Category: Of Mice And Men

It is hard not to notice that Of Mice and Men is written in a circular manner with the heavy use of locations that are repeatedly used in different scenes throughout the novella. Steinbeck made sure that all scenes are grouped by twos, thus balancing the repetitive pattern of the narration. The opening scene of the book is set in the same place as is described in the closing chapter green pool (Steinbeck 1).

It seems that the symmetrical nature of the novels beginning and the ending is meant to reflect the fact that the characters dream was never going to come true and that it was nothing more than a reflection in the Salinas River. It can be argued that the snake that survives at the beginning of the book and dies at the end foreshadows the tragic events that were meant to happen.

It also shows that Lennie and George were never going to escape the desperate circle of the routine of their lives. The deep green pool of the Salinas River that is still in the late afternoon creates the impression that the heroes have never moved from the place in which they revealed themselves to the reader for the first time (Steinbeck 36). Nonetheless, it provokes a deep sense of completeness and shows that just like the day marked by an event of a great loss, the story itself is coming to an end. However, the story of George cannot be finished without Lennie. He falters at the realization of what is about to happen. George listens to the playful recital of their dream and thinks about a cold and cruel reality in which his friend has to be shot.

The notion that a dream strengthens friendship and gives hope is an important theme in the novella. It runs throughout the whole book, showing that a sense of importance that one can get from having a common goal with someone allows them to surmount lifes struggles and tribulations. The first instance of this theme in the novella is the story of Candy and his friend. When this tall, stoop-shouldered old man loses his dog, he decides to become a part of George and Lennies team and to share their dream of becoming landowners (Steinbeck 12). The emptiness of the loss could only be filled with a new meaning, which comes from having shared aspirations with someone.

When Candy tells George that he is willing to put in three hundred an fifty bucks, he feels like there is a possibility for new hope. Moreover, his desire to make a will and leave his part of the land to his friends shows that the heros soul lies open before new friendship. Another example of the theme of a dream is Crooks memory of the past, which he holds in an attempt to bring his happy experience of the bygone days into the present. The character longs for the lost equality of relationships, and this dream provides him with relief from his sickness and bitterness. Crook expresses his desire by telling Lennie that every person needs somebody to be around (Steinbeck 24).

It can be argued that the most important dream in the book is the one shared by George and Lennie. Their desire to become landowners infuses the story with a sense of optimism. The common dream propels the whole narrative and becomes its major theme.

Work Cited

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. Print.

Loneliness Portrayed in “Of Mice and Men”

Loneliness is spreading all around the world, and many people can’t have any choices. Imagine living the life without anyone. People don’t talk to you. So everyone should have someone to be by their side and give them support. In the novel Of Mice And Men, the author John Steinbeck writes about the character’s loneliness. Loneliness is a common theme in the novel, as demonstrated by Curley’s wife, Crooks, Candy.

The Isolation of Curley’s Wife

Curley’s better half is the main lady on the farm and has nobody who will converse with her-including her significant other. Her sexuality separates her from the other characters. She is exhausted and forlorn, yet her endeavor to draw in the consideration of the men on the farm just serves to push them far from her. She has effectively abandoned her fantasies of a better life as a motion picture star and seems to hang her expectations on any man who will tune in, “You know what I can do if you open your trap” (Steinbeck 80), Curley’s wife asks crooks if you help me I could do something else.

Candy’s Desperate Isolation

Candy’s treat is confined in that after the loss of his hand, he can’t work close to the other men and is diminished to the part of a swamper. When his pooch has been shot, Sweet has little else to live for and is frantically forlorn. He is urgently desolate. He is feeble and apprehensive without bounds. He doesn’t go into town with the other men and sees the incorporation in George and Lennie’s fantasy as the main way out, “We’ll fix up the little old place, and then we’ll go live there” (60) in this quote candy talks about he wants to live with George because he feels loneliness.

Crooks’ Segregation and Yearning for Connection

Crooks convicts is detached as a result of his race, his inability, and his profound question of others. He is physically isolated from the other men and has his own room in the stable. His warped back implies that, like Sweet, he has constrained social or work contact with other men as he tends steeds. His depression compels him to submit when Lennie tries to converse with him. Hooligans pull back his demand to be a piece of Lennie and George’s fantasy after Curley’s better half places him in his place. His justifiable doubts and dread about others treat him return, and he can’t see past the bias he has constantly experienced, “‘well s’pose, jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then? (71) In this quote, Crooks wants Lennie to join him.

Conclusion:

To summarize, the characters in the novel Mice And Men are lonely. As Curley’s wife, no one talks to her just because she is a woman. For candy, his dog got shot, and he has a broken hand. Crooks was back, so people were resisting him. So that’s why characters in Mice And Men are lonely.

