# data[].attributes.body
One of the biggest themes of Of Mice and Men is dreams. George and Lennie talk about their dream of owning and living in a farm several times in the book. That was what people called "The American Dream" back then when there was the great depression.

George's dream was to become a landowner and work for himself instead of others. Lennie's dream... well.. was to tend to rabbits.

Each time they discuss about this dream of theirs, they become extremely excited and enthusiastic and they become even happier when they realize that this dream can be accomplished soon. This proves how much this means to them.

The author also shows how hard it is to make dreams become reality. In the book, George and Lennie have to work really hard as ranch men in order to gain enough money to buy their own land.

# data[].attributes.body
"O.K. Someday—we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and—"

"An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An' have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George."

"Why'n't you do it yourself? You know all of it."

"No…you tell it. It ain't the same if I tell it. Go on…George. How I get to tend the rabbits." (p.14)

Analysis:
In this quote, Lennie and George talk about their dream. The way that they describe it in detail makes it seem like it means everything to them and that they wanted very badly. Also, they remember it by heart which also proves that they discuss it a lot.

# data[].attributes.body
"They fell into a silence. They looked at one another, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true."

Analysis:
In this quote, Lennie and George were amazed and excited because their dream might come true with Candy's money. This proves how much the dream means to them

# data[].attributes.body
Almost every character in OMAM lives in fear. Lennie fears that George will ditch him for a better life so he tries to do his best to keep him around. Candy fears losing his dog. Curley fears losing control over his workers and pretty much everyone is scared of Curley. John Steinbeck portrays fear as something that is inevitable in life and that everyone is scared of someone or something. Even people who have authority and power like Curley have fears. Curley fears losing his status as boss because he didn't technically earn this position, he got it from his father. Curley is also scared of losing his wife because he knows that he isn't the best person and that he doesn't deserve his status and that his wife could've been much more successful if she wasn't married to him. It was mentioned that his wife couldn't been a movie star. Curley is always trying to find where she is because he fears that she is flirting with other men. Of course nobody would  be happy if their wife is flirting with other men but Curley is being way to cautious and he is suspecting too much. He also wears a glove filled with vaseline to do.. well you know what.. with his wife. This is also an act of keeping her by his side.

# data[].attributes.body
“Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”

Analysis:
In this quote, Slim says that maybe everybody in the world is scared of each other. However, not everyone knows each other in this world so it means that everyone is scared of the unknown.

# data[].attributes.body
Some characters in OMAM try to create an ideal friendship and brotherhood together to try to realize their dream. They work together to try to succeed in their mission. They want to create this ideal friendship and brotherhood because they want to have someone helping them when they need it. They want to live with each other's best interests in mind and help each other as well.

Crooks pointed out that George and Lennie's dream also makes people want to stay with each other more to help each other in order to live a better life. Candy was completely drawn in by this dream so he decided to join George and Lennie's journey.  Even as impossible as their dream might be, Crooks still decided proposed to join because he was also interested.

However, John Steinbeck also portrays the difficulty of sustaining a close friendship like that of George and Lennie's. They got seperated in the end.

# data[].attributes.body
"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."

Analysis:
This quote proves that George and Lennie stick together in order to take care of each other in their journey.

# data[].attributes.body
“A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.”

Analysis:
This quote proves that friendship is important to the characters because they will become very lonely and sick if no one is there for them.

# data[].attributes.body
Small and quick
"The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features."

# data[].attributes.body
Responsable
""God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all..."

George is responsable in taking care of Lennie because even though Lennie brings him down, he still stays with him, which is an act of responsibility.

# data[].attributes.body
Not smart
"Oh! I ain't saying he's bright.He ain't."

# data[].attributes.body
Retardation
"He was so little," said Lennie. "I was jus playin’ with him… an’ he made like he’s gonna bite me… an’ I made like I was gonna smack him … an’… an’ I done it. An’ then he was dead. She consoled him. "Don’t you worry none. He was jus’ a mutt. You can get another one easy. The whole country is fulla mutts."

# data[].attributes.body
" 'George gonna come back', Lennie reassured himself in a frightened voice"

Analysis:
This quote proves that Lennie fears George ditching him because he is extremely dependant on George.