Dream Formula

What does someone’s dream do to them? Every person has a goal in life. So how does it help them? Each of us always tries to live up to their goal, and this kind of behavior draws many good qualities toward the person who has the dream. In the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, a common goal can be found shared between the characters. As each tries to reach that goal, they do things that promote good in them. Steinbeck shows that a person’s dreams create an attitude that can lead a person through life, help them make good decisions, and create alliances that last.

A person can be led through life by the dreams that they have. People try to reach their goals, so they must act in specific ways to do so. These activities help a person make the right decisions as life goes on. When George and Lennie are at the pond, George tells Lennie about the dream. He explains, “Guys like us… work up a stake and then… blow [it off]… With us it ain’t like that. We got a future… Someday… we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs…” (15). George and Lennie are so into this dream that they try to follow its every concept. They let this dream guide the life they live like many let theirs. When George and Lennie and Candy are talking about getting a place, George realizes, “Look, if me an’ Lennie work a month an’ don’t spen’ nothing, we’ll have a hundred dollars. That’d be four fifty. I bet we could swing her for that” (65) Now that George and Lennie and Candy know almost for sure their dream will come true, they will work much harder towards achieving it. Now that they have it planned out, it will be much easier for them to follow their dream. George and Lennie have a common goal, and this goal can pave the way for their futures.

In addition to leading them though life, a dream can help people make good decisions. When there is something one must accomplish, one has to make important choices. These choices must be similar to the goodness of the dream. George and Lennie have quite a good dream, so they must make good decisions as well. When George and Lennie are talking in the bunkroom, Lennie understands, “If I get in any trouble, you ain’t gonna let me tend the rabbits” (33). Because Lennie knows this truth, he will try as hard as he can to not get into any trouble for fear of not accomplishing the dream. He knows that if the dream does not come true, all the begging and hard work that he has done will be for nothing. Thus, he will avoid doing bad things because he wishes to accomplish his goal. After Curley’s Wife’s brief visit, George once again warns Lennie “Don’t you ever take a look at that bitch… You leave her be” (36-37). Lennie now knows that if he ever messes with Curley’s Wife, George will do something extremely unfavorable. Thus, he will strive even more to not come into contact with members of the ranch, all of whom could get Lennie in trouble. George decides he des not want to lose the dream, so he tries to prevent this by telling Lennie, “Now, look – I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we’re set. Ya got that?” (6). George knows that if Lennie fumbles and says something out of place so that the boss will not let them work, their dream is ruined. If he does everything by himself, however, then Lennie cannot mess up the dream, which would increase their chance of “survival”. This dream that George and Lennie share creates a fear of doing things that will lead to the destruction of the dream, which leaves only the good actions behind.

On top of making good decisions and having a life outline, a dream can create many worthy friends for those who follow it. If a dream that a person has is really worthwhile, that person can share the dream with others. If all cooperate to accomplish the objective, strong bonds can be formed between the dreamers. Candy hears George and Lennie talk about the dream they share, and attempts to persuade the two to let him in, and suggests, “S’pose I went in with you guys… I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How’d that be?” (65). Candy realizes that he has a chance to not only to find a place to belong to, but that he can make two new wonderful friends if he can join this dream. He knows that these two friends are worthwhile and that they won’t let you down if you are not what they had expected. Crooks, who is also very lonely, tries to get his part in the dream. He cautiously asks Candy as they are talking in his barn, “.... If you.... guys want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come and lend a hand” (84). Crooks knows that having people that actually care for you is a wonderful thing. So he decides that asking such a daring question is worth the risk if the upside is joining in such companionship. Another example of this benefit is when George is retelling the dream to Lennie. He explains, “If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.” To which Lennie excitedly adds, “But not us! An’ why? Because.... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” George and Lennie have been sharing the same dream for quite a long time, so their relationship is extremely close. They know exactly how everything is going to turn out for them, and can only see a better relationship resulting from its accomplishment. Sharing a dream is one of the most important things in friendship.

A dream can help a person live life to the fullest, make good choices and have many great friends. If a person has a dream in their life, the dream can become one of the primary factors that affect their way of thinking. All the good qualities that come with a dream are not comparable to anything. If one thing can be said, then it is this: a dream makes a person much happier.