I think Curley's Wife's shattered dreams is the most tragic because her broken dream left her on ranch as the only woman, in an unsucessful marriage and feeling very lonely. I also think it's tragic because she now can't even be happy for anyone else or encourage them with their dreams; she wants to bring them down with her. She stills dreams of being a performer and truly believes that she could have been great too, making her feel even more sad and lonely, especially since she can't share her feelings with anyone as no one really knows her. She has gone from 'hopeful performer' to 'Curley's Wife', a piece of property.
I agree with this as she now hates everything else in the world and she can't accept her own failure being her fault. Her's is the most tragic as it led to her estrangement from her family. Her shattered dreams are the most tragic as she has nobody she can trust or who is constantly there to support her, this is because she keeps up the facade of her sham marriage and is all alone on the ranch in a society of men. She tries to relate to the men but is constantly pushed away "you aint wanted here. we told you you ain't" Candy page 111. This shows that even among the weaklings she is pushed away and predujiced against making her failing and shattered dreams more tragic than anybody else's
I think that Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic because the dream was what gave Candy courage. When his dog had been shot and he was at his lowest point, the dream came and replaced all the sadness. It gave him something to live for again, the hope that he would bd able to have his own piece of land after all the years working on somebody elses land. It was also tragi because Candy was old. He knew that when he was to old to clean out the bunk houses he would be sacked an he would have no where to go. The dream, for him, was a sort of safety net, to prevent him from being sent out into the world and onto the "county". This courage is what allowed him to challenge Curley's wife, he knew that he had somewhere to do. That is why I think that Candy's shattered dream was the most tragic.
I agree with Candy's shattered dream being the most tragic. Though Curley's wife's shattered dream is also tragic, she must have had some control over her life and though she blames others, she must have had some choice in marrying Curley and leaving her dream behind. Candy however, had no control of his dream being shattering as he did nothing to ruin this dream. Though Curley's wife's dream shattering must have felt tragic for her, she still had a home, a husband and a place to belong even if she did not feel it. Candy has nowhere to call home, no family or friends he can keep forever and could loose his job too easily. I agree with Anonymous that it gave him the hope he needed after his dog was killed, but also gave him a purpose in his life; a place to belong, friends to last forever and a better job than being a cleaner. Though Curley's wife's dream is also tragic, I believe that Candy's dream being shattered is more tragic.
I think that George, Lennie and Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic because they were so close. They were the only ones that actually beleived their dream would come true and they had a proper chance. They had planned everything out and they had the money. If it wasn't for Lennie's incapability of learning from previous events, their dream would have probably come true. George dreamt of living on that farm with his best friend but instead he was forced to shoot him because it was the kindest thing to do. That dream gave Candy hope, it was what gave him motivation. He was a very weak and pathetic character before he shared the dream. For example, when his dog is being shot he allows himself to be pushed around even though he doesn't want to lose his dog. Whereas in chapter four when Curley's wife threatens Crooks, Candy stands up to her and defends Crooks. He also defends their dream because he believes in it, he believes that it will happen.It was also very tragic for Lennie because all he ever wanted was to 'tend the rabbits', it was not much to ask yet even that dream was shattered. Though this is three people they all shared one dream and I think that all of their stories combined are the most tragic in the book.
I agree that George, Lennie and Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic. This is because this is the only dream that I think is completely shattered in the timescale of the book and therefore the reader gives the most sympathy towards. Although I agree that Curley's wife has a shattered dream that is very touching as well, but she has had time to accept it. You can tell at the beginning of the book that George doesn't totally believe in their dream as he is reluctant to keep reciting the story, probably because it is sad to think of something you know you can't have. However, during the book Candy helps it become a reality, 'This thing they had never believed in was coming true.' This shattered dream also affects the most number of people: Candy - who thinks he's just 'an old man' incapable of doing anything including standing up for himself, George and Lennie - both want somewhere of their own and hate constantly moving around. They all believe that something can be different for them, when Curley's wife tells them that it won't happen they defend themselves and show true belief; this is what makes this dream the most tragic. Also it is ruined for all of them by the incapability of Lennie's mind to learn from his mistakes.
