Universal Theme: Hopes and Dreams don't always come true

"Of Mice and Men"

"Lennie begged, "'Le's do it now. Le's get that place now.'" "'Sure, right now. I gotta. We gotta.'" And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering."

This is an explanation of why hopes and dreams don't always come true. George and Lennie both wanted a ranch together, but that did not go as planed and the only option was to kill Lennie. Steinbeck wants you to know that when your hopes and dreams die, you don't have that many options left.

"Tularecit"Once he stopped and called, My father, I have come home, and he heard no answer. Into squirrel holes he whispered, Where are you, my people? It is only Tularecito come home. But there was no reply...Although he heard nothing, he was positive that he was nearing them. Only when the daylight came did he give up and retire into the bushes to sleep."

How this relates the theme beacuse Tularecito was determine to find his à"people" but he succeeded. Steinbeck said wants us to know when that when your hope a and dreams are gone just to give up.

"The Chrysanthemums"

"...he said. "I'll do like you told me; I'll go back and catch the Salinas road." "Mind," she called, "if you're long in getting there, keep the sand damp." "Sand, ma'am? …Sand? Oh, sure. You mean around the chrysanthemums. Sure I will." He clucked his tongue... She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly—like an old woman

Elisa wanted to give the tinker her Chrysanthemums but when he didn't care for them and her heart was broken. Steinbeck wants us to know that not every one will like will understand how you feel.

Modern Relation

Forbes says that only 8% achieve there New Years resolution. This isn't something you say and never do, you commit to this. People hope and dream that they will reach but most people don't.