References:

1. Steinbeck, John. “Of Mice and Men.” Penguin Books, 1993.
2. Ditsky, John. “John Steinbeck and the Psychology of Loneliness.” Steinbeck Quarterly, vol. 28, no. 03-04, 1995, pp. 71-83.
3. Gregg, John R. “The Loneliness of ‘Of Mice and Men’.” The English Journal, vol. 39, no. 5, 1950, pp. 275-282.
4. Heintzman, Ralph P. “Candy’s Dog: Symbol of Fading Dreams.” Steinbeck Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 01-02, 1994, pp. 21-26.
5. Sweeney, Susan Elizabeth. “Racial Discrimination and Alienation in Of Mice and Men.” Critical Insights: Of Mice and Men, edited by Donald R. Noble, Salem Press, 2013, pp. 131-143.
6. Edwards, Thomas R. “Sexual Politics in ‘Of Mice and Men’.” Modern Language Studies, vol. 11, no. 1, 1980, pp. 17-27.

The Journey of Lennie and George in “Of Mice and Men”

Lennie and George are extremely good buddies on a road journey. However, this isn’t the fun shape of a road journey with wacky adventures. They’re broke and looking for work on the farms of Northern California. The broken element is a problem, given that they’ll be making plans on proudly owning a farm someday. George is the brains within the decrease back of this operation, at the same time as Lennie is, well, some crayons brief of a 164-colorations box. The duo can’t keep down jobs for long, thanks to Lennie’s childlike mentality and bizarre
fetish for biting things, which incorporates mice, rabbits, puppies, and women.

Struggles and Characters at the Ranch in “Of Mice and Men”

Good fortune smiles upon them in short when they get paintings at a ranch near Soledad, California. Their co-workers encompass Candy, Crooks, and Curley. We study that Curley also has a new associate, who no character is allowed to test her. We additionally meet Slim, our nearby and sensible ranch demigod, and Carlson, a callous ranch hand, who tells Candy to adopt an ultra-modern domestic dog and shoot his old dog because it is smelly. But, given that Candy cannot deliver himself to shoot the old dog, Carlson does it for him. Nice, Carlson. And that’s not the best act of violence: Curley is itching for combat after he suspects Slim of making time together with his girl, so he gets right into a brawl with Lenni. Woohoo, Saturday night! This means time for drunken visits to the whorehouse for a max of the farmhands.

Loneliness and Desperation in “Of Mice and Men”

Slim, Lennie, Crooks, and Candy are putting once more at the ranch speakme approximately their farm-proudly proudly owning desires when Curley’s wife suggests as a whole lot as teasing them interested in being weak, as they were left on the return of while the others went whoring. When Crooks tries to get her to go away from his room, she explodes, reminding him that he is a ‘black man’ and that she may need to have him ‘strung up on a tree so smooth it ain’t even funny.’ That’s precisely the buzzkill it sounds like, and the birthday party breaks up.

Tragedy and Symbolism in the Conclusion of “Of Mice and Men”

On Sunday afternoon, Lennie’s inside the barn with a dead puppy. He admonishes the doggy for ‘going and getting killed,’ which we expect is clearly not lots the puppy’s fault as it is Lennie’s. Just then, Curley’s partner walks into the barn and gives up her hair as a petting object. She worries about him messing it up, though, and as she wriggles to keep away from a ruined hairdo, Lennie panics and, all over again, accidentally breaks her neck and kills her. He runs off in a panic. Again.

Candy discovers Curley’s wife’s frame and runs out to George, who identifies it as traditional Lennie handiwork. When Curley reveals it, he’s ready to specify a few vigilante-fashion justice—however, Slim and George need a nobler loss of life for their friend, who is presently hiding out in his secure spot and hallucinating about bunnies.

Finally, George suggests up. He’s appearing all weird, so we’re pretty powerful. AA few components bad are prepared to happen. And it does. George starts speaking about their dream farm and tells Lennie to look out over the river and not forget it—and then shoots him in the head. When the vigilantes display up, George tells a tale about how Lennie got shot in a battle as George tried to take the gun away. Slim gets it; however, absolutely everyone else is confused about why George is upset.

Resemblances and Symbolism in “Of Mice and Men”

To me, this book resembles the difference in society. This resembles the difference between the weak and the strong and the struggles that the people faced during the Dust Bowl. Another thing to know is that a gun is not only a way of killing but also a sign of love and compassion. Do not let one suffer. This is just one of the things I think the book resembles. The difference in society and the power that other people have against certain people that they believe that they are better than certain people in society.

Historical Context of the Great Depression

In the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the time and place are very distinct in history. It takes place in Salinas, California, a place that was near the Dust Bowl region. The time period is during the Great Depression, the worst economic event in history. The story itself is about two migrant workers, which was a very common thing during the Great Depression. The story is surrounded by history, and by knowing that history, it is easier to understand the story.

The Impact of the Great Depression

Of Mice and Men takes place during the 1930s, the era of the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a terrible event in which the economy had its largest crash in history. It started in 1929 and lasted about ten years. It was caused by inflation, quickly followed by millions of people panic selling their shares on the stock market, causing it to crash. The Great Depression left a strong effect on farmers that caused them to lose everything.

Prices rapidly declined as farmers attempted to produce more crops than ever in order to pay for their taxes, debts, and living expenses. In the early 1930s, the prices got so abysmal that many farmers went completely bankrupt and even lost their farms. Families even started using corn instead of coal because it was simply cheaper at the time. The Great Depression also affected women and minorities in a very different way. Work that was directly associated with males was manufacturing in heavy industries like steel production.