I think George's shattered dream is the most tragic, alongside Candy's, as both were ripped of their dreams when they were only in touching distance from securing all that their hopes could offer them. The fact that they only needed another month's wage before they could reach their dream simply adds to the agonizing frustrations they must've felt. I disagree with the idea that Curley's wife's situation was the most tragic because although she didn't have a relatively comfortable place to settle down to, it was a place she could call 'home'. George and Candy have been torn from the only place that could offer independence and security, so in the future, they will have to face far greater troubles than an annoying husband. Another reason why Candy and George's situation is the most tragic is because both have lost their best friends in the process. Before, George and Lennie had eachother and could support themselves, even when they were in the most dire of situations (such as in Weed.) Now they will have to fend for themselves, completely alone with the added weight of heartache. Finally, George and Candy's situation is the most tragic as they had been planning this dream so carefully and had gone into such detail; even down to feeding the rabbits with "alfafa". George had been dreaming of the farm for so long that Lennie (who can usually not remember much) even finishes his sentence for him (pg 32) because they've repeated their dream so often. The fact that not only their hopes went into this dream, but also their entire futures, emphasises how tragic their shattered dreams are.
I agree that Curley's wife has the most tragic shattered dream. Because her dream did not take place, she lost any source of having the life she had always wished for and now lives as the only woman on a ranch with Curley trying to control everywhere she goes. As well as this because her dream failed she is now in an unsuccessful marriage and seems to always feel lonely as this situation leaves her with no one. Also she now does not have any caring emotions for other people's dreams and feels theirs should be ruined like hers was. She wants this to happen so they will be where she is now and feel what she feels. Because of her loneliness she tries to have fun with the men who work on the ranch, but this always fails as they do not want to be seen with someone who could get them into trouble.
I agree that Curley's wife has the most tragic shattered dream. Because her dream did not take place, she lost any source of having the life she had always wished for and now lives as the only woman on a ranch with Curley trying to control everywhere she goes. As well as this because her dream failed she is now in an unsuccessful marriage and seems to always feel lonely as this situation leaves her with no one. Also she now does not have any caring emotions for other people's dreams and feels theirs should be ruined like hers was. She wants this to happen so they will be where she is now and feel what she feels. Because of her loneliness she tries to have fun with the men who work on the ranch, but this always fails as they do not want to be seen with someone who could get them into trouble.
In my opinion, George's shattered dream is the most tragic. Throughout the novella, he is an incredibly reserved character whose only goal is to secure his 'American Dream' with Lennie. Morally, he is tormented by his past, having exploited Lennie's mental weaknesses for his own amusement. He is emotionally frustrated by his own 'failings' and cannot admit his dependence on a mentally handicapped 'brother'. As an intelligent, pensive character, the uncertainty of his situation is a constant reminder of his 'lack of identity' and loneliness. This combination of emotions makes the American Dream incredibly important to him - he must provide for Lennie and 'find a place' in the world where he can be independent and happy, rather than a victim of his own situation. George had come so far with Lennie and formed such a close relationship with him - he had invested as much of himself in Lennie as a father would a child, which makes the outcome of this story even more tragic. The tangibility of George's dream makes it's failure even more painful - whilst the other characters had accepted their lowly positions in society, Candy's money ignited in George the hope that his dream could actually come true. This makes the brutal ending of the story even more tragic - especially for George, who had his dream torn away from him. He will always have to bear the burden of having 'failed' Lennie and himself, and live with the guilt of killing his only true companion.
