George: Hey, your name wouldn't happen to be Jack would it.
Jack: Why yes, yes it is...
George: I heard what happened on that deserted island...were those stories true? How did you justify the killing of several other boys? The reason I ask is not to put you on the spot, but to help me mentally justify what I did to someone close to me?
Jack: How did you hear about that?! I'd rather not talk to much about it, it's a sore subject! Why what did you do that is bothering you so much?
George: Well... I... I...put a bullet through my brother (Lennie's) head the other day but it had to be done. He was going to be killed either way so I did the only thing I could think of to protect my life and to end it quickly for him. You see he had a slight disability where he wasn't completely right in the head and he had this passion for touching/holding onto soft things. When he was little this was never a big deal but as he got older and much stronger he began to lose touch with how strong he really was. As Lennie got older his love for soft things grew but the way he handled them became disasterous. Lennie was so strong that many of the things he held onto would be killed under the pressure from his strong hands.
Jack: Wait, just because he had a disability and a bizzar passion, you thought you could kill him?!
George: Hold up one second Mr. Perfect! You haven't heard the whole story yet. Well as i was saying he had this desire to touch and squeeze the life out of soft things. At first, he only killed rats, rabbits, and other small animals until one day he killed a puppy that belonged to the owner of a farm we both worked on. Not only did he kill that puppy he killed the that man's wife without realizing what he had done. I did what I had to, he was a dangerous man.
Jack: Yeah, I guess but he was still your brother.
George: How can you say that, look what you did in your past. You were in charge of a hostile group of boys that killed several other innocent boys and were in the attempts to kill Ralph too.
Jack: Hey! Stop there! Thats completely different! I was doing all I could to protect my followers from the beast while also occuping them with pig hunts. I was a good leader who looked out for his one, I didn't kill them because they messed up once.
George: You killed innocent people! How can you say thats justifiable! I did something that had to be done in order to protect others down the road. Plus, he was going to be killed anyway and probably in a worse way! You know what I don't care what you say! Were done here! Good Day! Sorry I wasted your time!
Jack: Whatever! Go on a live your life knowing you killed your own brother!
(Both Jack and George turn and head their own seperate ways).
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Kristy Hoffman 4th hour
Kristy Hoffman
4th hour
Willy: At least you work hard and know where you are going in life. I have sons
that don't respect me and the sacrifices I've made for them.
George: I settled here for the opportunity it offers me and the chances I get to make something of myself and make my life worth while.
Willy: My sons Biff and Happy just don't seem to get the concept to be successful. I keep trying to pound in their heads that in order to be successful you have to work hard and push that little more even when you feel like giving up.
George: Yeah I work hard on the farm, but I am appreciative of what I can do and accomplish with my life.
Willy: I have made a lot of sacrifices for my sons and they don't seem to acknowledge it. I drive a lot of miles to put food on the table for my family and they don't even care. I have a very loyal wife, Linda, who stands behind me and tries to get the boys to listen, but they won't here us.
George: Yeah I know what you mean.
Willy: I want my boys to be successful and have a good life, but in order to do that you have to have your priorities set and in place. You have to be willing to work hard and strive for the goals that you have set for yourself to become a better person. I am pretty sure my sons want to have a good life they just do not want to work for it. They want to take the easiest way out and it is very stressful and frustrating for me.
George: Yeah I have a similar situation with Lennie. I wanted him to have a job on farm and told the employer he is a good worker and all you need to do is put him to work, but they were a little bit apprehensive about giving him a job because he is a little different.
Willy: Basically I think human beings just want the best for the people they love and care about and it kills us when they do not want the same thing. Or when those people do not take advantage of what is right in front of them until it hits them in the face, but by then it may be too late which is unfortunate.
George: I agree with you. Thanks for talking with me it was nice to have someone going through the same thing talk about. Thanks
4th hour
Willy: At least you work hard and know where you are going in life. I have sons
that don't respect me and the sacrifices I've made for them.
George: I settled here for the opportunity it offers me and the chances I get to make something of myself and make my life worth while.
Willy: My sons Biff and Happy just don't seem to get the concept to be successful. I keep trying to pound in their heads that in order to be successful you have to work hard and push that little more even when you feel like giving up.
George: Yeah I work hard on the farm, but I am appreciative of what I can do and accomplish with my life.
Willy: I have made a lot of sacrifices for my sons and they don't seem to acknowledge it. I drive a lot of miles to put food on the table for my family and they don't even care. I have a very loyal wife, Linda, who stands behind me and tries to get the boys to listen, but they won't here us.
George: Yeah I know what you mean.
Willy: I want my boys to be successful and have a good life, but in order to do that you have to have your priorities set and in place. You have to be willing to work hard and strive for the goals that you have set for yourself to become a better person. I am pretty sure my sons want to have a good life they just do not want to work for it. They want to take the easiest way out and it is very stressful and frustrating for me.
George: Yeah I have a similar situation with Lennie. I wanted him to have a job on farm and told the employer he is a good worker and all you need to do is put him to work, but they were a little bit apprehensive about giving him a job because he is a little different.
Willy: Basically I think human beings just want the best for the people they love and care about and it kills us when they do not want the same thing. Or when those people do not take advantage of what is right in front of them until it hits them in the face, but by then it may be too late which is unfortunate.
George: I agree with you. Thanks for talking with me it was nice to have someone going through the same thing talk about. Thanks
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
MITCH RAECK FINAL CONVERSATION- CAPT. BEATTY and GEORGE
(We find George and CAPTAIN BEATTY sitting in a comfortable room, with a small coffee table in front of them. There is another, smaller seat between them. BEATTY and GEORGE have glasses of water in front of them. THE MODERATOR walks in and sits in the open chair. He speaks :)
MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, I just wanted to thank you both right now for joining our little chat. This will be rather brief as I’m sure you are both very busy.
BEATTY: Yes. I have a fire station to run, after all.
MODERATOR: Well then, let’s get started. An often heard phrase is “ignorance is bliss.” Do you think this phrase is true?
GEORGE: Yes I do. My buddy, Lennie, was like that. He wasn’t all that smart, but he was happy. Probably the happiest guy I ever met. And he didn’t know nothing about the world or people or stuff like that.
BEATTY: I’m going to have to agree with my counterpart, here. In my society, books are illegal, and therefore, knowledge is illegal. The citizens are quite content with their blissful ignorance. They don’t know anything, but still are enjoying themselves.
GEORGE: Yeah, Lennie, unlike me, didn’t understand how the world worked, but he sure was happy. He died a happy man. Something a lot of us can’t say. My life hasn’t seemed that great, and I think what I know about the world and people have something to do with it.
BEATTY: You’re on to something. Matthew Prior said “From ignorance our comfort flows. The only wretched are the wise.”
MODERATOR: Very true, very true. Now, another question: Do you enjoy solitude, or “alone time?”
GEORGE: You know, I spent a lot of time with Lennie, so I didn’t have a whole lot of “me time,” but when he wasn’t around, I usually kept to myself. I’m always playing solitaire. I guess you could say that was my alone time.
BEATTY: I’ve always been a solitary man. Ever since I was growing up, it’s just been me and my books. Of course, once they embargoed books, I had to start interacting with people, but I’ve always taken advantage of my time alone.
GEORGE: I’ve never really designated time for just me. I’ve always had to keep one eye on Lennie, making sure he isn’t getting into trouble.
BEATTY: What is it with you and him? Why do you have so much compassion for another person when you aren’t even related?
GEORGE: Well, I never really had a lot of friends, and his Aunt Clara always wanted me to look after him, so when she died, he just kind of started following me around. I really took a liking to him.
BEATTY: I see…
GEORGE: Well, it turned out that he couldn’t live without me, and I couldn’t live without him. Jeez, he was one in a million. (He starts getting choked up…)
BEATTY: Ah, yes. You two were total opposites, yet you needed to be there for each other. Henry Adams once said “One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim.”
GEORGE: I know all I needed was Lennie. (Sighs)
MODERATOR: Well, growing off from that, here’s another question: Do you think that it’s right for someone to die for the greater good?
(GEORGE is silent.)
BEATTY: Well, if it’s a rule breaker, of course. Laws are there for a reason, and if someone gets in the way of those laws, they must be punished.
GEORGE: (Exasperated sigh) Lennie was a really great guy. He had to die. I couldn’t have him die afraid, or confused. In the end, it was for his own good. It was for my own good.
BEATTY: Well, I had to make a tough decision like that, too. Mind you, it wasn’t over the death of my own living best friend, but it was over the death of my figurative best friends: Books. When books were declared illegal, I had to make a difficult decision, but the law is the law. I didn’t want to be a lawbreaking hooligan. So I decided to give up on my passion of learning.
(Slight pause)
How, might I ask, did Lennie die?
GEORGE: (fighting off tears) Well, he got in some trouble, he accidently killed a higher-up’s wife, and they were coming to get him. We had a meeting spot for when he would eventually get into trouble, and I found him there. He was pretty scared. So I reminded him of our dream to own our own farm… (breaks, takes a deep breath) … and how he got to feed the rabbits. He was happy… and then I shot him in the back of the head (sobs). My best friend… (continues to sob)
BEATTY: I’m sorry I asked.
GEORGE: (regaining composure) But… it was for his own good. Like I said, he died a happy man.
MODERATOR: All right, thank you George. It must be very difficult to bring up that topic.
GEORGE: It’s all right, I guess it’s good for me to get this all out.
MODERATOR: All right then, moving along. Here is a rather different question: Do you consider yourself a selfish person? Did you do what you did for your own selfish gains?
(BEATTY remains silent, introspecting.)
GEORGE: Of course not, didn’t you hear my whole, uh, what was the word? Oh yeah- soliloquy over there? I did it for Lennie’s own good, and it sure as hell didn’t benefit me.
BEATTY: Are you sure, George? Ayn Rand said “Selfishness does not mean only to do things for one's self. One may do things, affecting others, for his own pleasure and benefit.” Are you sure you didn’t kill Lennie for your own gain?
GEORGE: Of course! I had nothing to gain there!
BEATTY: Really? Lennie wasn’t hindering you at all? You said you never had time for yourself, now that that burden’s gone… You can do (pause) whatever you want, my boy. Nobody following you around, you don’t have another mouth to feed. You finally have (pause) freedom.
(GEORGE sits bewildered)
So let’s ask again: Did you really kill Lennie for just his own good?
GEORGE: (shaken) I guess… no. I do enjoy the freedom. I can do whatever I want without worrying when Lennie’ll get me in trouble… I am a selfish person…
BEATTY: I know I’m a selfish person. I’ve always wanted to be the smartest. So, once books were made illegal, and all knowledge ceased to grow, I decided to instead of learning more than any other, I must destroy anyone’s chances of learning more than me. That’s why I became a fireman. So I could become the smartest person in the world. Also, I didn’t finish my Ayn Rand quote. Picking up from where I left off: “This is not immoral, but the highest of morality.” Using others for my own gain makes me a good person, a saintly person.