These careers experienced the highest layoff rate out of any job. This meant that men were not making as much as they used to and that they couldn’t support their families. To fix this, women had to become the breadwinners of the family. Most women had to work in service industries during the 1930s. These jobs included clerical workers, teachers, nurses, telephone operators, and domestics. All of these careers had much less trouble looking for work.

While men’s employment rate steeply declined, women’s employment rate rose. However, this does not mean women were treated equally at work; in many cases, employers lowered pay for female workers, and teachers had delayed paychecks. However, African Americans had it the worst; their already grim economic situation got even worse. They were the last to be hired but the first to be fired. They suffered from an unemployment rate of two to three times that of white people. Even in public aid programs, black people were discriminated against and sometimes even completely excluded from them.

The Dust Bowl’s Impact on the Setting

Of Mice and Men takes place near the Southern plains of America, the place that was worst affected by the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl, also known as “The Dirty Thirties,” began in 1930 and ended roughly in 1940. However, its large long-term economic effects lasted on the region. It severely intensified the already crippling impacts of the Great Depression and turned millions into migrant workers. Farmers greatly contributed to the unfortunate event by overplowing the land. The Dust Bowl was given its name because of the severe dust storms that it brought during a massive dry period.

The term “Dust Bowl” was coined after the worst dust storm commenced on April 14, 1935, when as many as three million tons of topsoil were blown around. These storms killed thousands of people, livestock, and crops. Farmers began to lose everything they ever worked for. These families had to survive on nothing but cornbread, beans, and milk. After people started to lose hope, a mass migration followed, which was the biggest in American history. Roughly two and a half million people left the area of the Dust Bowl. Many suffered from poverty and did not have a coin to their name.

The Rise of Migrant Workers in California

Directly caused by the events of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, the population of migrant workers skyrocketed. A migrant worker is a person who does not have a permanent home due to a search for employment, generally in agriculture. During the Great Depression, millions of people were laid off. Most could not find a job near their home, so they got rid of everything and left to work where jobs existed.

The Dust Bowl also contributed to millions of migrant workers, causing people to lose everything they had by destroying it all. The life of a typical migrant worker was not a good one. Lots of migrant workers had to live alongside irrigation ditches of the ranches and farms they worked at. People were overcrowded and directly created horrible sanitary conditions. The typical camp setup was either a tent or simply the back of a car or truck. Most migrant workers never found a permanent job; they worked for a certain amount of time and then had to move elsewhere in search of more work. They had low paychecks and suffered through back-breaking labor.

Significance of the Salinas Valley

Salinas, California, was a location that hundreds of thousands of migrant workers went to. It is known as the Salad Bowl of the World due to its very large production of lettuce, broccoli, pepper, and numerous other crops. Roughly 70% of the nation’s lettuce is grown there. On both sides of the valley are two mountains: the Gabilan mountain range and the Santa Lucia mountain range. There are healthy, green trees everywhere.

In between, there is the Salinas River, which is the longest underground river in the world, stretching out to roughly 155 miles. This is one of the main appeals of the Salinas Valley; it’s rich, fertile, and naturally irrigated land. The thousands of farms and ranches attracted migrant workers from every corner of the US, with a promise to have work in at least one of the plentiful fields. For the locals, this was a drawback, as their small town was quickly crowded with beggars and men looking for work.

Understanding the Historical Context

Of Mice and Men is a story that is very historically accurate and is based on major events that happened in America. Understanding the historical context is a key element in understanding the story itself. It takes place during the Great Depression in the plentiful region of California. Even the location of the story, the Salinas Valley, is important because of its geography and the amount of migrant workers that went there. The Dust Bowl was the event that created the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers that fled to California in seek of asylum. John Steinbeck grew up there and clearly knew its history.

References:

1. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. Penguin Books, 1993.
2. The Great Depression: Causes and Impact. History.com Editors, History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 Dec. 2009. URL: https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/great-depression-history
3. The Dust Bowl. National Centers for Environmental Information, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. URL: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-references/dyk/dust-bowl
4. Dust Bowl: Definition, Causes, When, Where, Effect, Map, & Facts. The History Junkie, 12 July 2021. URL: https://www.historyjunkie.org/dust-bowl/
5. Migrant Workers during the Great Depression. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. URL: https://www.nps.gov/articles/migrant-workers-during-the-great-depression.htm
6. Women and the Great Depression. Molly Taft, National Women’s History Museum. URL: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/molly-taft
7. The Migrant Experience. National Women’s History Museum. URL: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/lesson-plans/migrant-experience
8. African Americans in the Great Depression. Catherine A. Paul, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History, Oxford University Press, 23 Sep. 2020. URL: https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-739
9. Salinas Valley Agriculture. National Steinbeck Center. URL: https://www.steinbeck.org/the-place/salinas-valley-agriculture/

The Significance of Friendship in Of Mice and Men

Is friendship important to people? Friends are important because they help us deal with stress and make better lifestyle choices that keep us strong; you can also share your personal things with them. Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck is a story about friendship. It took place during the Great Depression. Most of the story was in Soledad, California. There are two main characters, Lennie and George, and they used to work on a farm. Lennie used to buck barley, and George was to help him and do other work. There were other characters, such as Candy (also known as Swamper). He was an old ranch worker who had lost one of his hands during an accident. Curley was the son of the ranch boss. He used to be a fighter. Crook was a colored man, and he was also lonely. Many people didn’t like him because he was colored. Curley’s wife used to flirt with people.