I agree with Isla that George's shattered dream is the most tragic. This is because George's most important goal whilst at the ranch is to attain his own dream ranch and make a living for himself. Unfortunately, he is constantly being held back throughout the whole book by Lennie and although he doesn't mind this and loves having someone to confide in, it slows him down from achieving his dream. Lennie slows him down as he keeps getting into trouble from being incapable of controlling his physical strength and this means that they are forced to be migrant workers, never having a permanent job. On the other hand, Lennie, without realising it is also helping George achieve his dream as he is so good at his job 'Maybe he ain't bright, but I never seen such a worker' (page 64)
I agree with this because although it is also Lennie's dream too, Lennie is optimistic about the future and has no sense of realistic knowledge that their dream has been failed by many ranchers in the past. Lennie holds on to his dream and doesn't think that it won't come true. His mentality suggests that Lennie will keep going and strive for his dream although he doesn't realise the difficulties of living so happily. George however, is realistic and understands the consequences of holding his dream, knowing that it is likely to be shattered. He is constantly reminded of his dream throughout the book as Lennie is so desperate for George to retell it again and again. George's dream has been manipulated to satisfy Lennie's by rabbits and animals. George is held back by Lennie as he constantly causes trouble for them, pushing their dreams away, for example, in Weed. George was short-tempered and knew the impact Lennie had on his dream but although it was shattering before his eyes, his didn't let Lennie go. When he had to shoot Lennie, he got rid of his companion, who had been holding him back for so long but he didn't care. His dream farm had been shattered by Lennie and now Lennie has gone from his life too, so there is nothing left for him. George had lost the only thing that meant something to him and who stopped him living his dream.
I think that George's shattered dream is the most tragic because after Aunt Clara died, he made it his duty to look after Lennie for her, not knowing the burden of Lennie's actions throughout his life resulting in his failure. George is constantly held back because of Lennie's actions, due to his lack of understanding and reactions to situations, these get not only him but also George into trouble, causing them to never have a permanent job and never settling down. On the other hand they do have each other for company but i would imagine that it could get lonely and George would often despair with Lennie and their plans. George's dreams were not that clear throughout the book but it shows that he wants a place to call home on a dream farm, but constantly throughout the book when Lennie asked George to repeat what the dream farm and the rabbits would be like, Steinbeck uses adverbs to portray how George becomes less fond of the idea every time he explains it, maybe suggesting that he does not see the reality in it and feels that it is slipping away from him through every wrong action that Lennie does.
I think that Curley's wife's dream is the most tragic because throughout the novella she is portrayed in an unflattering way and the way that the ranch workers view her influences the reader's opinion of her in a negative way. Its sad that its only before her death that Steinbeck reveals the real nature of Curley's wife; a misjudged young woman stuck in a loveless marriage who also had dreams .She wants to have someone listen to her and to talk to but since all the characters in the novella , except for Lennie, see her as a sexual object and nothing else , just Curley's property. Not as a human with feelings but as a bringer of destruction .Her dreams of being an actress were shattered as soon as she married Curley. But at that time women didn't really have a big role in society , they were expected to marry and have a family, but her marriage was just an escape from her horrible mother and her life, and she has no way of getting out of it. Its also tragic because she has no-one to talk to as she is a total outcast , even if Crooks, Candy and George are also outcasts they have each other. When we are told about her dream , it makes her seem more human and we start to feel empathetic towards her .And her marriage to Curley just makes it more tragic because she gave up her dreams for him and she got nothing from it and now she's stuck in a life that could have been so much more different .
I think Curley's wife's shattered dream is the most tragic because it has made her lose all hope and belief in the fact that dreams come true. She is not a very negative and pessimistic person. Due to the fact that her dreams have been shattered she now gets joy out of crushing other peoples dreams like she does to the men on the ranch. The fact that she is in an unsuccessful marriage to an arrogant man who pays no attention to her makes me have more sympathy for her. She is the only woman on the ranch and is lonely all the time because all the men ignore her, it makes her case even worse because she has to bottle up all her feelings and thoughts as no-one will listen to her. The fact that she knows she could have been somewhere bigger, better and greater must frustrate and make her so sad with her life. She knows she could have done better for herself like the agent told her. Her mother didn't let her chase her dream and it has made her have a hatred for dreams and she has become a bitter person. Also the fact that she is unhappy makes matters even worse because she keeps thinking of where she could have been and how happy she could have been. I feel her situation is the most tragic because not only was she stopped from reaching her full potential but she is also marginalised and desperate for some attention.