MODERATOR: Ok, well we’re almost out of time, so I’ll leave you with one final question: Do you think that mankind as a whole is naturally good?
GEORGE: Absolutely. Lennie couldn’t interpret life, he didn’t know how real life worked, and he was just like a child. And he loved life, mankind and was a very kind person. He was the kindest person I’ve ever met. And he was a genuine individual.
BEATTY: Hmmm… (pauses and thinks) I’d have to say people are naturally primitive and destructive, so I assume that would be bad. People need to be exposed to information. Once they have this information, they will make a decision on how to use it, be it good or bad, and have the chance to form morals. In my society, people never wince at a death, unlike George here. People will go out of their way to hit someone with their cars. Once information is obtained, morals can be formed.
MODERATOR: Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
BEATTY: You’re welcome.
GEORGE: No problem.
(BLACKOUT, Exeunt)
MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, I just wanted to thank you both right now for joining our little chat. This will be rather brief as I’m sure you are both very busy.
BEATTY: Yes. I have a fire station to run, after all.
MODERATOR: Well then, let’s get started. An often heard phrase is “ignorance is bliss.” Do you think this phrase is true?
GEORGE: Yes I do. My buddy, Lennie, was like that. He wasn’t all that smart, but he was happy. Probably the happiest guy I ever met. And he didn’t know nothing about the world or people or stuff like that.
BEATTY: I’m going to have to agree with my counterpart, here. In my society, books are illegal, and therefore, knowledge is illegal. The citizens are quite content with their blissful ignorance. They don’t know anything, but still are enjoying themselves.
GEORGE: Yeah, Lennie, unlike me, didn’t understand how the world worked, but he sure was happy. He died a happy man. Something a lot of us can’t say. My life hasn’t seemed that great, and I think what I know about the world and people have something to do with it.
BEATTY: You’re on to something. Matthew Prior said “From ignorance our comfort flows. The only wretched are the wise.”
MODERATOR: Very true, very true. Now, another question: Do you enjoy solitude, or “alone time?”
GEORGE: You know, I spent a lot of time with Lennie, so I didn’t have a whole lot of “me time,” but when he wasn’t around, I usually kept to myself. I’m always playing solitaire. I guess you could say that was my alone time.
BEATTY: I’ve always been a solitary man. Ever since I was growing up, it’s just been me and my books. Of course, once they embargoed books, I had to start interacting with people, but I’ve always taken advantage of my time alone.
GEORGE: I’ve never really designated time for just me. I’ve always had to keep one eye on Lennie, making sure he isn’t getting into trouble.
BEATTY: What is it with you and him? Why do you have so much compassion for another person when you aren’t even related?
GEORGE: Well, I never really had a lot of friends, and his Aunt Clara always wanted me to look after him, so when she died, he just kind of started following me around. I really took a liking to him.
BEATTY: I see…
GEORGE: Well, it turned out that he couldn’t live without me, and I couldn’t live without him. Jeez, he was one in a million. (He starts getting choked up…)
BEATTY: Ah, yes. You two were total opposites, yet you needed to be there for each other. Henry Adams once said “One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim.”
GEORGE: I know all I needed was Lennie. (Sighs)
MODERATOR: Well, growing off from that, here’s another question: Do you think that it’s right for someone to die for the greater good?
(GEORGE is silent.)
BEATTY: Well, if it’s a rule breaker, of course. Laws are there for a reason, and if someone gets in the way of those laws, they must be punished.
GEORGE: (Exasperated sigh) Lennie was a really great guy. He had to die. I couldn’t have him die afraid, or confused. In the end, it was for his own good. It was for my own good.
BEATTY: Well, I had to make a tough decision like that, too. Mind you, it wasn’t over the death of my own living best friend, but it was over the death of my figurative best friends: Books. When books were declared illegal, I had to make a difficult decision, but the law is the law. I didn’t want to be a lawbreaking hooligan. So I decided to give up on my passion of learning.
(Slight pause)
How, might I ask, did Lennie die?
GEORGE: (fighting off tears) Well, he got in some trouble, he accidently killed a higher-up’s wife, and they were coming to get him. We had a meeting spot for when he would eventually get into trouble, and I found him there. He was pretty scared. So I reminded him of our dream to own our own farm… (breaks, takes a deep breath) … and how he got to feed the rabbits. He was happy… and then I shot him in the back of the head (sobs). My best friend… (continues to sob)
BEATTY: I’m sorry I asked.
GEORGE: (regaining composure) But… it was for his own good. Like I said, he died a happy man.
MODERATOR: All right, thank you George. It must be very difficult to bring up that topic.
GEORGE: It’s all right, I guess it’s good for me to get this all out.
MODERATOR: All right then, moving along. Here is a rather different question: Do you consider yourself a selfish person? Did you do what you did for your own selfish gains?
(BEATTY remains silent, introspecting.)
GEORGE: Of course not, didn’t you hear my whole, uh, what was the word? Oh yeah- soliloquy over there? I did it for Lennie’s own good, and it sure as hell didn’t benefit me.
BEATTY: Are you sure, George? Ayn Rand said “Selfishness does not mean only to do things for one's self. One may do things, affecting others, for his own pleasure and benefit.” Are you sure you didn’t kill Lennie for your own gain?
GEORGE: Of course! I had nothing to gain there!
BEATTY: Really? Lennie wasn’t hindering you at all? You said you never had time for yourself, now that that burden’s gone… You can do (pause) whatever you want, my boy. Nobody following you around, you don’t have another mouth to feed. You finally have (pause) freedom.
(GEORGE sits bewildered)
So let’s ask again: Did you really kill Lennie for just his own good?
GEORGE: (shaken) I guess… no. I do enjoy the freedom. I can do whatever I want without worrying when Lennie’ll get me in trouble… I am a selfish person…
BEATTY: I know I’m a selfish person. I’ve always wanted to be the smartest. So, once books were made illegal, and all knowledge ceased to grow, I decided to instead of learning more than any other, I must destroy anyone’s chances of learning more than me. That’s why I became a fireman. So I could become the smartest person in the world. Also, I didn’t finish my Ayn Rand quote. Picking up from where I left off: “This is not immoral, but the highest of morality.” Using others for my own gain makes me a good person, a saintly person.
MODERATOR: Ok, well we’re almost out of time, so I’ll leave you with one final question: Do you think that mankind as a whole is naturally good?
GEORGE: Absolutely. Lennie couldn’t interpret life, he didn’t know how real life worked, and he was just like a child. And he loved life, mankind and was a very kind person. He was the kindest person I’ve ever met. And he was a genuine individual.
BEATTY: Hmmm… (pauses and thinks) I’d have to say people are naturally primitive and destructive, so I assume that would be bad. People need to be exposed to information. Once they have this information, they will make a decision on how to use it, be it good or bad, and have the chance to form morals. In my society, people never wince at a death, unlike George here. People will go out of their way to hit someone with their cars. Once information is obtained, morals can be formed.
MODERATOR: Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
BEATTY: You’re welcome.
GEORGE: No problem.
(BLACKOUT, Exeunt)
Devin Alexander
Of Mice and Men Dialog Project
** Willy is sitting at a coffee shop by himself, whispering. George enters and sits at the table next to him.
George: “ I’m exhausted! I work my whole life and I ain’t got much to show for it, that’s for sure.” (leaning over talking to Willy, like one of those overly friendly strangers) “ Say, what’s your name and your story?”
Willy: “Uh? Hello?” (Willy momentarily snaps out of his trance) “I’m Willy.”
George: “So what do you do for a living?”
Willy: “ I used to work as a salesman, but I was recently let go.”
George: “Aw. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to touch a touchy subject.”
Willy: “It’s ok. It’s just I had such high hopes for the future. I just don’t know where I went wrong. You see, my son, Biff, bright boy, well liked in high school, now can’t hold down a job. He was my pride and joy and now I’m ashamed of him.”
George: “Is there something wrong with him? My pal Lennie had got some problems, but he was a right good worker.”
Willy: “Nah, nothing wrong. He is just so damn lazy. I just can’t understand how he got this way. He was supposed to be a successful businessman. I was supposed to be a successful businessman.”
George: “Well, shoot! I never cared for business, Lennie always seemed to get us into some sort of trouble, you see with his problems. I was always meant to be doing something with my hands, like building something or labor work. I think I like to be outside.”
MITCH RAECK FINAL CONVERSATION
(We find George and CAPTAIN BEATTY sitting in a comfortable room, with a small coffee table in front of them. There is another, smaller seat between them. BEATTY and GEORGE have glasses of water in front of them. THE MODERATOR walks in and sits in the open chair. He speaks :)
MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, I just wanted to thank you both right now for joining our little chat. This will be rather brief as I’m sure you are both very busy.
BEATTY: Yes. I have a fire station to run, after all.
MODERATOR: Well then, let’s get started. An often heard phrase is “ignorance is bliss.” Do you think this phrase is true?
GEORGE: Yes I do. My buddy, Lennie, was like that. He wasn’t all that smart, but he was happy. Probably the happiest guy I ever met. And he didn’t know nothing about the world or people or stuff like that.
BEATTY: I’m going to have to agree with my counterpart, here. In my society, books are illegal, and therefore, knowledge is illegal. The citizens are quite content with their blissful ignorance. They don’t know anything, but still are enjoying themselves.
GEORGE: Yeah, Lennie, unlike me, didn’t understand how the world worked, but he sure was happy. He died a happy man. Something a lot of us can’t say. My life hasn’t seemed that great, and I think what I know about the world and people have something to do with it.
BEATTY: You’re on to something. Matthew Prior said “From ignorance our comfort flows. The only wretched are the wise.”
MODERATOR: Very true, very true. Now, another question: Do you enjoy solitude, or “alone time?”
GEORGE: You know, I spent a lot of time with Lennie, so I didn’t have a whole lot of “me time,” but when he wasn’t around, I usually kept to myself. I’m always playing solitaire. I guess you could say that was my alone time.
BEATTY: I’ve always been a solitary man. Ever since I was growing up, it’s just been me and my books. Of course, once they embargoed books, I had to start interacting with people, but I’ve always taken advantage of my time alone.
GEORGE: I’ve never really designated time for just me. I’ve always had to keep one eye on Lennie, making sure he isn’t getting into trouble.
BEATTY: What is it with you and him? Why do you have so much compassion for another person when you aren’t even related?
GEORGE: Well, I never really had a lot of friends, and his Aunt Clara always wanted me to look after him, so when she died, he just kind of started following me around. I really took a liking to him.