George and Lennie’s Solid Friendship Amid Loneliness

The themes of friendship and loneliness are important to the story Of Mice and Men. The two main characters, George and Lennie, have a great friendship that keeps them from being lonely, unlike the other guys on the ranch. Aunt Clara took Lennie when he was a baby and raised him up. When she died, Lennie came to George. They both got used to each other after a while. George was like a parent to Lennie. He always helped him. For example, when Lennie touched the girl’s dress in Weed, Lennie would have gone to jail, but George helped him escape. Lennie always used to follow what George would tell him to.

For example, George said that whenever you get in trouble, you have to go and hide in the bushes. If George tells him to walk over a cliff, he will go. They both got each other to take care of. They both have a dream to get a house and be their own boss. Lennie and George were talking by the river about their future house. George says, “O.K. Someday-we’re gonna get the jack together, and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs and-” (14). This won’t make them feel alone because they will both be together. There were many people on the ranch who didn’t have anybody to talk to, but George and Lennie were always together, and they always talked to each other. Sometimes, George complains about taking care of him. George would immediately know that Lennie is doing something bad.

Loneliness as a Common Thread

Candy and Crook are two characters on the farm who are lonely; they don’t have anybody close to them. Candy didn’t have anyone because he was old. He had a dog who was like his friend, but the dog was too old, so Carlson killed him. After that, he didn’t have anybody to talk to. Crooks was lonely because he was the only colored man on a ranch. Also, other people on the ranch play cards, but Crooks don’t. They also say that he stinks. He can’t take part in those things just because of his color. Lennie and Crooks were talking in the Crooks room about how lonely he is. Crooks says, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long he’s with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.” Crook never used to talk to people because some people used to make fun of him, and after Candy’s dog died, he felt too lonely. He lost his hand, so now they pay him two hundred and fifty dollars. Instead of the normal pay.

The Struggles of Curley’s Wife

Curley’s wife is another lonely character, even though she has a husband. She flirts with other guys to get rid of her loneliness. She’s also the only woman on the ranch. She’s lonely because Curley doesn’t give her enough time. Her loneliness affects other people because whenever she used to flirt with people, that person was always in trouble. Curley’s wife was talking to Candy, Lennie, and Crooks in Crooks’s room about how lonely she is and how her husband ignores her. Curley’s wife says, “Well, I ain’t giving you no trouble. Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?” She also got an offer from a movie, but she married Curley. Whenever she used to go to talk to guys, they thought that she was flirting with them.

In conclusion, George and Lennie were best friends. They both had each other to talk to, but the other guys didn’t have anybody to talk to. Others are lonely. Crooks was lonely because he was black. Curley’s wife was lonely because her husband didn’t give her enough time. Candy was lonely because he was old. The author is trying to tell how friendship affects you and how you always have someone to talk to. Later in the book, the characters’ loneliness will continue because George won’t have anyone to talk to either because Lennie is dead in the end. Candy might have George as a friend. Still, Curley’s wife won’t have anyone to talk to either because no one likes to talk to her. Crooks was black and might not have anyone because other guys used to make fun of him.

References:

1. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. Penguin Books, 1993.

The Power of Imagery in Of Mice and Men

In Of Mice and Men, the author, John Steinbeck, uses stylistic elements to impact how readers perceive and understand the text, allowing them to make deeper connections and relate the themes and struggles characterized in the book to their own lives. Steinbeck uses imagery, describing characters and settings in such a way that readers can visualize the depictions Steinbeck creates in order to find greater meaning in the messages and themes he conveys.

Symbolism and Themes in Of Mice and Men

Multiple examples of symbolism are found in the text, in which Steinbeck relates characters, actions, and circumstances to concepts found in everyday life. Diction, or the author’s word choice, impacts the readers’ understanding of the situations characters have to endure. Steinbeck uses these and other stylistic elements to connect with his readers and incorporate emotion and significance in the circumstances he depicts. John Steinbeck uses imagery in order to develop further understanding of the text, but also to give readers a vivid picture of what is happening throughout the book.

In the text, Steinbeck uses imagery to describe the setting, character, and any underlying thoughts and tone that certain actions and words from characters may portray. When describing the setting in the first few pages of the novel, he goes about depicting the area in which Lennie and George — the two main characters in the book — are introduced with such depth and detail that anyone reading would have a clear picture in their head where the beginnings of the novel are taking place. He writes, “. . .a few miles south of Soledad… the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. . .