I think that George's shattered dream is the most tragic as he had finally believed in the success of his plans and was looking forward to his well deserved freedom. Although George was a very independent and capable man, constantly having to reverse the damage caused by Lennie, he was also very dependent on Lennie and secretly enjoyed his company. The dream of 'living off of the fat of the land' was never solely George's dream, they were both very much a big part of this aspiration and so it was inevitable that they would fulfil it together or not at all. The fact that George and Lennie were unable to proceed with their plans together was particularly tragic as out of all of the hopeful characters, they came the closest to achieving their dream. Without Lennie, George would be unable to continue with their plan of owning a piece of land not only due to the loss of an able worker but also due to the sentimental value attached to this enterprise. Although George seemingly had few restrictions compared to the other more marginalised characters, he essentially had the largest restriction of them all which was the added complication of Lennie's behavioural difficulties.
I also agree that George's shattered dream is the most tragic because: firstly, we know that his dream was, unlike any of the others, in reach. George really believed they could do it "Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her" His eyes were full of wonder "I bet we could swing her" (pg88) He had always marvelled at the idea of being able to "liv' on the fatta the lan'" with Lennie but it had always been more of a fantasy for George. He is a level headed practical person who understood the reality of their situation and the likelihood of their dream actually coming true. When it became possible and the fact even Geroge believed they could do it made the dream seem like a new reality for them, so the fact he was able to get so close to achieving his dream with Lennie and Candy and that he then had to kill both Lennie and his dream alongside him makes his loss all the more tragic. Secondly shooting Lennie was obviously another major loss for George and even though George is capable of going out and achieving their dream by himself I don't think he could bring himself to do it. George's role in life was to look after Lennie, not only did Lennie need Geroge but George also, probably without realising it, need Lennie too. George blamed Lennie for all of his failures and after Lennnie's death he would have to take responsibility for himself. Killing Lennie would have been very difficult for George as they are basically like brothers, Geroge would have to live with the knowledge and guilt of his actions. George would probably feel that now their was nowhere for his life to go, he has no purpse and soon he will just be another migrant worker travelling around on his own. He went from having so much hope and potential of a happy future to now a very unhappy lonely life, which is why his shattered dreaam is the most tragic.
I think that the most tragic shattered dream is George and Lennie's American dream. This is because they plan everything so carefully, making the readers believe in the dream as much as they do, yet because of unforeseen circumstances, it fails. More than any other shattered dream in the book, Steinbeck describes G and L's dream house so many times that readers actually expect it to happen. Also, because of Candy's input, the dream is realistic and likely to happen, and all the characters in the book believe in it's success as well. Therefore, it causes the most amount of sadness when it fails.
In my opinion, George, Lennie and Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic because they were to closest to achieving their dream, they were only a month's wages away from affording their plot of land they had picked out. Also the detail that their dream goes into in the book is the most out of all the others character's, "...what we're gonna have in the garden...rabbits in the cages...rain in the winter and the stove...how thick the cream is on the milk." The reader becomes the most sympathetic towards them as they hear about it the most, so when it is shattered it becomes the most tragic to the reader as they have come to know about these characters and their dream the best. Also, the way in which their dream is shattered is the most tragic because it is ended by multiple deaths. Finally, it is the only dream that is shattered with in the novella. Curley's wife dream was shattered before the novella begins and Crook's dream is shattered before as well.