BEATTY: I see…
GEORGE: Well, it turned out that he couldn’t live without me, and I couldn’t live without him. Jeez, he was one in a million. (He starts getting choked up…)
BEATTY: Ah, yes. You two were total opposites, yet you needed to be there for each other. Henry Adams once said “One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim.”
GEORGE: I know all I needed was Lennie. (Sighs)
MODERATOR: Well, growing off from that, here’s another question: Do you think that it’s right for someone to die for the greater good?
(GEORGE is silent.)
BEATTY: Well, if it’s a rule breaker, of course. Laws are there for a reason, and if someone gets in the way of those laws, they must be punished.
GEORGE: (Exasperated sigh) Lennie was a really great guy. He had to die. I couldn’t have him die afraid, or confused. In the end, it was for his own good. It was for my own good.
BEATTY: Well, I had to make a tough decision like that, too. Mind you, it wasn’t over the death of my own living best friend, but it was over the death of my figurative best friends: Books. When books were declared illegal, I had to make a difficult decision, but the law is the law. I didn’t want to be a lawbreaking hooligan. So I decided to give up on my passion of learning.
(Slight pause)
How, might I ask, did Lennie die?
GEORGE: (fighting off tears) Well, he got in some trouble, he accidently killed a higher-up’s wife, and they were coming to get him. We had a meeting spot for when he would eventually get into trouble, and I found him there. He was pretty scared. So I reminded him of our dream to own our own farm… (breaks, takes a deep breath) … and how he got to feed the rabbits. He was happy… and then I shot him in the back of the head (sobs). My best friend… (continues to sob)
BEATTY: I’m sorry I asked.
GEORGE: (regaining composure) But… it was for his own good. Like I said, he died a happy man.
MODERATOR: All right, thank you George. It must be very difficult to bring up that topic.
GEORGE: It’s all right, I guess it’s good for me to get this all out.
MODERATOR: All right then, moving along. Here is a rather different question: Do you consider yourself a selfish person? Did you do what you did for your own selfish gains?
(BEATTY remains silent, introspecting.)
GEORGE: Of course not, didn’t you hear my whole, uh, what was the word? Oh yeah- soliloquy over there? I did it for Lennie’s own good, and it sure as hell didn’t benefit me.
BEATTY: Are you sure, George? Ayn Rand said “Selfishness does not mean only to do things for one's self. One may do things, affecting others, for his own pleasure and benefit.” Are you sure you didn’t kill Lennie for your own gain?
GEORGE: Of course! I had nothing to gain there!
BEATTY: Really? Lennie wasn’t hindering you at all? You said you never had time for yourself, now that that burden’s gone… You can do (pause) whatever you want, my boy. Nobody following you around, you don’t have another mouth to feed. You finally have (pause) freedom.
(GEORGE sits bewildered)
So let’s ask again: Did you really kill Lennie for just his own good?
GEORGE: (shaken) I guess… no. I do enjoy the freedom. I can do whatever I want without worrying when Lennie’ll get me in trouble… I am a selfish person…
BEATTY: I know I’m a selfish person. I’ve always wanted to be the smartest. So, once books were made illegal, and all knowledge ceased to grow, I decided to instead of learning more than any other, I must destroy anyone’s chances of learning more than me. That’s why I became a fireman. So I could become the smartest person in the world. Also, I didn’t finish my Ayn Rand quote. Picking up from where I left off: “This is not immoral, but the highest of morality.” Using others for my own gain makes me a good person, a saintly person.
MODERATOR: Ok, well we’re almost out of time, so I’ll leave you with one final question: Do you think that mankind as a whole is naturally good?
GEORGE: Absolutely. Lennie couldn’t interpret life, he didn’t know how real life worked, and he was just like a child. And he loved life, mankind and was a very kind person. He was the kindest person I’ve ever met. And he was a genuine individual.
BEATTY: Hmmm… (pauses and thinks) I’d have to say people are naturally primitive and destructive, so I assume that would be bad. People need to be exposed to information. Once they have this information, they will make a decision on how to use it, be it good or bad, and have the chance to form morals. In my society, people never wince at a death, unlike George here. People will go out of their way to hit someone with their cars. Once information is obtained, morals can be formed.
MODERATOR: Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
BEATTY: You’re welcome.
GEORGE: No problem.
(BLACKOUT, Exeunt)
MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, I just wanted to thank you both right now for joining our little chat. This will be rather brief as I’m sure you are both very busy.
BEATTY: Yes. I have a fire station to run, after all.
MODERATOR: Well then, let’s get started. An often heard phrase is “ignorance is bliss.” Do you think this phrase is true?
GEORGE: Yes I do. My buddy, Lennie, was like that. He wasn’t all that smart, but he was happy. Probably the happiest guy I ever met. And he didn’t know nothing about the world or people or stuff like that.
BEATTY: I’m going to have to agree with my counterpart, here. In my society, books are illegal, and therefore, knowledge is illegal. The citizens are quite content with their blissful ignorance. They don’t know anything, but still are enjoying themselves.
GEORGE: Yeah, Lennie, unlike me, didn’t understand how the world worked, but he sure was happy. He died a happy man. Something a lot of us can’t say. My life hasn’t seemed that great, and I think what I know about the world and people have something to do with it.
BEATTY: You’re on to something. Matthew Prior said “From ignorance our comfort flows. The only wretched are the wise.”
MODERATOR: Very true, very true. Now, another question: Do you enjoy solitude, or “alone time?”
GEORGE: You know, I spent a lot of time with Lennie, so I didn’t have a whole lot of “me time,” but when he wasn’t around, I usually kept to myself. I’m always playing solitaire. I guess you could say that was my alone time.
BEATTY: I’ve always been a solitary man. Ever since I was growing up, it’s just been me and my books. Of course, once they embargoed books, I had to start interacting with people, but I’ve always taken advantage of my time alone.
GEORGE: I’ve never really designated time for just me. I’ve always had to keep one eye on Lennie, making sure he isn’t getting into trouble.
BEATTY: What is it with you and him? Why do you have so much compassion for another person when you aren’t even related?
GEORGE: Well, I never really had a lot of friends, and his Aunt Clara always wanted me to look after him, so when she died, he just kind of started following me around. I really took a liking to him.
BEATTY: I see…
GEORGE: Well, it turned out that he couldn’t live without me, and I couldn’t live without him. Jeez, he was one in a million. (He starts getting choked up…)
BEATTY: Ah, yes. You two were total opposites, yet you needed to be there for each other. Henry Adams once said “One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim.”
GEORGE: I know all I needed was Lennie. (Sighs)
MODERATOR: Well, growing off from that, here’s another question: Do you think that it’s right for someone to die for the greater good?
(GEORGE is silent.)
BEATTY: Well, if it’s a rule breaker, of course. Laws are there for a reason, and if someone gets in the way of those laws, they must be punished.
GEORGE: (Exasperated sigh) Lennie was a really great guy. He had to die. I couldn’t have him die afraid, or confused. In the end, it was for his own good. It was for my own good.
BEATTY: Well, I had to make a tough decision like that, too. Mind you, it wasn’t over the death of my own living best friend, but it was over the death of my figurative best friends: Books. When books were declared illegal, I had to make a difficult decision, but the law is the law. I didn’t want to be a lawbreaking hooligan. So I decided to give up on my passion of learning.
(Slight pause)
How, might I ask, did Lennie die?
GEORGE: (fighting off tears) Well, he got in some trouble, he accidently killed a higher-up’s wife, and they were coming to get him. We had a meeting spot for when he would eventually get into trouble, and I found him there. He was pretty scared. So I reminded him of our dream to own our own farm… (breaks, takes a deep breath) … and how he got to feed the rabbits. He was happy… and then I shot him in the back of the head (sobs). My best friend… (continues to sob)
BEATTY: I’m sorry I asked.
GEORGE: (regaining composure) But… it was for his own good. Like I said, he died a happy man.
MODERATOR: All right, thank you George. It must be very difficult to bring up that topic.
GEORGE: It’s all right, I guess it’s good for me to get this all out.
MODERATOR: All right then, moving along. Here is a rather different question: Do you consider yourself a selfish person? Did you do what you did for your own selfish gains?
(BEATTY remains silent, introspecting.)
GEORGE: Of course not, didn’t you hear my whole, uh, what was the word? Oh yeah- soliloquy over there? I did it for Lennie’s own good, and it sure as hell didn’t benefit me.
BEATTY: Are you sure, George? Ayn Rand said “Selfishness does not mean only to do things for one's self. One may do things, affecting others, for his own pleasure and benefit.” Are you sure you didn’t kill Lennie for your own gain?
GEORGE: Of course! I had nothing to gain there!
BEATTY: Really? Lennie wasn’t hindering you at all? You said you never had time for yourself, now that that burden’s gone… You can do (pause) whatever you want, my boy. Nobody following you around, you don’t have another mouth to feed. You finally have (pause) freedom.
(GEORGE sits bewildered)
So let’s ask again: Did you really kill Lennie for just his own good?
GEORGE: (shaken) I guess… no. I do enjoy the freedom. I can do whatever I want without worrying when Lennie’ll get me in trouble… I am a selfish person…
BEATTY: I know I’m a selfish person. I’ve always wanted to be the smartest. So, once books were made illegal, and all knowledge ceased to grow, I decided to instead of learning more than any other, I must destroy anyone’s chances of learning more than me. That’s why I became a fireman. So I could become the smartest person in the world. Also, I didn’t finish my Ayn Rand quote. Picking up from where I left off: “This is not immoral, but the highest of morality.” Using others for my own gain makes me a good person, a saintly person.
MODERATOR: Ok, well we’re almost out of time, so I’ll leave you with one final question: Do you think that mankind as a whole is naturally good?
GEORGE: Absolutely. Lennie couldn’t interpret life, he didn’t know how real life worked, and he was just like a child. And he loved life, mankind and was a very kind person. He was the kindest person I’ve ever met. And he was a genuine individual.
BEATTY: Hmmm… (pauses and thinks) I’d have to say people are naturally primitive and destructive, so I assume that would be bad. People need to be exposed to information. Once they have this information, they will make a decision on how to use it, be it good or bad, and have the chance to form morals. In my society, people never wince at a death, unlike George here. People will go out of their way to hit someone with their cars. Once information is obtained, morals can be formed.
MODERATOR: Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
BEATTY: You’re welcome.
GEORGE: No problem.
(BLACKOUT, Exeunt)
matt bohn
Of Mice and Men Conversation
George: I’ve seen you in this here bar a lot lately, son. This ain’t no place to be for a young’n like you. Shit, you must’n be more than eighteen.
Biff: Huh? Me? Why don’t you mind your own business and leave me be. I don’t believe I know you anyhow, old man.