There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys coming from the ranches. . . in front of the low horizontal limb of a giant sycamore, there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by men who have set on it.” Not only does Steinbeck portray the scenery with uttermost clarity and beauty, but he also builds a solid foundation that readers will come back to there on after. From the first thing he describes, readers are hooked, having a place they have conjured in their minds, and progressing through the story as if they were alongside the characters.

When describing characters, without fail, Steinbeck takes time to introduce them on a somewhat personal level, taking them apart piece by piece in a somewhat analytical way, describing how each character thinks, speaks, and acts. When describing Slim, Steinbeck states, “. . . there was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject. . . his ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.” Steinbeck uses imagery to create a picture inside of the reader’s head—as imagery often does—and creates a higher concept of meaning and understanding of any particular event. By describing characters and settings in the way that he does, readers can have a deeper grasp of how events might unfold and how a character’s personality or traits, or the setting in which they reside, may contribute to the overall concept and themes of the novel.

Steinbeck’s use of imagery allows readers to understand the text in a different light and perspective, and through this, they are able to understand the underlying messages and meaning of the words within. As well as imagery, Steinbeck uses symbolism in his writing to represent certain ideas and concepts through different people and events. For example, throughout the story, Lennie constantly mentions his obsession with owning rabbits on his and George’s dream farm. In one such event, where Lennie and George are talking about their future farm, Lennie exclaims eagerly, ‘An’ rabbits . . . An I’d take care of ‘em. Tell how I’d do that, George . . . They’d nibble an’ they’d nibble.’ For Lennie, these rabbits symbolize his goal and dream. They serve as a motivation for him, for as long as there is the prospect of owning rabbits and a farm with George, he is happy.

Another example of symbolism throughout the story is Candy’s dog. Carlson—one of the workers on the ranch— describes the dog as ‘all stiff with rheumatism. He ain’t no good to himself . . . This ol’ dog jus’ suffers himself all the time.’  Many of the workers of the ranch want Candy’s dog dead, not just because he reeks, but because he is old and appears to be suffering. In the story, Candy’s dog represents an object or idea that people often are reluctant to let go of.

Just as Candy was unwilling to kill his dog, people are often averse to the notion of giving up or letting go of something they have had for a long time. Steinbeck uses symbolism to connect seemingly normal or regular objects to real-world concepts and ideas. This gives a deeper meaning for readers analyzing his text, as a person or object in his story may symbolize something different for each individual person. It allows readers to link Of Mice and Men with their everyday lives, letting them not only understand the text better but also view their own lives in a seemingly different perspective and light.

Evoking Realism Through Diction

John Steinbeck uses diction in character dialogue to achieve verisimilitude or realism and in descriptions of events, characters, or scenery to impact how readers perceive and understand the story being written. Published in 1937, Of Mice and Men tells the story of two low-class men trying to find work during the Great Depression, a time characterized by a lack of income and an increase in the number of itinerant workers. The Great Depression represents the loneliness, suffering, and adversity that many men faced. Through this, Steinbeck conveys how their circumstances impact workers’ persona and actions and how Lennie and George use their friendship and their hope for a brighter future to overcome the alienation and hardship many other workers experience. Using this, John Steinbeck writes with that of the vernacular of low-income, uneducated men to make the novel more realistic.

During the novel, after Candy and George find Curley’s wife dead in the stable, Candy, in anger, shouts at Curley’s wife, “You God damn tramp . . . You did it, didn’t you? I s’pose your glad. Ever’bodyknowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” Candy’s way of speaking reflects that of an old, broken man who has lost all hope for a pleasant future. Steinbeck uses this diction in Candy’s speech to elicit sympathy from readers. It allows them to empathize with the man, thus making Curley’s wife’s death more significant and memorable to readers. As well as in dialogue, Steinbeck uses diction in his descriptions. Steinbeck uses phrases such as “her body flopped like a fish,” “a water snake glided smoothly up the pool, twisting its periscope head”, and “the crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again.”

In some situations, Steinbeck uses word choice in figurative language, such as similes and imagery. This impacts how readers perceive the text and how they imagine or understand the story. As well as this, Steinbeck uses diction to develop a greater interest in the detail for readers, creating such intricate art through words when describing something seemingly bland and simple. Steinbeck’s use of words not only creates a sense of realism but also allows readers to connect and relate to characters and events, furthering their understanding of the plot and concepts Steinbeck conveys.

Overcoming Adversity and Building Connections

In the author’s portrayal of circumstances and actions, Lennie and George— and how they respond to their situation— are somewhat of an oddity in comparison to the overall actions and perceptions that were consistent in most men at the time of the Great Depression. Their dream serves as a motivation for them to keep going, and their friendship and reliance on one another keep them from experiencing the alienation and loneliness that characterizes the itinerant workers of that time period.

John Steinbeck’s use of stylistic elements not only helps readers understand the text at a fundamental level but also allows readers to use their comprehension of characters, settings, and plots and connect these concepts to their view of the world around them. Steinbeck, through his use of stylistic elements, displays how circumstances affect other’s actions but also how the responses of individuals to adversity or oppression may vary depending on personal attitudes and perceptions of life.

