The 1930's novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck during the Great Depression, is based on the struggle of life. Whether the life is that of a mouse, or that of a man, the endeavours to dream, hope, and merely exist, still remain. Our engagement with the characters in the novel allows us as a reader to understand particular issues relevant in the text. The characters induce the reader to deal with many universal themes and issues that can be transposed through both time and context such as the theme of hope. Through the character of Lennie, Of Mice and Men deals with the issue, "hope brings happiness", a universal understanding that the reader can engage with and respond to, because of how Lennie exhibits the topic in the text.
A major aspect of Lennie's character, which we as a reader can engage with, is his inability to be happy unless he has something to look forward to. Lennie, like most people in today's society, cannot go through his life without some incentive.…