George: Yes you, lintlicker, you’re too young to be sittin’ in here day after day drinkin’ your life away. Whats got a lad like you down anyhow?
Biff: With all do respect mister, I don’t rightly think you’d understand. Nor would I tell you even if I thought you could.
George: Now you listen here chief, I seen and done things in this day alone that you couldn’t dream of in a lifetime. You don’t tell me what a rough day’s like. Whats got a kid like you down?
Biff: Mister, I told you once. Ain’t none of your business!
George: Son, you listen here. Last week I killed a man. And this wasn’t just any man, this was my best friend. Best man I ever knew, you heard? And I had to wrestle a gun out of his bare hands and kill’m. You think you know what it’s like livin’ with that on your shoulders? Huh?
Biff: Damn mister. Sounds like you got some issues, yourself.
George: Kid, there’s plenty more to that story. So now, will ya quit bein’ stubborn and tell me what the hells got you so down?
Biff: Well, It doesn’t sound like much compared to your story, but it’s my family, sir. Everything about my life and my family has gone to shit. My Pa was delusional. He talked me up since high school, made me feel like everything would just come my way, and nothin’ ever did. I went to jail, I got a dead end job. Nothin’ worked out for me, ya see. And he didn’t pay no attention to how his family was doin’ because, well, he was goin’ crazy. Drove my mother mad, talked in circles all the time. Worst part is…he never realized he was crazy. He thought he had it all planned out; took his own life….so we could collect on life insurance. He thought it’d make all my problems go away…and by now, most of that money was spent sittin’ in this exact stool.
George: Jesus son. That sounds like a hell of a time. But you listen here kid. ‘Member how I told you the man I shot was my friend?
Biff: Yes, sir?
George: Well, we were no school-buddies. He had…well. He was dumb. Real mental-like. Somethin’ wasn’t quite right in his head. Anyhow, I pretty much raised him. We was always together. We had big plans, I tell ya. Big plans. But things change. See, he was always a burden. He was always gettin’ inta trouble, fergettin’ things and whatnot. And well…I got tired of it. Too tired to deal with it any longer. So I made it look like an accident, but it wasn’t no accident, ya hear. I shot’em. I didn’t want to. But damn-it-all I had to. He was keepin’ me back from my dreams, from livin a normal life, ya see? And the thought of it almost killed me, but I had to get rid of him if I was gunna make any kinda decent livin’. I had to get rid of the burden he was on me. You see what I’m getting at son?
Biff: I don’t know, sir.
George: What I’m tellin’ you is that life don’t always come easy. And everyone gets down on their luck sometimes, but you gotta keep on keepin’ on. Family, friends, sometimes you just needa let them go, and put those skeletons in the closet behind ya. You get me?
Biff: Well, I suppose your right…mister, eh…
George: Just call me George.
Biff: Well George, I just can’t live with the burden of knowing that I was the reason that my father killed himself. That he thought so highly of me, and I amounted to nothin’. I’ve just been in here drinking away that life insurance money like its going to solve anything!
George: Ya see kid, that’s what I’m tellin’ you. You don’t need to accept that burden as somethin’ you can’t get rid of. You needa get of your sorry ass, and turn your life around. I’m sure that’s what your Pa would want, right?
Biff: You know, you are probably right George. But I swear it ain’t that easy.
George: And you think pullin’ the trigger on my best friend was? Kid, what im tellin’ you is life ain’t fair. It’s got its ups and downs, but that’s life! You gotta stick with it, and get back in the race, before your old like me, son.
Biff: You know, it really means a lot hearing it from someone like you George. I’ll try to keep that in consideration. After this Buttery Nipple.
George: Good god, son…
Laycock-Final
Societal Structures
George: I just hate how this society works. Why can't we live in a place where everyone is treated the same.
Montag: Well George, the word “utopia” is literally Greek for “no place” as the man who coined the term, Thomas More, wanted to point out that there is no such place as the one you speak of. The world is an imperfect place, and there will never be a place where no one is treated unfairly.
George: I suppose that is true, where I come from no one would stop to consider what mental problems people might have, they were judged by their peers without consideration for the problems they have.
Montag: That's funny because where I come from it was the people who were inquisitive and intelligent who were discriminated against. The government wanted to make the people dumb and the people went with it. The people's floccinaucinihilipilification of books was caused by their apathy. So, books became anathema, and then were totally outlawed.
George: Wow, I didn’t expect such an overblown, pompous, and yet eloquent response. You must feel very strongly about this issue.
Montag: Of course. I have been the one of the few who has opposed the government and the reigning attitude of antidisestablishmentarianism.
George: Well the place I came from was also corrupted by the will of the people. The people willfully hurt each other and this caused great ruin among the whole country. The government did absolutely nothing to help. It was like the government just didn’t care about what happened to the people. The people became too worn out to do anything about it. They were almost as bad as the government. This caused many of the people to hate people who were less useful, and that includes people who have mental handicaps.
Montag: Obviously you also have strong opinions on this subject. I truly wish that my people would realize what a blessing books truly are. They enlighten the reader to the secrets of the world. Even fictional works have a lesson you can learn from them. Since discovering the true worth of books I have been reading so much and I have learned so many things that I didn’t know, and no one else even remembers these things. Its so sad that I am the only one who has this knowledge, and no one wants to learn either. My country is pathetic. They refuse to see the light and just hide in the shadows of ignorance. After all ignorance is bliss.
George: Well your problem seems much different then mine, however I can see that the root of the problems is the same. The root of the problem is that people are just not accepting enough. They cannot accept things that are different from what they know. This is the real problem. Change is too hard to bring to people they just can’t accept it.
Montag: I agree, the people in my country were simply too afraid of the unknown to be able go out of their comfort zone in hopes of finding something better. They were content where they were and were afraid that anything they did would just make it worse. They believe that they can’t truly become happy, so they reject change when it comes to them.
George: Again, though the root cause is the same the way it works is so different. The people in my country all say that they want things to change, but their actions belay their true intent. They really do like this world where the strong can rule the weak. That means that if you can gain any measure of power you can become like a small lord and rule over people and have a place where you are in charge and that is it. Period.
Montag: Strength wasn’t really a factor in my world, no one cared about how strong you were. No one cared about anything but their own comfort. In fact my people got married and wouldn’t really even know their spouse. They were more interested in TV programs and the radio.
George: The radio. What a great invention, but even that couldn’t help the misery felt in my country but a little bit. We were suffering so badly that people took solace in hurting each other, which as I said earlier is what caused our downfall in the first place. This vicious cycle will just keep repeating until we all die and the world is swept clean of all people.
Montag: Don’t be so pessimistic friend, not all people in the world are trying to hide from change. I met a group of people in my country who were dedicated to literature even though it had been banned. They memorized as many books as they could so that when the time came they could spread their knowledge and bring people back to true happiness.
George: Well, I suppose not everyone I met was terrible. Candy was an awful fine man. He was nice to both me and Lennie. He even comforted me after Lennie… died.
Montag: Your friend died, that’s terrible! I’m very sorry for you. Though I suppose my wife died during my own misadventures. But, as I said that doesn’t mean much I didn’t really know her. The true tragedy was when Clarisse died. It was unfortunate I didn’t ever get to know her better. She was a brilliant girl and would have been very happy to see how the world is changing. Things are somehow managing to get better and I hope that soon the whole world will see the light that is literature. That is significant literature.
George: Thank you for helping me I really do feel much better now. I realize that not every thing is so terrible as it appears, and I think that I can help make the world a better place. I think that I can advocate for those who are like Lennie, before what happened to him happens to them.
Montag: Well I am certainly glad that I could be of assistance. I am also glad to have met someone with whom I can share my opinions. You are certainly very understanding. Thank you for listening to my “overblown and pompous” speeches.
George: No problem, even though they were like that they were very enlightening, I hope we can speak again sometime.
Montag: Of course. Goodbye.
George: Goodbye.
Andrea Clisch Final
Of Mice and Men: A Conversation
After and exhausting day George takes a seat on a bench in a local park. The man next to him (Willy) looks exhausted as well and puts down his newspaper.
Willy: Long day?
George: It's been a long few years.
Willy: I hear ya.
George: I'm George, by the way.
Willy: Willy. (Shakes George's hand.)
George: So what's up with you?
Willy: I'm just tired. I've been doing this job for years. I'm the best salesman there is! Everyone knows me wherever I go, and then one day they called me into the office and fired me!
George: At least you can find work! Everywhere I go I get fired, too. It's always Lennie's fault! He doesn't appreciate me. He doesn't appreciate the dreams I sacrifice for him.
Willy: Well where is this Lennie kid?
George: Umm..nowhere, nowhere. Nevermind.
Willy: Well I hear ya on being unappreciated. My family doesn't appreciate me. My son thinks I'm a fraud, my wife believes anything I tell her, and my other son doesn't even matter. Biff blew it i'm tellin' ya! He blew it. He could've been a star. He could've been a salesman like his father!
George: Well where's Biff now?
Willy: God knows where he is now.
George: Well God bless 'em both. Think of it this way Willy. Our problems are gone and we can do what we want! We have the world in our hands. I'm gunna go find a job somewhere now and keep it. And then I'm gunna save up enough money to buy my own land out there and farm what I want and live off my crops! And Lennie can have....(George drifts off, deep in thought)
Willy: Lennie can have..? Are you okay?
George: (snaps out of it) Yeah, yeah I'm fine. What about you, Willy? What do you want to do now?
Willy: I don't know where to go from here, George. I have nothing left. I have no job, my family hates me. Where am I supposed to go from here? I've got nothin' left. I made one mistake. I was lonely, George. Salesmen get lonely!
George: People get lonely, Willy. Everyone has a little bit of evil in them. Whether it be selfishness..(George drifts off again)..Anyways all I'm saying is that we all make mistakes. It's human nature to mess up.
Willy: Don't make excuses for me! I did a bad thing and I can't live with it anymore!
George: I'm not making excuses for what I did!
Willy: What you did? What are you talking about?
George: I killed him, Willy! I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't make a living with him. I couldn't survive anymore with both of us, only one of us could.
Willy: It’s a tough world out there, George. Survival of the fittest. He couldn’t have made it without you and soon enough, you get run down from always having to take care of him. I’m run down from this job, trying to keep my family happy. Nothin’ is ever good enough for them. I don’t know how to make it up to them…(Willy drifts off)
George: Nothin’ is ever good enough for anyone.
Willy: …I think I know what I need to do…
George: What’s that?
Willy: Nothin…nothing… I have to go..
George: Where are you going?
Willy: I have to make this up to my family…It was nice to meet you, uh, George.
George: It was nice to meet you, too, Willy. Good Luck with your job and family.
Willy: Yeah, thanks. You, too.
Ricky Lowe Final
This conversation is between George (Of Mice and Men) and Willy (The Death of a Salesman)
George: Hey there. My name is George. How are you today?