References:

1. Steinbeck, J. (1937). Of Mice and Men. Penguin Books.
2. Steinbeck, J. (1965). Introduction. In Of Mice and Men (pp. 1-3). Penguin Books.
3. Hayashi, T. (2017). The Use of Imagery in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Retrieved from https://www.grin.com/document/379343
4. Wohlpart, J. V. (2004). The Relationship Between Setting and Theme in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck Review, 1(1), 50-60. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5818.2004.00006.x
5. Mitchell, C. R. (1998). Of Mice and Metaphors: Therapeutic Storytelling with Children. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 29(6), 555-562. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.29.6.555
6. Weiger, K. (2013). Symbols and Symbolism in Of Mice and Men. Retrieved from https://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=16867
7. Rodabaugh, S. L. (2007). Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men: A Conversation with Historiography. Steinbeck Review, 4(1), 64-79. doi:10.1111/j.1754-6087.2007.tb00258.x
8. Gunning, T. (2016). John Steinbeck’s Use of Realism. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/nnrlwgiogklr/john-steinbecks-use-of-realism/
9. Shumaker, L. L. (2001). John Steinbeck: The Influence of the Great Depression. Retrieved from https://www.steinbeck.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/john-steinbeck-the-influence-of-the-great-depression.pdf
10. Roberts, J. L. (2013). John Steinbeck: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work. Infobase Publishing.

The Desire to Escape

One recurring theme that is displayed in Of Mice and Men, Travels With Charley, and The Pearl is the desire to escape, which causes the characters to venture to somewhere else in hopes of a better life, but something. In The Pearl, Kino wanted to leave La Paz, Mexico to go to a different town where pearl buyers could hopefully offer them a price that they “deserve”. In Of Mice and Men, Lennie and George leave their old ranch to go to a new one because of Lennie’s actions and going to the new ranch could bring them closer to achieving their dream farm. In Travels With Charley, Steinbeck notices that almost everyone he has spoken to throughout his journey had the desire to get away from the place that they currently are or something. He realized that this motivation was bigger than the desire to move toward something. Steinbeck shares the same thoughts because since he was a little boy, he always had the “urge to be someplace else”. People told him that one day, he won’t face it anymore and the urge will fade away, but it never did. This was a great motive that influenced him to take his journey. Not one state had a good thing to say for itself, since they all thought that their current home is worse than others. Since Travels With Charley is a nonfiction novel, the Steinbeck truly did have the desire to escape and also found it in other people, which is most likely why he decided to incorporate this life theme in two fiction novels he wrote. Steinbeck’s desire to escape his current state could be the explanation for the three wives he’s had throughout his life. His first wife was Carol Henning, who he cheated on with his second wife, Gwyn Conger, ending his first marriage. His marriage and ended with Gwyn after their love was killed by Cogner’s unfaithfulness and manipulation of Steinbeck. Hence, while Steinbeck portrays the desire to escape throughout his novels, it is also apparent that he had that desire knowing that he escaped two marriages since he wanted to get out of the state he was currently in.

Change is Negative

In all three books, Steinbeck regards change as something negative. In the beginning of The Pearl, when he was poor and had nothing but family, he felt full of life and happiness, since he was appreciating his family and living simply brought joy to him. When change occurs, which is when Kino and Juana find the pearl while pearl-fishing, the pearl brings evil and greed to the family and the family is torn apart from it. Once they try to move out of town to find a pearl buyer that will give them the money that they deserve and since the town is unsafe because everyone is jealous of their possession of the pearl, their pride and joy and what they lived for, which was their infant son Coyotito, died. Because of change they ended up losing all that they had. In Of Mice and Men changing ranches leads to Lennie killing a woman and being killed for killing that woman, which crushes George’s hopes of a dream farm, and made him lose his life companion, which makes him just like other farm workers– lonely. Change cost George both a dream and a friend. In Travels With Charley, change in ways of life deemed negative and America was better before change occured. When Steinbeck travels to the city of Bangor, Maine, he notices that most of the objects/furniture in his hotel room are artificial, which helps him to observe the growth of sterility and artificiality in America, which serves as a detriment to America and the natural world. In Seattle, Washington, Steinbeck discovers the negative impact of industry on beautiful nature. He observes the intense traffic there and the yellow smoke. Steinbeck uses northern California to address the theme of change. He reunites with his old friends and family and observes how much they’ve changed, but realizes that he’s the one that changed not them. This allows him to conclude that the American people refuse to see that they are not living in the Golden Age anymore, but instead continuing new and dangerous habits that threaten their well-being and the stability of the natural environment. Therefore, Steinbeck’s opinion of change was most likely that it was negative, especially how America is changing for the worse in his eyes. Consequently, in John Steinbeck’s later years, he was accused of conservatism, which is defined as commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change or innovation, which makes it reasonable that he often writes about change being negative.