I think Curley's Wife's shattered dreams is the most tragic because her broken dream left her on ranch as the only woman, in an unsucessful marriage and feeling very lonely. I also think it's tragic because she now can't even be happy for anyone else or encourage them with their dreams; she wants to bring them down with her. She stills dreams of being a performer and truly believes that she could have been great too, making her feel even more sad and lonely, especially since she can't share her feelings with anyone as no one really knows her. She has gone from 'hopeful performer' to 'Curley's Wife', a piece of property.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this as she now hates everything else in the world and she can't accept her own failure being her fault. Her's is the most tragic as it led to her estrangement from her family. Her shattered dreams are the most tragic as she has nobody she can trust or who is constantly there to support her, this is because she keeps up the facade of her sham marriage and is all alone on the ranch in a society of men. She tries to relate to the men but is constantly pushed away "you aint wanted here. we told you you ain't" Candy page 111. This shows that even among the weaklings she is pushed away and predujiced against making her failing and shattered dreams more tragic than anybody else's
DeleteI think that Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic because the dream was what gave Candy courage. When his dog had been shot and he was at his lowest point, the dream came and replaced all the sadness. It gave him something to live for again, the hope that he would bd able to have his own piece of land after all the years working on somebody elses land. It was also tragi because Candy was old. He knew that when he was to old to clean out the bunk houses he would be sacked an he would have no where to go. The dream, for him, was a sort of safety net, to prevent him from being sent out into the world and onto the "county". This courage is what allowed him to challenge Curley's wife, he knew that he had somewhere to do. That is why I think that Candy's shattered dream was the most tragic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Candy's shattered dream being the most tragic. Though Curley's wife's shattered dream is also tragic, she must have had some control over her life and though she blames others, she must have had some choice in marrying Curley and leaving her dream behind. Candy however, had no control of his dream being shattering as he did nothing to ruin this dream. Though Curley's wife's dream shattering must have felt tragic for her, she still had a home, a husband and a place to belong even if she did not feel it. Candy has nowhere to call home, no family or friends he can keep forever and could loose his job too easily. I agree with Anonymous that it gave him the hope he needed after his dog was killed, but also gave him a purpose in his life; a place to belong, friends to last forever and a better job than being a cleaner. Though Curley's wife's dream is also tragic, I believe that Candy's dream being shattered is more tragic.
DeleteI think that George, Lennie and Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic because they were so close. They were the only ones that actually beleived their dream would come true and they had a proper chance. They had planned everything out and they had the money. If it wasn't for Lennie's incapability of learning from previous events, their dream would have probably come true. George dreamt of living on that farm with his best friend but instead he was forced to shoot him because it was the kindest thing to do. That dream gave Candy hope, it was what gave him motivation. He was a very weak and pathetic character before he shared the dream. For example, when his dog is being shot he allows himself to be pushed around even though he doesn't want to lose his dog. Whereas in chapter four when Curley's wife threatens Crooks, Candy stands up to her and defends Crooks. He also defends their dream because he believes in it, he believes that it will happen.It was also very tragic for Lennie because all he ever wanted was to 'tend the rabbits', it was not much to ask yet even that dream was shattered. Though this is three people they all shared one dream and I think that all of their stories combined are the most tragic in the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree that George, Lennie and Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic. This is because this is the only dream that I think is completely shattered in the timescale of the book and therefore the reader gives the most sympathy towards. Although I agree that Curley's wife has a shattered dream that is very touching as well, but she has had time to accept it. You can tell at the beginning of the book that George doesn't totally believe in their dream as he is reluctant to keep reciting the story, probably because it is sad to think of something you know you can't have. However, during the book Candy helps it become a reality, 'This thing they had never believed in was coming true.' This shattered dream also affects the most number of people: Candy - who thinks he's just 'an old man' incapable of doing anything including standing up for himself, George and Lennie - both want somewhere of their own and hate constantly moving around. They all believe that something can be different for them, when Curley's wife tells them that it won't happen they defend themselves and show true belief; this is what makes this dream the most tragic. Also it is ruined for all of them by the incapability of Lennie's mind to learn from his mistakes.