Willy: Hi. My name is Willy. I'm alright, I am down today, there is just no happiness right now. My family and I are just struggling to survive and I feel like I let my sons' down.
George: Why is that?
Willy: Well... I had an affair and my son Biff caught me in the act. After that he has just hated me... His whole life was going so great he was getting recruited to play college football at Virginia and he threw it all away because of me.
George: I'm sorry man... I know how family struggles can be it is tough but, you can get through it though.
Willy: I almost committed suicide because of my wrong doings... It was a mistake and I wish I could take everything back and be the father that I should've been. If I didn't make that mistake my kid would be a superstar and he would be living large instead, of still trying to find a job.
George: I go through the same struggles... Except for they aren't really my fault. I have to watch a mentally handicapped man named Lennie. We are always on the run because he sometimes does some stupid things like breaking animals necks and he also killed a woman by snapping her neck.
Willy: Wow that is just messed up. How do you do it?
George: Well, I just learn to live with it. I made a promise to Lennie's aunt and I will keep that promise and watch him like he is my brother. It's not my fault that he does all these things... so I just try and tell him what to do and show him right from wrong.
Willy: That sounds like a lot of work. You and I have a lot in common. I love to work hard and feel great about doing good work to support my family.
George: I agree with you. I work hard so I can get a house and some food for me and Lennie so we can live a good life... Right now though it is just hard staying in one town with Lennie and his mentally challenged ways... I have a question for you, how come you always have those weird dreams?
Willy: Well... it helps me escape from my past and it is like my dream life in my dream. I can escape my wrong doing and just dream.
George: I sometimes dream myself too... I dream about me and Lennie just livin' on our own ranch just sitting down and looking out at the sunset. My dream gives me drive to keep working hard and get to paradise.
Willy: You know George, me and you need to hangout more often and discuss our problems. I feel like I can open up to you and just you give me great advice on things and it really is helping to discuss this with someone.
George: Anytime Willy. We can hangout anytime and sit down and sip on a couple beers and discuss life.
Willy: I have one more question for you George?
George: Whats that Willy?
Willy: Well, what kind of advice would you give me to help me with reconnecting with my sons?
George: Well Willy, I would just come up front with them and tell them you made a mistake... then tell them you will do anything for them and that you will always be there for them and you love them. Say the things that you believe matters most to you.
Willy: Alright, I will have to come clean... I just want them to be successful and happy. I love them so much.
George: Exactly.
Willy: Well George, I better get going its getting dark and Linda is probably getting worried. I will see you later.
George: Alright Willy, you take easy... everything will be alright just take it easy. Bye
George: Hey there. My name is George. How are you today?
Willy: Hi. My name is Willy. I'm alright, I am down today, there is just no happiness right now. My family and I are just struggling to survive and I feel like I let my sons' down.
George: Why is that?
Willy: Well... I had an affair and my son Biff caught me in the act. After that he has just hated me... His whole life was going so great he was getting recruited to play college football at Virginia and he threw it all away because of me.
George: I'm sorry man... I know how family struggles can be it is tough but, you can get through it though.
Willy: I almost committed suicide because of my wrong doings... It was a mistake and I wish I could take everything back and be the father that I should've been. If I didn't make that mistake my kid would be a superstar and he would be living large instead, of still trying to find a job.
George: I go through the same struggles... Except for they aren't really my fault. I have to watch a mentally handicapped man named Lennie. We are always on the run because he sometimes does some stupid things like breaking animals necks and he also killed a woman by snapping her neck.
Willy: Wow that is just messed up. How do you do it?
George: Well, I just learn to live with it. I made a promise to Lennie's aunt and I will keep that promise and watch him like he is my brother. It's not my fault that he does all these things... so I just try and tell him what to do and show him right from wrong.
Willy: That sounds like a lot of work. You and I have a lot in common. I love to work hard and feel great about doing good work to support my family.
George: I agree with you. I work hard so I can get a house and some food for me and Lennie so we can live a good life... Right now though it is just hard staying in one town with Lennie and his mentally challenged ways... I have a question for you, how come you always have those weird dreams?
Willy: Well... it helps me escape from my past and it is like my dream life in my dream. I can escape my wrong doing and just dream.
George: I sometimes dream myself too... I dream about me and Lennie just livin' on our own ranch just sitting down and looking out at the sunset. My dream gives me drive to keep working hard and get to paradise.
Willy: You know George, me and you need to hangout more often and discuss our problems. I feel like I can open up to you and just you give me great advice on things and it really is helping to discuss this with someone.
George: Anytime Willy. We can hangout anytime and sit down and sip on a couple beers and discuss life.
Willy: I have one more question for you George?
George: Whats that Willy?
Willy: Well, what kind of advice would you give me to help me with reconnecting with my sons?
George: Well Willy, I would just come up front with them and tell them you made a mistake... then tell them you will do anything for them and that you will always be there for them and you love them. Say the things that you believe matters most to you.
Willy: Alright, I will have to come clean... I just want them to be successful and happy. I love them so much.
George: Exactly.
Willy: Well George, I better get going its getting dark and Linda is probably getting worried. I will see you later.
George: Alright Willy, you take easy... everything will be alright just take it easy. Bye
Emily Waugh- Of Mice and Men Convo
Of Mice and Men Conversation
George (Of Mice and Men) and Eli (Night)
George: Eli, I’m wondering if I did the right thing. I thought so at the time but, I not certain anymore.
Eli: What’s going on George?
George: Well, you heard about what happened to Lenny back up north, right?
Eli: Yeah, you told me about the incident with that girl and the dress.
George: Well, Lenny and I headed south to find another job. We couldn’t stay there after he messed up like that. They were after both of us! People have just never understood him, and hell, sometimes I didn’t either. But, I looked after him, just like I said I would. And it was kind of nice having someone around, even though he was a pain in my side.
Eli: What happened?
George: Lenny messed up at this new farm we were working at. This woman who was always there kept showing up. And we all knew she was trouble. I told Lenny, “You stay away from her! Don’t ever talk to her,” but she kept trying to talk to him. She must have scared him…and God, he was so strong! He snapped her neck by accident.
Eli: My God, George, that’s awful. What did you do?
George: I did what I had to do. I went to find Lenny. I had to find him, or that
egotistical, little husband of hers would have gone after him. He would have been so scared. So, I found him in the woods and told him everything was okay. I knew everyone was already on the way and they would have hurt him. So, I took care of things myself… I shot Lenny.
Eli: George, that’s a terrible burden to bear. But, I know of the burdens that were on you while Lenny was with you. As much as I hate to admit it, my father was the same burden to me while we were in concentration camps. He became very old and I had to make sure he was going to survive each selection and keep up with the rest of the prisoners. But, at the same time, I had to make sure I was going to survive as well. It was a terrible situation that is so hard to describe.
George: Eli, how did you keep your father going?
Eli: When he was sick, I sacrificed my food rations for him. But, I soon realized that they were being wasted on him. He was dying and I was not. And as awful as that sounds, I was the one that needed to stay strong to survive. My dad did end up passing though.
George: I am so sorry. How did you feel when it happened?
Eli: Nothing, I felt nothing. I was so numb at that point in my life. I became a part of that concentration camp while I was trying to survive. I couldn’t have saved him this time. I had tried so hard before but, this time it wouldn’t have mattered.
George: I know what you mean. I protected Lenny for so long. His troubles became my troubles. Anytime he messed up, we would pack up and keep moving. We’d go off to find a different job.
Eli: And like with my father, I would get mad at him for getting himself into trouble in the camps because I was struggling to keep him alive. Every time he got in trouble, he became weaker and weaker.
George: How have you dealt with losing your father like that?
Eli: Well, after the war, that is when I could really think about it. It was a terrible thing, but it was out of my control. It’s hard to say how I even survived. I thought about escaping and death so many times. But, I have just accepted that he was a good man and that I was helpless in the situation.
George: Lenny was going to be killed anyways, and I didn’t want him to be scared. I just wanted things to be okay. I know what I have done may not have been the best thing to do but, I am able to live my life now. And, I won’t be personally affected by someone else’s actions like that.
Eli: I think the important thing to do now is to just move forward. You helped him for so long George. But, I think the time has come to help yourself.
George (Of Mice and Men) and Eli (Night)
George: Eli, I’m wondering if I did the right thing. I thought so at the time but, I not certain anymore.
Eli: What’s going on George?
George: Well, you heard about what happened to Lenny back up north, right?
Eli: Yeah, you told me about the incident with that girl and the dress.
George: Well, Lenny and I headed south to find another job. We couldn’t stay there after he messed up like that. They were after both of us! People have just never understood him, and hell, sometimes I didn’t either. But, I looked after him, just like I said I would. And it was kind of nice having someone around, even though he was a pain in my side.
Eli: What happened?
George: Lenny messed up at this new farm we were working at. This woman who was always there kept showing up. And we all knew she was trouble. I told Lenny, “You stay away from her! Don’t ever talk to her,” but she kept trying to talk to him. She must have scared him…and God, he was so strong! He snapped her neck by accident.
Eli: My God, George, that’s awful. What did you do?
George: I did what I had to do. I went to find Lenny. I had to find him, or that
egotistical, little husband of hers would have gone after him. He would have been so scared. So, I found him in the woods and told him everything was okay. I knew everyone was already on the way and they would have hurt him. So, I took care of things myself… I shot Lenny.
Eli: George, that’s a terrible burden to bear. But, I know of the burdens that were on you while Lenny was with you. As much as I hate to admit it, my father was the same burden to me while we were in concentration camps. He became very old and I had to make sure he was going to survive each selection and keep up with the rest of the prisoners. But, at the same time, I had to make sure I was going to survive as well. It was a terrible situation that is so hard to describe.
George: Eli, how did you keep your father going?
Eli: When he was sick, I sacrificed my food rations for him. But, I soon realized that they were being wasted on him. He was dying and I was not. And as awful as that sounds, I was the one that needed to stay strong to survive. My dad did end up passing though.
George: I am so sorry. How did you feel when it happened?
Eli: Nothing, I felt nothing. I was so numb at that point in my life. I became a part of that concentration camp while I was trying to survive. I couldn’t have saved him this time. I had tried so hard before but, this time it wouldn’t have mattered.
George: I know what you mean. I protected Lenny for so long. His troubles became my troubles. Anytime he messed up, we would pack up and keep moving. We’d go off to find a different job.
Eli: And like with my father, I would get mad at him for getting himself into trouble in the camps because I was struggling to keep him alive. Every time he got in trouble, he became weaker and weaker.
George: How have you dealt with losing your father like that?
