 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-2-2-section-2-overview.md) - 2.3 Section 3 - Analysis - [2.3.1 Section 3 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-1-section-3-plot.md) - [2.3.2 Section 3 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-2-section-3-overview.md) - [2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-3-end-of-topic-test-sections-1-3.md) - 2.4 Section 4 - Analysis - [2.4.1 Section 4 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-4-1-section-4-plot.md) - [2.4.2 Section 4 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-4-2-section-4-overview.md) - 2.5 Section 5 - Analysis - [2.5.1 Section 5 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-5-1-section-5-plot.md) - [2.5.2 Section 5 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-5-2-section-5-overview.md) - 2.6 Section 6 - Analysis - [2.6.1 Section 6 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-1-section-6-plot.md) - [2.6.2 Section 6 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-2-section-6-overview.md) - [2.6.3 End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-3-end-of-topic-test-sections-4-6.md) ### 3 Key Characters - 3.1 Main Characters - [3.1.1 George](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-1-george.md) - [3.1.2 Lennie - Strength](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-2-lennie-strength.md) - [3.1.3 Lennie - Innocence & Dependence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-3-lennie-innocence-and-dependence.md) - [3.1.4 Slim](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-4-slim.md) - [3.1.5 Curley](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-5-curley.md) - [3.1.6 Curley's Wife - Flirtatious](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-6-curleys-wife-flirtatious.md) - [3.1.7 Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-7-curleys-wife-lonely-and-heartbroken.md) - [3.1.8 Crooks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-8-crooks.md) - [3.1.9 Candy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-9-candy.md) - [3.1.10 End of Topic Test - George & Lennie](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-10-end-of-topic-test-george-and-lennie.md) - [3.1.11 End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-11-end-of-topic-test-slim-curley-and-curleys-wife.md) - 3.2 Minor Characters - [3.2.1 Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-1-minor-characters.md) - [3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-2-end-of-topic-test-crooks-candy-and-others.md) ### 4 Themes - 4.1 Key Themes - [4.1.1 Hopes, Dreams & Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-1-hopes-dreams-and-reality.md) - [4.1.2 Racial Prejudice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-2-racial-prejudice.md) - [4.1.3 Loneliness & Companionship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-3-loneliness-and-companionship.md) - [4.1.4 The Weak & Strong](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-4-the-weak-and-strong.md) - [4.1.5 Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-5-women.md) - [4.1.6 End of Topic Test - Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-6-end-of-topic-test-key-themes.md) ### 5 Authorial Method - 5.1 Writing Techniques - [5.1.1 Dialogue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-1-dialogue.md) - [5.1.2 Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-2-imagery.md) - [5.1.3 Light](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-3-light.md) - [5.1.4 Sound](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-4-sound.md) - [5.1.5 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-5-symbolism.md) - [5.1.6 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-6-structure.md) - [5.1.7 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-7-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md) ### 6 Recap: Main Quotes - 6.1 Quotes per Section - [6.1.1 Section 1 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-1-section-1-quotations.md) - [6.1.2 Section 2 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-2-section-2-quotations.md) - [6.1.3 Section 3 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-3-section-3-quotations.md) - [6.1.4 Section 4 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-4-section-4-quotations.md) - [6.1.5 Section 5 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-5-section-5-quotations.md) - [6.1.6 Section 6 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-6-section-6-quotations.md) - 6.2 Text Structure - Quotes - [6.2.1 Imagery - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-1-imagery-quotations.md) - [6.2.2 Light - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-2-light-quotations.md) - [6.2.3 Sound - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-3-sound-quotations.md) - [6.2.4 Symbolism - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-4-symbolism-quotations.md)