The Scottish poet Robert Burns once wrote, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft aglay." He wrote that no matter how much plans are carefully laid, things can go wrong. This statement is at the root of the novel. It foreshadows the consequences of two companions' dreams. They both have a wish to fulfill to change their living. However, the sad thing is that no matter how hard they try to fulfill …showed first 75 words of 612 total…

…showed last 75 words of 612 total…course, he never directly harms George. It's his actions that do. The sad thing is that not only did George kill Lennie, but he also killed his dreams. Now, he will have to face a life of loneliness and hopelessness. Steinbeck implies that one must sometimes give up their dreams just to survive, not the easiest thing to do. References: http://www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us/mice.html http://www.novelguide.com/ofmiceandmen/themeanalysis.html