Eli: Well, after the war, that is when I could really think about it. It was a terrible thing, but it was out of my control. It’s hard to say how I even survived. I thought about escaping and death so many times. But, I have just accepted that he was a good man and that I was helpless in the situation.
George: Lenny was going to be killed anyways, and I didn’t want him to be scared. I just wanted things to be okay. I know what I have done may not have been the best thing to do but, I am able to live my life now. And, I won’t be personally affected by someone else’s actions like that.
Eli: I think the important thing to do now is to just move forward. You helped him for so long George. But, I think the time has come to help yourself.
Hoyt Sutherland
George: Friendship is a tough thing Ralph.
Ralph: Sure is George.
George: When you have a friend like mine its hard to communicate with them and have an intelligent conversation.
Ralph: I know what you mean Ralph, I also have a friend who is smart but I always have to watch over him.
George: Lennie sounds just like your friend, Piggy, and seems to be more of a burden then a real friend.
Ralph: Yep, he really is. I always seem to be protecting him from everyone else on the island and he never wants to stick up for himself. On top of all this, he complains about this thing called ass-mar.
George: I know what you mean, Ralph. Lennie is always gettin himself into trouble and I am always having to get him out. He even got accused of rape and we had to make a run from the cops.
Ralph: Thats rough George, what happened to Lennie? Why isn't he with you?
George: Well, actually we had sort of a big fight and things went a little bad.
Ralph: What do you mean? What happened George?
George: Well he was pulling on Curly's wife's hair and he wouldn't stop. He actually ended up breaking her neck and killing her and then.....
Ralph: Its okay George, what happened? Tell me?
George: Well, since I knew he would be hunted down and killed and maybe even tortured. I decided it would be best if i shot him in the head to make his death a quick and painless one.
Ralph: Wow George, that would really be a hard thing to do.
Ralph: I actually have had a similar experience with my friend Piggy, who incidentally isn't here with me as well.
Ralph: While we were trying to talk some sense into our enemies on the island, Jack's friend decided to drop a huge rock on Piggy. It hit him directly in the head and it was very brutal and disgusting.
George: That sounds just like my story and it really shows us what friendship really means.
Ralph: Very true George, what I noticed about friendship is that you don't realize what you have until its gone. Once Piggy died, I really did not know what to do and realized how much I needed his knowledge once he was dead.
George: It is amazing how much we take for granted in our lives and people do not realize that friendship is one of those things.
George: When I killed Lennie I was pretty upset. He did not have the brains like you and I, and he was much gentler then anyone I have ever meant. He was a really good friend and cared about animals more than himself.
Ralph: I think that we have both learned a very valuable lesson here today George. We both have taken our friends for granted and we need to realize what they mean now that they are gone.
George: Your right, Ralph. I need to be going now though, because I have to work.
Ralph: Good idea George, I also must be going because I have to go to school and catch up on some homework.
George: See ya.
Ralph: Bye George.
Ralph: Sure is George.
George: When you have a friend like mine its hard to communicate with them and have an intelligent conversation.
Ralph: I know what you mean Ralph, I also have a friend who is smart but I always have to watch over him.
George: Lennie sounds just like your friend, Piggy, and seems to be more of a burden then a real friend.
Ralph: Yep, he really is. I always seem to be protecting him from everyone else on the island and he never wants to stick up for himself. On top of all this, he complains about this thing called ass-mar.
George: I know what you mean, Ralph. Lennie is always gettin himself into trouble and I am always having to get him out. He even got accused of rape and we had to make a run from the cops.
Ralph: Thats rough George, what happened to Lennie? Why isn't he with you?
George: Well, actually we had sort of a big fight and things went a little bad.
Ralph: What do you mean? What happened George?
George: Well he was pulling on Curly's wife's hair and he wouldn't stop. He actually ended up breaking her neck and killing her and then.....
Ralph: Its okay George, what happened? Tell me?
George: Well, since I knew he would be hunted down and killed and maybe even tortured. I decided it would be best if i shot him in the head to make his death a quick and painless one.
Ralph: Wow George, that would really be a hard thing to do.
Ralph: I actually have had a similar experience with my friend Piggy, who incidentally isn't here with me as well.
Ralph: While we were trying to talk some sense into our enemies on the island, Jack's friend decided to drop a huge rock on Piggy. It hit him directly in the head and it was very brutal and disgusting.
George: That sounds just like my story and it really shows us what friendship really means.
Ralph: Very true George, what I noticed about friendship is that you don't realize what you have until its gone. Once Piggy died, I really did not know what to do and realized how much I needed his knowledge once he was dead.
George: It is amazing how much we take for granted in our lives and people do not realize that friendship is one of those things.
George: When I killed Lennie I was pretty upset. He did not have the brains like you and I, and he was much gentler then anyone I have ever meant. He was a really good friend and cared about animals more than himself.
Ralph: I think that we have both learned a very valuable lesson here today George. We both have taken our friends for granted and we need to realize what they mean now that they are gone.
George: Your right, Ralph. I need to be going now though, because I have to work.
Ralph: Good idea George, I also must be going because I have to go to school and catch up on some homework.
George: See ya.
Ralph: Bye George.
Ashley Joslyn 4th hour
George and Biff
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
George and Biff
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
Kierstens FINAL DRAFT
please use my rough draft as my final. this wont allow me to copy and paste and theres no way in hell i am going to retype it ALL. sooo i know it would probably be alot better if i could edit it or paste it or something buuuuuuuuut i cant. so ummm grade it nicely please???
- KI3RST3N
- KI3RST3N
Andrew Lerg Final Conversation
Andrew Lerg
5/03/10
4th Block English
Of Mice and Men Conversation
George (Mice) and Ralph (Lord of the Flies)
The effects of others bringing you down
George: Lennie has really been a drag. I really don't know how much longer I can take this.
Ralph: You're telling me!? I had an entire tribe to look after and all they wanted to do was bring me down.
George: What do you mean?
Ralph: Well, being the leader of the tribe, I was the one that had to think of creating the shelters and the fire, yet nobody really helped.
George: So you had to do everything?
Ralph: Because we were on a remote island, we had to find a way so ships could see us. That is where the fire came into play. Plus we needed shelters to sleep in and I was the one who ended up completing it because all the others were goofing around.
George: What do you mean goofing around?
Ralph: All the littlens were just playing and swimming and some of the big kids went “hunting”.
George: Hunting is productive – why are you upset that they went hunting? You need to get food sometime.
Ralph: True, but it was a once in a blue moon occurrence when the hunters actually hunted and brought something back.
George: Alright, I guess I understand. But I still don't know how they were pulling you down?
Ralph: I specifically instructed some of the members to keep the fire going at all times so that we would have a chance at getting rescued. And what did they do?
George: Let me guess – they let the fire go out.
Ralph: Who knows how many ships went by us without knowing that we were actually there; needed to be rescued. Piggy and I saw a least one ship that went by but there could have been so many more.
George: I’m sorry – you must of exploded when you found out you missed a chance at being rescued.
Ralph: If I hadn’t had those other tribe members that only thought of themselves – I would have been off that island in less than a week. Not to mention Piggy or Simon would not have died. But like I said, my tribe members really were a pain.
George: Well at least it didn’t get any worse that what it did.
Ralph: Oh it did.
George: How?
Ralph: My tribe turned on me.
George: Go on.
Ralph: My rival, Jack, gained control of the tribe after he called me a coward and most of the members joined his side. After that, Jack’s tribe was solely based on survival and violence – not to get rescued. So I was even more hindered by my fellow peers prolonging our rescue.
George: So let me get this straight, because of your peers you lost two of your friends, lost control of your tribe, and almost lost your opportunity to get rescued.
Ralph: Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
George: Sounds a lot like me.
Ralph: Oh yeah?
George: I feel as if Lennie has blurred any hope or dream that I could ever want. There is no way I could leave him because what would that say about me as a person? On the other hand, there is no way to start something good because he’ll always mess it up.
Ralph: I get what you’re saying. Those people in your life have made a lasting impression that you just can’t shake.
George: Not only that but I have to think of everything for Lennie; what he eats, when he sleeps, what to touch, what not to touch, what to say, what not to say. I mean the list just goes on and on.
Ralph: I completely agree with you. It was the same for me with the tribe just in a different sense. More of a survival/getting rescued mode.
George: My life would be so much easier if Lennie were not a part of it. I could start a family, I could actually keep a job, I wouldn’t have to worry about him, I could spend my time with other people. You know what, I could probably have a life for once if it weren’t for him.
Ralph: I am sure that you don’t mean that.
George: Lennie really can’t help the things that he does because that is how he is made but it just feels that life would be a whole lot easier without him.
Ralph: I felt the same way about my tribe.
George: If there was a life without Lennie – I know exactly what I would do.
Ralph: Yeah, what’s that?
George: I would get to think about just me.
Ralph: That’s it?
George: Yep. No what does Lennie need or what did Lennie just do, just what am I going to do, what do I need. That’d be the life right there.
Ralph: I guess I can agree with you. I mean with no other tribe members, I could make sure the fire was going at all times and I would only have to take care of myself.
George: Negative people around you do generally make your life a whole lot harder.
Ralph: People that try to drag you down do generally make your life harder because you have to put more energy toward them instead of toward yourself.
George: Of which that can completely affect your mood and your energy levels. I guarantee that you will lose sleep over some of the other person’s actions or words. Lennie got himself in plenty of problems and I promise you that I lost a lot of sleep over that.
Ralph: I guess then the key thing is to just rise up and be better than those people.
George: Yeah, I mean what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.
Brandon Wegenke
George: Hi my name is George
Ralph: Nice to meet you George, I am Ralph.
George: I have a brother and his name is Lennie and he is mentally handicapped. He is such a hard person to take care of. I find my self struggling to take care of him and being accountable for his actions
Ralph: I know how you feel George. I feel like I am in charge of all the kids on this deserted island where my plane crashed. I struggle every day maintaining order and making sure that all the kids are safe.
George: Oh is that true. Are there just kids on the island because you are quit young to be in charge?
Ralph: Yes there are only kids and I am one of the oldest so the kids look up to me.
George: Oh that is very interesting Ralph.
Ralph: It is very hard to make sure that order is present because there is someone else on the island that opposes me and his name is Jack.
George: Oh tell me more please?
Ralph: I sure will George. Jack is a rebel and he does not like the way that I am running things and he tries to make everyone follow him whenever possible. Jack and I have a struggle of who holds power every time that there is a meeting. I was voted the leader of the group but Jack lacks to see this and he tries to destroy any power that I have implemented.
George: Wow! That is very interesting. Lennie is my exact opposite as well. The only difference is that Lennie depends on my leadership. Unlike Jack, without me Lennie would be lost. I say this because Lennie has a disability and he looks to me for a sense of guidance and at times even protection; even though he doesn't need that last part because he is a really big person and has a lot of strength.