DeleteI think George's shattered dream is the most tragic, alongside Candy's, as both were ripped of their dreams when they were only in touching distance from securing all that their hopes could offer them. The fact that they only needed another month's wage before they could reach their dream simply adds to the agonizing frustrations they must've felt. I disagree with the idea that Curley's wife's situation was the most tragic because although she didn't have a relatively comfortable place to settle down to, it was a place she could call 'home'. George and Candy have been torn from the only place that could offer independence and security, so in the future, they will have to face far greater troubles than an annoying husband.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason why Candy and George's situation is the most tragic is because both have lost their best friends in the process. Before, George and Lennie had eachother and could support themselves, even when they were in the most dire of situations (such as in Weed.) Now they will have to fend for themselves, completely alone with the added weight of heartache.
Finally, George and Candy's situation is the most tragic as they had been planning this dream so carefully and had gone into such detail; even down to feeding the rabbits with "alfafa". George had been dreaming of the farm for so long that Lennie (who can usually not remember much) even finishes his sentence for him (pg 32) because they've repeated their dream so often. The fact that not only their hopes went into this dream, but also their entire futures, emphasises how tragic their shattered dreams are.
I agree that Curley's wife has the most tragic shattered dream. Because her dream did not take place, she lost any source of having the life she had always wished for and now lives as the only woman on a ranch with Curley trying to control everywhere she goes. As well as this because her dream failed she is now in an unsuccessful marriage and seems to always feel lonely as this situation leaves her with no one. Also she now does not have any caring emotions for other people's dreams and feels theirs should be ruined like hers was. She wants this to happen so they will be where she is now and feel what she feels. Because of her loneliness she tries to have fun with the men who work on the ranch, but this always fails as they do not want to be seen with someone who could get them into trouble.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Curley's wife has the most tragic shattered dream. Because her dream did not take place, she lost any source of having the life she had always wished for and now lives as the only woman on a ranch with Curley trying to control everywhere she goes. As well as this because her dream failed she is now in an unsuccessful marriage and seems to always feel lonely as this situation leaves her with no one. Also she now does not have any caring emotions for other people's dreams and feels theirs should be ruined like hers was. She wants this to happen so they will be where she is now and feel what she feels. Because of her loneliness she tries to have fun with the men who work on the ranch, but this always fails as they do not want to be seen with someone who could get them into trouble.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, George's shattered dream is the most tragic. Throughout the novella, he is an incredibly reserved character whose only goal is to secure his 'American Dream' with Lennie. Morally, he is tormented by his past, having exploited Lennie's mental weaknesses for his own amusement. He is emotionally frustrated by his own 'failings' and cannot admit his dependence on a mentally handicapped 'brother'. As an intelligent, pensive character, the uncertainty of his situation is a constant reminder of his 'lack of identity' and loneliness. This combination of emotions makes the American Dream incredibly important to him - he must provide for Lennie and 'find a place' in the world where he can be independent and happy, rather than a victim of his own situation. George had come so far with Lennie and formed such a close relationship with him - he had invested as much of himself in Lennie as a father would a child, which makes the outcome of this story even more tragic. The tangibility of George's dream makes it's failure even more painful - whilst the other characters had accepted their lowly positions in society, Candy's money ignited in George the hope that his dream could actually come true. This makes the brutal ending of the story even more tragic - especially for George, who had his dream torn away from him. He will always have to bear the burden of having 'failed' Lennie and himself, and live with the guilt of killing his only true companion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Isla that George's shattered dream is the most tragic. This is because George's most important goal whilst at the ranch is to attain his own dream ranch and make a living for himself. Unfortunately, he is constantly being held back throughout the whole book by Lennie and although he doesn't mind this and loves having someone to confide in, it slows him down from achieving his dream. Lennie slows him down as he keeps getting into trouble from being incapable of controlling his physical strength and this means that they are forced to be migrant workers, never having a permanent job. On the other hand, Lennie, without realising it is also helping George achieve his dream as he is so good at his job 'Maybe he ain't bright, but I never seen such a worker' (page 64)