Characters Stand as Symbols or Serve as Themes

In the three novels, the characters stand as more than just characters, but symbols. In The Pearl, Juana, Kino’s wife, symbolizes the angel on Kino’s shoulder who is telling him to do what is best, which is throw the pearl out, since it is the source of all evil, which would prevent the the killing of their everything, Coyotito. However, the pearl, on the other hand is the devil, which brings evil to their family, but also symbolizes the hope of people in such a poor town to become wealthy. The doctor that refuses to help Kino because of his race and poverty, and only helps when he finds the pearl, representing the greediness that wealth brings and materialism to colonial society. He also attempted to steal the pearl at night when Kino and Juana were sleeping. The pearl buyers represents capitalism in its most corrupted, least functional form, since they told Kino that the pearl was worth much less than it really was, so they could cheat him. Coyotito, who is Kino and Juana’s infant son, serves as a symbol of innocence, since he has to pay the price of Kino’s foolishness. He shakes his sleeping box and reaches for the scorpion because he doesn’t know it can hurt him. He was the center of Kino and Juana’s life until the pearl was found. Hence, he also symbolizes happiness that can be brought by non materialistic things, like family. In Of Mice and Men, Lennie symbolizes an obstacle that George must deal with, because of his mental retardation. Curley’s wife symbolizes the temptation of females in a male-dominated environment. This is because she is the only women on the ranch and who roams around looking for men to talk to, but the migrant workers know better than to talk to her, so they won’t get into trouble with Curley. Additionally, several characters are isolated from society including Crooks, the colored stable hand, for his skin color, Curley’s wife for being a woman, and Candy, for being old and handicapped and symbolize loneliness. These social constraints keep the ranch workers from viewing and treating and viewing these people like everyone else, which causes them to be very lonely. In Travels with Charley, different characters symbolize the different types of people in America, their traits, and initiatives. The man on the submarine that he meets does his job just for its usefulness and financial benefits without caring for the fact that it is unethical, as he operates a nuclear armed submarine. Steinbeck notices a trend in a disregard for morals for financial gain throughout his journey. Also, a waitress in Maine symbolizes what Americans are becoming in Steinbeck’s eyes, which are people who lack goals and purpose and do not believe in the “American Dream.” Steinbeck also meets a dairy man who seems to be the happiest person on the journey and does not seem to want to go somewhere else. The milkman had an extremely education, with a Ph.D. in Mathematics. He represent the idea that people can choose to be happy, not matter their situation. Additionally, Steinbeck encounters an unhappy father and son who disagree on nearly everything. His father wants him to be a common man who hunts and works hard, but he dreams of becoming a hairdresser and takes courses on hair styling. The disagreement between the two can be seen as conflict between the traditional and new value system developing in America. Therefore, it is evident of Steinbeck’s works that he uses characters to symbolize the different kinds of people in life and use them to portray life lessons.

Consequently, they are also used to demonstrate reasons why people in real life act certain way and what are probable reasons. Hence, Steinbeck typically takes the lessons that he has learned throughout his own life experiences and incorporates them into his work. His novels reveal a lot about human nature and believed that the understanding of human nature was very significant: “Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love.’

Society has high expectations that are expected to be met, in a world like this there’s an extensive amount of challenges and high levels of pressure that must be endured throughout life. This harsh reality is consistently represented in the book Of Mice and Men as a variety of the characters apart of weak or minority groups are isolated from the rest of the ranch. The book is set in the time of the Great Depression, a time of desperation and struggles where a large portion of the population was unemployed. People fought to survive and the challenge to meet social norms were even greater than the current society’s. The story follows two companions that have a dream, a hope. They find themselves working on a ranch with people who have a wide range of personalities and power. In the novella Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses external conflict, the motif of loneliness, and the symbol of Crooks’ room to reveal how alienation and standards of society can affect the actions, attitude, and well-being of people.

Steinbeck’s use of external conflict between Lennie and Curley highlights how a non inclusive and hostile environment can lead to the occurrence of bad events because of its effect on people’s choices. In chapter 3, Curley is trying to find his wife and he jumps to the conclusion that Slim may have been with her. As a result of Curley’s quick accusations the other people of the ranch start their assault of words and Curley’s loses his patience when he sees “…Lennie was smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch. Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier.

‘What the hell you laughin’ at?’ Lennie looked blankly at him, ‘Huh?’ Then Curley’s rage exploded,” (Steinbeck 62). The authors use of the word “exploded” puts focus on the severity of how Curley reacted. This word can also relate to a bomb, as if the author is implying that Curley was like a ticking time bomb waiting to be set off. Curley is also described as a terrier, which shows how he shouldn’t be very threatening, but to Lennie he is. This is because Lennie is mentally weak and doesn’t know how to handle situations due to his inexperience talking to people since he isn’t included in activities. So, while Curley may already have a bad temper the weight of him being targeted and Lennie not knowing what to do because of the separation from the rest of the men is what ultimately results in the event of Curley assaulting Lennie. Another use of conflict between Curley and Lennie is shown at the end of chapter 5 as the men are heading out to find Lennie and George proposes an idea to Curley, “‘I’ll come. But listen, Curley. The poor bastard’s nuts. Don’t shoot ‘im. He di’n’t know what he was doin’.’ ‘Don’t shoot ‘im?’ Curley cried. ‘He got Carlson’s Luger. ‘Course we’ll shoot ‘im.’ George said weakly, ‘Maybe Carlson lost his gun,’” (98). The use of the phrase “‘Course we’ll shoot ‘im’” displays how Curley’s decision to shoot Lennie is unwavering, he has no hesitation or second thoughts. George replying to this “weakly” shows how the conflict of Curley wanting to shoot Lennie is taking its effect on George as the reality that he’s gonna kill his best friend sets in. The use of the word “weakly” also sheds light on how George feels defeated, as if he knows that he has run out of options. George is made completely aware that if he doesn’t kill Lennie himself then Curley will either kill him or he’ll be locked up. Neither the society or Curley will not have sympathy for his mistakes and he knows that Lennie’s own loneliness will swallow him whole. Overall, we see Steinbeck use external conflict to reveal how unforgiving society can be and how it affects actions, and Steinbeck also reveals the complexity of how loneliness affects people’s attitudes and reactions to certain situations through the use of a motif.