Ralph: You know what George. That is a very interesting point that you just made. I wish that there was someone on this island that is like Lennie because if there was people would maybe follow his direction and follow me instead of Jack. I feel that there has been a power shift in camp and I think that it's because I am more worried about getting us rescued. While Jack is more focused on surviving and going on hunts.
George: I feel Ralph that if you were to talk to Jack and say listen if me and you were to join together maybe we could share the power and try to show the kids that they can look up to us for advice, guidance and leadership. Also, if you do that you guys could both work together in getting the food and eventually getting rescued.
Ralph: I already have tried talking to Jack but he is just so consumed in killing this beast that he is thinking really irrationally. He just wants to have all the power to himself and he doesn't listen to anyone but himself.
George: Lennie also thinks very irrationally sometimes to and it really does take its tole one me. I find it very hard to gain the respect of other people that I run into because they all think that I am a nobody because all my time is centered around taking care of this poor person. I feel like I have no power with the people I work for and I feel like everyone looks down upon me and it really gets to me sometimes.
Ralph: I can really relate to how you feel George. It is my responsibility to take care of all of the people on this island and it is a struggle every day to maintain my power within this group of people. It really does take a tole on you.
George: I know I just wish that someone of a higher standard then me could feel how you and I do because then they would see what we have to go through on a daily basis and maybe they would understand what we are up against.
Ralph: Right now on this island everyone is obsessed with hunting and trying to get food. They all get such a huge rush from killing animals that it is sickening to me. I just wish that people would focus more on getting rescued and act more rationally then what they are right now.
George: Ralph, there is a power struggle everywhere you look in life. Most of the time you cannot control how much power that you have. Power is always being shifted one way or the other and it has an impact on your life in a numerous amount of ways. I fight so hard everyday to try and gain more power so I can have a higher place in this society. It is a fight that you will never be able to win and is one that you hang onto if you ever do have any amount of power.
Ralph: You know what George, I agree with you 100% and I wish that people would think more like you. Power is so hard to obtain let alone maintain.
George: What do you mean?
Ralph: What I mean by that is power is so very hard to get. You have to work so hard to get enough power to mean anything to anyone in life. Then once you get that power it is so tough to try and keep it because people are always going to come after that power and try to take it away from you.
George: You are exactly right Ralph and I think that you have a firm understanding on the concept of power and the struggle that you have to go through in order to obtain that power. Then once you have that power you understand how hard it is to maintain it and I feel that is why me and you are so understanding of each other as well.
Ralph: Thanks a lot George, if you need anything you can hit me up on my Twitter.
George: Okay Ralph. Thank you a lot for your time and I will talk to you soon.
Ralph: Take it easy George, I will look forward to talking to you again.
Ralph: Nice to meet you George, I am Ralph.
George: I have a brother and his name is Lennie and he is mentally handicapped. He is such a hard person to take care of. I find my self struggling to take care of him and being accountable for his actions
Ralph: I know how you feel George. I feel like I am in charge of all the kids on this deserted island where my plane crashed. I struggle every day maintaining order and making sure that all the kids are safe.
George: Oh is that true. Are there just kids on the island because you are quit young to be in charge?
Ralph: Yes there are only kids and I am one of the oldest so the kids look up to me.
George: Oh that is very interesting Ralph.
Ralph: It is very hard to make sure that order is present because there is someone else on the island that opposes me and his name is Jack.
George: Oh tell me more please?
Ralph: I sure will George. Jack is a rebel and he does not like the way that I am running things and he tries to make everyone follow him whenever possible. Jack and I have a struggle of who holds power every time that there is a meeting. I was voted the leader of the group but Jack lacks to see this and he tries to destroy any power that I have implemented.
George: Wow! That is very interesting. Lennie is my exact opposite as well. The only difference is that Lennie depends on my leadership. Unlike Jack, without me Lennie would be lost. I say this because Lennie has a disability and he looks to me for a sense of guidance and at times even protection; even though he doesn't need that last part because he is a really big person and has a lot of strength.
Ralph: You know what George. That is a very interesting point that you just made. I wish that there was someone on this island that is like Lennie because if there was people would maybe follow his direction and follow me instead of Jack. I feel that there has been a power shift in camp and I think that it's because I am more worried about getting us rescued. While Jack is more focused on surviving and going on hunts.
George: I feel Ralph that if you were to talk to Jack and say listen if me and you were to join together maybe we could share the power and try to show the kids that they can look up to us for advice, guidance and leadership. Also, if you do that you guys could both work together in getting the food and eventually getting rescued.
Ralph: I already have tried talking to Jack but he is just so consumed in killing this beast that he is thinking really irrationally. He just wants to have all the power to himself and he doesn't listen to anyone but himself.
George: Lennie also thinks very irrationally sometimes to and it really does take its tole one me. I find it very hard to gain the respect of other people that I run into because they all think that I am a nobody because all my time is centered around taking care of this poor person. I feel like I have no power with the people I work for and I feel like everyone looks down upon me and it really gets to me sometimes.
Ralph: I can really relate to how you feel George. It is my responsibility to take care of all of the people on this island and it is a struggle every day to maintain my power within this group of people. It really does take a tole on you.
George: I know I just wish that someone of a higher standard then me could feel how you and I do because then they would see what we have to go through on a daily basis and maybe they would understand what we are up against.
Ralph: Right now on this island everyone is obsessed with hunting and trying to get food. They all get such a huge rush from killing animals that it is sickening to me. I just wish that people would focus more on getting rescued and act more rationally then what they are right now.
George: Ralph, there is a power struggle everywhere you look in life. Most of the time you cannot control how much power that you have. Power is always being shifted one way or the other and it has an impact on your life in a numerous amount of ways. I fight so hard everyday to try and gain more power so I can have a higher place in this society. It is a fight that you will never be able to win and is one that you hang onto if you ever do have any amount of power.
Ralph: You know what George, I agree with you 100% and I wish that people would think more like you. Power is so hard to obtain let alone maintain.
George: What do you mean?
Ralph: What I mean by that is power is so very hard to get. You have to work so hard to get enough power to mean anything to anyone in life. Then once you get that power it is so tough to try and keep it because people are always going to come after that power and try to take it away from you.
George: You are exactly right Ralph and I think that you have a firm understanding on the concept of power and the struggle that you have to go through in order to obtain that power. Then once you have that power you understand how hard it is to maintain it and I feel that is why me and you are so understanding of each other as well.
Ralph: Thanks a lot George, if you need anything you can hit me up on my Twitter.
George: Okay Ralph. Thank you a lot for your time and I will talk to you soon.
Ralph: Take it easy George, I will look forward to talking to you again.
George and Biff
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
George and Biff
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
George: It’s a great morning today wouldn’t you say Biff?
Biff: yes it feels like I can relax for once
George: what do you mean Biff?
Biff: I just feel like I never have a home, I am always going from town to town. It would be nice for once just to stay in one place and not worry about anything.
George: I do know what you mean ever since I lost Lennie things just haven’t been the same, you must think about that too with your father. Oh what was his name?
Biff: Willy, yes it’s been hard but I feel like a weight is off my shoulders and now I can do what I have wanted to do for years.
George: so you’re going for it, you’re actually going to do it.
Biff: yup I decided its time for me to stop getting into trouble and just stay in one place, also I just made all the money and put made my first down payment.
George: is that so. Wow Biff I proud of you. How did you get the money for it?
Biff: well after my father’s death Happy, my mother and I all got some money. Also I have been working at this factory for a while which has been getting me some good money, and the people down at the factory are pretty nice guys.
George: I just can’t believe that you’re doing it, actually going for your dreams. Where’s the farm at?
Biff: in a small town in Kentucky
George: I am just so proud of you. That is what I always wanted, was to get my own place too.
Biff: well George you are. You’re coming with me, I need help on the farm and the only person I can trust is you. So were going it may be a bit of a travel but were used to it.
George: what made you decided to finally go for your dreams?
Biff: well one day I woke up, a couple of days after my father’s death and I knew that I had to get out of the town. So I just started traveling more and more then I decided I was done with traveling. I was just so sick of being a nobody and not having anything under my name except for criminal records. So I can by this factory and started working there and finally got enough money to buy a farm. Now the place needs some touching up but after we can call it our own.
George: this will be so great just the two of us working on a farm, selling our crops and no more traveling. Now I can finally in rest.
Biff: me too, just the two of us now.
Takira- Convo b/w George and Willy (Dreams and Future)
George: Hey Willy hows everything going?
Willy: Ehh just tired of things not going the way I want it to go, nobody is doing things my way.
George: I know exactly how you feel there Willy.
Willy: Yeah I have big dreams for my family and nobody seems to see what I see or even listen for that matter its like I'm constantly talking to myself and everyone has tuned me out.
George: Yeah tell me about it. I tell my bud Lennie over and over again what my dream is for the both of us because he forgets things a lot.
Willy: Why do you tell him over and over again?
George: Well my friend Lennie is mentally disabled and I remind him constantly of what we aiming for to achieve our dreams.
Willy: Well at least he listens agrees with your future plans.
George: Yeah. What are your dreams anyway Willy?
Willy: Well I am very glad you asked George. You see I have big dreams. My dream is somewhat like the American dream. I want my boy Biff to get out there and get a real job being a successful salesman. And my son Happy I just want him to stop sleeping his way to the top and actually work hard to make it to the top. You know I want success for my boys.
George: Wow what a great dream you have for your boys. But did you ever ask them what their hopes and dreams are?
Willy: Well no not exactly George. You see Biff has told me things he has wanted to do such as going to work in the western part of the country on a farm. I mean come on thats not a real job.
George: Wow Willy thats offensive because I work on a farm and thats all I got to do for work. I think you should consider peoples feelings more and try to look at it from Biff's point of view.
Willy: I am sorry George I didn't mean to offend you, but I think your right I should look at things more from Biff's point of view. I guess I am just so paranoid as to if my boys will be successful or not.
George: Yeah it's alright things happen. I think things in your family will come together if you just sit back and hear them out for their hopes and dreams and it should make you feel very content because then you know they will be happy with whatever their doing.
Willy: Never thought of it that way George. I really understand now. Wow I'm glad we talked bud. I am going to try and put this crazy American dream behind me and really go and hear what my families hopes and dreams are.
George: Well your welcome. Anytime. I know everything will work out well.
Willy: It was nice talking to you George. It really was a pleasure.
George: Yes it was a pleasure. But I have to get back to the farm and work and go and check on Lennie, I can't leave him alone by himself for too long.
Willy: Yeah I understand. Well talk to you later bud bye!
George: bye.
Willy: Ehh just tired of things not going the way I want it to go, nobody is doing things my way.
George: I know exactly how you feel there Willy.