DeleteI agree with this because although it is also Lennie's dream too, Lennie is optimistic about the future and has no sense of realistic knowledge that their dream has been failed by many ranchers in the past. Lennie holds on to his dream and doesn't think that it won't come true. His mentality suggests that Lennie will keep going and strive for his dream although he doesn't realise the difficulties of living so happily. George however, is realistic and understands the consequences of holding his dream, knowing that it is likely to be shattered. He is constantly reminded of his dream throughout the book as Lennie is so desperate for George to retell it again and again. George's dream has been manipulated to satisfy Lennie's by rabbits and animals. George is held back by Lennie as he constantly causes trouble for them, pushing their dreams away, for example, in Weed. George was short-tempered and knew the impact Lennie had on his dream but although it was shattering before his eyes, his didn't let Lennie go. When he had to shoot Lennie, he got rid of his companion, who had been holding him back for so long but he didn't care. His dream farm had been shattered by Lennie and now Lennie has gone from his life too, so there is nothing left for him. George had lost the only thing that meant something to him and who stopped him living his dream.
DeleteI think that George's shattered dream is the most tragic because after Aunt Clara died, he made it his duty to look after Lennie for her, not knowing the burden of Lennie's actions throughout his life resulting in his failure. George is constantly held back because of Lennie's actions, due to his lack of understanding and reactions to situations, these get not only him but also George into trouble, causing them to never have a permanent job and never settling down. On the other hand they do have each other for company but i would imagine that it could get lonely and George would often despair with Lennie and their plans. George's dreams were not that clear throughout the book but it shows that he wants a place to call home on a dream farm, but constantly throughout the book when Lennie asked George to repeat what the dream farm and the rabbits would be like, Steinbeck uses adverbs to portray how George becomes less fond of the idea every time he explains it, maybe suggesting that he does not see the reality in it and feels that it is slipping away from him through every wrong action that Lennie does.
ReplyDeleteI think that Curley's wife's dream is the most tragic because throughout the novella she is portrayed in an unflattering way and the way that the ranch workers view her influences the reader's opinion of her in a negative way. Its sad that its only before her death that Steinbeck reveals the real nature of Curley's wife; a misjudged young woman stuck in a loveless marriage who also had dreams .She wants to have someone listen to her and to talk to but since all the characters in the novella , except for Lennie, see her as a sexual object and nothing else , just Curley's property. Not as a human with feelings but as a bringer of destruction .Her dreams of being an actress were shattered as soon as she married Curley. But at that time women didn't really have a big role in society , they were expected to marry and have a family, but her marriage was just an escape from her horrible mother and her life, and she has no way of getting out of it. Its also tragic because she has no-one to talk to as she is a total outcast , even if Crooks, Candy and George are also outcasts they have each other. When we are told about her dream , it makes her seem more human and we start to feel empathetic towards her .And her marriage to Curley just makes it more tragic because she gave up her dreams for him and she got nothing from it and now she's stuck in a life that could have been so much more different .
ReplyDeleteI think Curley's wife's shattered dream is the most tragic because it has made her lose all hope and belief in the fact that dreams come true. She is not a very negative and pessimistic person. Due to the fact that her dreams have been shattered she now gets joy out of crushing other peoples dreams like she does to the men on the ranch. The fact that she is in an unsuccessful marriage to an arrogant man who pays no attention to her makes me have more sympathy for her. She is the only woman on the ranch and is lonely all the time because all the men ignore her, it makes her case even worse because she has to bottle up all her feelings and thoughts as no-one will listen to her. The fact that she knows she could have been somewhere bigger, better and greater must frustrate and make her so sad with her life. She knows she could have done better for herself like the agent told her. Her mother didn't let her chase her dream and it has made her have a hatred for dreams and she has become a bitter person. Also the fact that she is unhappy makes matters even worse because she keeps thinking of where she could have been and how happy she could have been. I feel her situation is the most tragic because not only was she stopped from reaching her full potential but she is also marginalised and desperate for some attention.
