Of Mice and Men- Utopian Society

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows the Rationalists' beliefs in a Utopian Society.  The idea that they could create a Utopian society was a major belief during this time period that many people strove to achieve. The Utopian society that people wanted to create would be a perfect place for everyone, where there would be no hungry, dying, or sick people would be what some people wanted to see in a Utopian society.  Others may just want to see everyone happy, and themselves living with the people that they love, doing exactly what they wanted to do.  The idea of a Utopian society would change depending on what people wanted in life.  In Of Mice and Men, the idea of a Utopian society was based purely off of what the main characters dreamed of.

In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie have created their dream life.  They dream of a farm where they would have plenty of money, their own cattle and chickens, and plenty of rabbits for Lennie.  This dream is what they would want in their own Utopian society.  This Utopian society was what motivated them to keep going and not give up on each other and themselves.  They believed that this was a dream that could be accomplished if they did not give up and kept working towards that life.  This Utopian society was built off two other major Rationalist beliefs.  The belief that if they work hard, they will be rewarded, and the belief that they had the freedom and ability to move around socially support the Utopian society.  George and Lennie believed that if they worked hard, the would be able to move up socially, and therefor reach their Utopian society.

Of Mice and Men- hard work

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is an example of hard work.  Hard work is one of the major beliefs during the Rationalism time period.  Hard work was seen as a very important aspect of a person's daily life.  The people believed that the hard work of a person would result in them being rewarded later on in their life, or in their life after death. This is a very strong belief that kept many people working and not giving up.  It is especially important in Of Mice and Men because it is one of the main beliefs that keeps the characters going and gives them hope.  Hard work is shown numerous times throughout the book.

In Of Mice and Men, hard work is a part of the characters' daily lives.  The main characters, George and Lennie, have to work on a farm so that they can be payed, and one day buy their own farm.  The work that they do on the farm along with all the other characters is an example of hard work.  The belief that they would be reward later on in their lives was shown through their goals and dreams.  Lennie and George dreamed of working hard enough to get enough money to buy their own farm.  This shows that they believed that all their hard work would pay off in the end.  They did not think that this was an unreachable goal, but a goal that would be given to them as a reward of all their hard work.  George and Lennie were not the only ones that believed that they would one day be rewarded.  The other workers on the farm different goals and dreams, but the same idea kept them working, because they realized that they would be rewarded for all their hard work at the end of their lives.

Of Mice and Men- Human Perfectibility

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is an example of Human Perfectibility.  Human Perfectibility is one of the major beliefs during the Rationalism time period.  Human Perfectibility is a belief in social mobility, and the freedom every person has to work to change their current social position. Human Perfectibility was very important to the Rationalists thinkers because it gave everyone in the community, regardless of class, equal playing ground in which they would be able to maneuver freely between different social classes.  The Rationalists believed that a person could improve his situation of birth, economy, society, religion, which meant that every person had the opportunity to achieve greatness. This is belief is shown numerous times throughout Of Mice and Men.

Human Perfectibility is portrayed through the characters throughout the entire book.  One example of this is in the story that George constantly tells to Lennie about their future life together on their own ranch.  George tells Lennie how one day, they will have enough money to buy their own ranch, raise their own cattle and chicken, and Lennie can raise his own rabbits.  This dream the George and Lennie share show the belief that they will be able to get out of their current state working for other farmers and into a better life position in which they will have their own farm and be able to live off the land themselves.  The belief in Human Perfectibility is also shown through the acceptance of this dream by Candy.  When George and Lennie tell him about their dream and how they plan on achieving it, Candy instantly jumps on the idea and agrees to participate.  The fact that he was not hesitant to agree or thought that it was an impossible hope show that social mobility was a common occurrence during this time, and was not seen as impossible.