Willy: Yeah I have big dreams for my family and nobody seems to see what I see or even listen for that matter its like I'm constantly talking to myself and everyone has tuned me out.
George: Yeah tell me about it. I tell my bud Lennie over and over again what my dream is for the both of us because he forgets things a lot.
Willy: Why do you tell him over and over again?
George: Well my friend Lennie is mentally disabled and I remind him constantly of what we aiming for to achieve our dreams.
Willy: Well at least he listens agrees with your future plans.
George: Yeah. What are your dreams anyway Willy?
Willy: Well I am very glad you asked George. You see I have big dreams. My dream is somewhat like the American dream. I want my boy Biff to get out there and get a real job being a successful salesman. And my son Happy I just want him to stop sleeping his way to the top and actually work hard to make it to the top. You know I want success for my boys.
George: Wow what a great dream you have for your boys. But did you ever ask them what their hopes and dreams are?
Willy: Well no not exactly George. You see Biff has told me things he has wanted to do such as going to work in the western part of the country on a farm. I mean come on thats not a real job.
George: Wow Willy thats offensive because I work on a farm and thats all I got to do for work. I think you should consider peoples feelings more and try to look at it from Biff's point of view.
Willy: I am sorry George I didn't mean to offend you, but I think your right I should look at things more from Biff's point of view. I guess I am just so paranoid as to if my boys will be successful or not.
George: Yeah it's alright things happen. I think things in your family will come together if you just sit back and hear them out for their hopes and dreams and it should make you feel very content because then you know they will be happy with whatever their doing.
Willy: Never thought of it that way George. I really understand now. Wow I'm glad we talked bud. I am going to try and put this crazy American dream behind me and really go and hear what my families hopes and dreams are.
George: Well your welcome. Anytime. I know everything will work out well.
Willy: It was nice talking to you George. It really was a pleasure.
George: Yes it was a pleasure. But I have to get back to the farm and work and go and check on Lennie, I can't leave him alone by himself for too long.
Willy: Yeah I understand. Well talk to you later bud bye!
George: bye.
Sam Irrers Final
George and Willy's Conversation
By: Sam Irrer
4/29/10
This conversation is taking place between George from “Of Men and Mice” and Willy from “Death of a Salesman”
George: Hey Willy, hows it going?
Willy: It's going pretty good George, how about yourself?
George: Well, it's not going as great as I had hoped.
Willy: Why do you say that George?
George: Well, I have been taking care of Lenny for a long time and it is really just getting hard for me to handle. I feel as if he is just holding me back, but I can't just let him fend for himself.
Willy: Oh I see your predicament.
George: I just don't know what to do anymore.
Willy: Well maybe you need to find someone else who is more capable of taking care of him because it is just too much for you to handle.
George: Yea maybe that would be a good idea. I am gonna try to do that. Thanks a lot
Willy. So how are your boys doing Willy?
Willy: Well, they are not doing too good.
George: Why do you say that?
Willy: Well Biff had planned on going to Virginia University, but he was having some trouble in his high school math and didn't receive enough credits to graduate so he could not get into Virginia. Happy is doing alright and he is trying to become a businessman himself.
George: Oh, I'm sorry they are not doing too well.
Willy: Yea, I had such high hopes for them but I kind of let them down.
George: How did you let them down Willy?
Willy: Well I sort of set them up to fail, I made them feel almost as if they were invincible. Then they got to meet reality and it was very difficult for them to succeed.
George: Oh I see.
Willy: Yea I am just so upset at myself for setting them up to fail. I just let them down, and I let myself down. I just wish that everything would have turned out a lot better than it did.
George: Yea, it is not easy trying to raise children. It will all turn out OK in the end, you just gotta keep your head up Willy.
Willy: Yea.
George: One of these days I'm gonna get enough money to go start my own farm. I just gotta working hard and everything will turn out to be OK.
Willy: Well alright George, I've gotta get going now, It was great talking to you. I appreciate your help
George: No problem Willy, I'm glad that I could help you out.
Willy: Alright talk to you later.
George: Yup, bye.
Abby Munks Final Convo
BIFF LOMEN AND GEORGE
George: Sorry to hear about your dad Biff.
Biff: Thank you George. Sorry to hear bout Lennie. I know it must have been tough. I understand what you did; and why you did it. That was showing true love.
George: Ya think? I keep going back and forth with myself...
Biff: You're going to have people that disagree with you and your actions. But you have to block them out because you know what you did was right. The things they would have done to Lennie if they woulda got a hold of him it woulda been a shame.
George: Then why didn't you let your Dad kill himself? Why did you try to stop him if you knew he was unhappy? It seems if you truly agreed with me you woulda let your dad do what he wanted. You know he was suffering eh?
Biff: I knew he could have got help. Well I Guess I was selfish and thought he could have got help. I mean for Christ sack that man was my father. I wanted to try to help him. All of us did even Hap.
George. Right. I aint judging you Biff just a question. So I know I had to take care of my friend Lennie but that was optional. I didn't have to take care of him just wanted to. Knowing that it was your Dad and that you couldn't just let him go. Was that hard on you and your family?
Biff: Yes. I felt that he was our responsibility. No matter what people told me. When he looked silly we all looked silly. Some blame me for his craziness. Now how do you reckon that makes me feel? I tried all I could George it just wasn't for me. You have to understand being a farmer and all.
George: Well Biff that aint your fault. You knew what you wanted to be and your Dad wasn't content with that. Even after all you tried to do for him, he still wanted you to be what he no longer could do. That much he knew. And your poor mother thinking that she was helping him lettin him go around like a mad man.
Biff: So George did you ever feel like you just wanted to let Lennie go and go on without him?
George: Well I can't say that never crossed my mind. What I could have done who I could have been if Lennie wasn't holding me back. But then I think all that Lennie taught me and how much of a good friend he was to me. What about you Biff why didn't you just escape your dad and go on without him?
Biff: Well George...I can't tell you why I didn't leave him. I should have many times. I would be more successful in life and happy not always chasing that stupid dream of a salesman that he had for me. But what kind of son would I have been? If I just left my dad? I never knew he would go off and die and I am sure glad that I don't have a guilty conscious, because living with that is not something you can do. I see my mom living through that right now do to Pa's death.
George: What are you saying Biff? That I should have a guilty conscious? That I shouldn't have killed my friend? Why thats what I had to do you hear!
Biff: No George I am not saying that at all! I am just saying that I... well I don't know what I am trying to say other than I did what I thought was right and thats all that matters and so did you. You did what you knew you had to do and as long as you know thats what was right then who cares about what other people think or hear.
George: I didn't mean to get all hot and heated on you Biff just sometimes its hard. You can imagine can't you. I say it is easier getting a job and keeping one without Lennie though. Every once in a while when I see a mouse I think of Lennie though. It's funny most people get doves or pennies or something like that as reminders of there passed loved ones and that darn Lennie sends me mice.
Biff: So how is the farming life George? Boy do I miss that smell of fresh cut fields and the feel of real mans work.
George: You know Biff I think you make it more out then it is. You make it sound like it something that only the God's get to enjoy. Me I just do it to make a living. But I mean I do reckon I would miss all of it if I didn't get to farm.
Biff: Yes yes you would. You don't know what sitten in an office is like. Begin for your job like you can't just do a hard earned work.
George: Alright I will take your word and just be thankful.
Biff: Thanks George and remember to block out what there saying. I will be seeing ya shortly ya hear?
George: I reckon I will be seeing you soon.
George: Sorry to hear about your dad Biff.
Biff: Thank you George. Sorry to hear bout Lennie. I know it must have been tough. I understand what you did; and why you did it. That was showing true love.
George: Ya think? I keep going back and forth with myself...
Biff: You're going to have people that disagree with you and your actions. But you have to block them out because you know what you did was right. The things they would have done to Lennie if they woulda got a hold of him it woulda been a shame.
George: Then why didn't you let your Dad kill himself? Why did you try to stop him if you knew he was unhappy? It seems if you truly agreed with me you woulda let your dad do what he wanted. You know he was suffering eh?
Biff: I knew he could have got help. Well I Guess I was selfish and thought he could have got help. I mean for Christ sack that man was my father. I wanted to try to help him. All of us did even Hap.
George. Right. I aint judging you Biff just a question. So I know I had to take care of my friend Lennie but that was optional. I didn't have to take care of him just wanted to. Knowing that it was your Dad and that you couldn't just let him go. Was that hard on you and your family?
Biff: Yes. I felt that he was our responsibility. No matter what people told me. When he looked silly we all looked silly. Some blame me for his craziness. Now how do you reckon that makes me feel? I tried all I could George it just wasn't for me. You have to understand being a farmer and all.
George: Well Biff that aint your fault. You knew what you wanted to be and your Dad wasn't content with that. Even after all you tried to do for him, he still wanted you to be what he no longer could do. That much he knew. And your poor mother thinking that she was helping him lettin him go around like a mad man.
Biff: So George did you ever feel like you just wanted to let Lennie go and go on without him?
George: Well I can't say that never crossed my mind. What I could have done who I could have been if Lennie wasn't holding me back. But then I think all that Lennie taught me and how much of a good friend he was to me. What about you Biff why didn't you just escape your dad and go on without him?
Biff: Well George...I can't tell you why I didn't leave him. I should have many times. I would be more successful in life and happy not always chasing that stupid dream of a salesman that he had for me. But what kind of son would I have been? If I just left my dad? I never knew he would go off and die and I am sure glad that I don't have a guilty conscious, because living with that is not something you can do. I see my mom living through that right now do to Pa's death.
George: What are you saying Biff? That I should have a guilty conscious? That I shouldn't have killed my friend? Why thats what I had to do you hear!
Biff: No George I am not saying that at all! I am just saying that I... well I don't know what I am trying to say other than I did what I thought was right and thats all that matters and so did you. You did what you knew you had to do and as long as you know thats what was right then who cares about what other people think or hear.
George: I didn't mean to get all hot and heated on you Biff just sometimes its hard. You can imagine can't you. I say it is easier getting a job and keeping one without Lennie though. Every once in a while when I see a mouse I think of Lennie though. It's funny most people get doves or pennies or something like that as reminders of there passed loved ones and that darn Lennie sends me mice.
Biff: So how is the farming life George? Boy do I miss that smell of fresh cut fields and the feel of real mans work.
George: You know Biff I think you make it more out then it is. You make it sound like it something that only the God's get to enjoy. Me I just do it to make a living. But I mean I do reckon I would miss all of it if I didn't get to farm.
Biff: Yes yes you would. You don't know what sitten in an office is like. Begin for your job like you can't just do a hard earned work.
George: Alright I will take your word and just be thankful.
Biff: Thanks George and remember to block out what there saying. I will be seeing ya shortly ya hear?
George: I reckon I will be seeing you soon.
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