ReplyDeleteI think that George's shattered dream is the most tragic as he had finally believed in the success of his plans and was looking forward to his well deserved freedom. Although George was a very independent and capable man, constantly having to reverse the damage caused by Lennie, he was also very dependent on Lennie and secretly enjoyed his company. The dream of 'living off of the fat of the land' was never solely George's dream, they were both very much a big part of this aspiration and so it was inevitable that they would fulfil it together or not at all. The fact that George and Lennie were unable to proceed with their plans together was particularly tragic as out of all of the hopeful characters, they came the closest to achieving their dream. Without Lennie, George would be unable to continue with their plan of owning a piece of land not only due to the loss of an able worker but also due to the sentimental value attached to this enterprise. Although George seemingly had few restrictions compared to the other more marginalised characters, he essentially had the largest restriction of them all which was the added complication of Lennie's behavioural difficulties.
DeleteI also agree that George's shattered dream is the most tragic because: firstly, we know that his dream was, unlike any of the others, in reach. George really believed they could do it "Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her" His eyes were full of wonder "I bet we could swing her" (pg88) He had always marvelled at the idea of being able to "liv' on the fatta the lan'" with Lennie but it had always been more of a fantasy for George. He is a level headed practical person who understood the reality of their situation and the likelihood of their dream actually coming true. When it became possible and the fact even Geroge believed they could do it made the dream seem like a new reality for them, so the fact he was able to get so close to achieving his dream with Lennie and Candy and that he then had to kill both Lennie and his dream alongside him makes his loss all the more tragic. Secondly shooting Lennie was obviously another major loss for George and even though George is capable of going out and achieving their dream by himself I don't think he could bring himself to do it. George's role in life was to look after Lennie, not only did Lennie need Geroge but George also, probably without realising it, need Lennie too. George blamed Lennie for all of his failures and after Lennnie's death he would have to take responsibility for himself. Killing Lennie would have been very difficult for George as they are basically like brothers, Geroge would have to live with the knowledge and guilt of his actions. George would probably feel that now their was nowhere for his life to go, he has no purpse and soon he will just be another migrant worker travelling around on his own. He went from having so much hope and potential of a happy future to now a very unhappy lonely life, which is why his shattered dreaam is the most tragic.
DeleteI think that the most tragic shattered dream is George and Lennie's American dream. This is because they plan everything so carefully, making the readers believe in the dream as much as they do, yet because of unforeseen circumstances, it fails. More than any other shattered dream in the book, Steinbeck describes G and L's dream house so many times that readers actually expect it to happen. Also, because of Candy's input, the dream is realistic and likely to happen, and all the characters in the book believe in it's success as well. Therefore, it causes the most amount of sadness when it fails.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, George, Lennie and Candy's shattered dream is the most tragic because they were to closest to achieving their dream, they were only a month's wages away from affording their plot of land they had picked out. Also the detail that their dream goes into in the book is the most out of all the others character's, "...what we're gonna have in the garden...rabbits in the cages...rain in the winter and the stove...how thick the cream is on the milk." The reader becomes the most sympathetic towards them as they hear about it the most, so when it is shattered it becomes the most tragic to the reader as they have come to know about these characters and their dream the best. Also, the way in which their dream is shattered is the most tragic because it is ended by multiple deaths. Finally, it is the only dream that is shattered with in the novella. Curley's wife dream was shattered before the novella begins and Crook's dream is shattered before as well.
ReplyDelete