Steinbeck’s use of the motif of loneliness in the characters Candy and Crooks exhibits how the separation from others has the potential to cause people to have a desperate or cold attitude. In chapter 3 when Candy finds himself listening to George and Lennie’s dream he proposes to join in, “He leaned forward eagerly. “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and how the garden some. How’d that be?” (59). Candy’s tone of excitement and the use of the word “eagerly” in response to George and Lennie dream of getting land reveals his loneliness and his desire to find somewhere to be after he isn’t considered to be important on the ranch. Despite the fact that joining George and Lennie won’t benefit him much and he would be giving up the money he has, he’s excited to be apart of something. He does this because he doesn’t have anybody to rely on at the ranch and he longs to have company when he really starts getting old. Candy’s eager attitude to be apart of something that won’t truly benefit him shows how his need for company influences his attitude towards certain ideas. He’s old and isn’t considered to be helpful on the ranch and things that aren’t helpful get kicked to the curb. In chapter 4 we see how Crooks acts towards others, an example being how he reacts when Lennie stands in the doorway of his room “For a moment [he] did not see him, but on raising his eyes he stiffened and a scowl came over his face. His hand came out from under his shirt… ‘Nobody got any right in here but me,’” (68). The author’s use of the word “stiffened” to describe Crooks’ reaction to Lennie standing in the doorway puts the focus on his body language. He reacts to Lennie in a way that shows uncomfort, as if he doesn’t usually have people around. This also shows how he has his own wall put up, as if to protect himself from the consequences of being involved with people who don’t include him. Crooks mentioning that nobody has a “right” in his room shows his attempt in trying to go against what boundaries society sets for him. Crooks is not only seen as being cold, but he is also closed off. He doesn’t have many rights or a place to truly be involved on the ranch. He’s told what he can or can’t do and oftentimes is not given proper respect, all due to what society says is correct. All in all, it is shown how society leads to loneliness which ends up having effects on attitude and Steinbeck further displays how society leads to alienation through symbolism.

Steinbeck uses the symbol of Crooks’ room to emphasize the unequal and suppressing thoughts in society that people have to face and how it results in isolation for the “weaker” groups. In the middle of chapter 4, Candy enters Crooks’ room for the first time stating that “‘[he] been [there] a long time,’” and that “‘Crooks been [there] a long time. This’s the first time [he] ever been in his room.’ Crooks said darkly, ‘Guys don’t come into a colored man’s room very much. Nobody been here but Slim. Slim an’ the boss,’” (75). In the phrase “guys don’t come into a colored man’s room very much” reveals that the guys don’t go into Crooks’ room, but not because Crooks is a bad guy, but because he’s a “colored man”. This choice of words displays how Crooks doesn’t just represent himself as an individual, but rather, he’s a symbol of minorities. So, Crooks represents the entirety of minorities, in a place where not everyone is always given an equal chance or opportunity. Crooks ends up being isolated and separated from the rest of the men on the barn in his own little shed among the animals. In chapter 4 while Lennie and Candy are both gathered in Crooks’ room Curley’s wife walks in and one of the first things she says is “‘they left all the weak ones here,’ she said finally. ‘Think I don’t know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went,’” (77). Curley’s wife’s use of the phrase “weak ones” highlights what groups are seen as weak and what happens to them. They are left behind and ironically she is apart of the “weak ones” left behind. The groups which are considered to be inferior are left alone and they all end up in Crooks’ room. They were left to think and sink in their feelings of being abandoned and forgotten. The fact that the lesser groups end up gathered in Crooks’ room connects back to how Crooks and his room represents minorities as a whole. They are left in an area that is meant more for animals instead of humans which also sheds light how they aren’t seen as equal. They are seen as weak which ultimately makes them feel weak despite the fact that they have the potential to be strong and this inequality results in a bad state of health. As a whole, Steinbeck uses this strong yet subtle symbol to show how society is unequal leaving the weak to rot, how they feel isn’t as important and they must find their own way to survive in a world that is against them.

In the novella Of Mice and Men Steinbeck’s use of external conflict, motif of loneliness, and symbolism emphasizes how ostracism and harsh standards in society cause people to change how they act, react, and feel. Society has different expectations and standards for different people, some people get more opportunities than others because they are considered stronger. Isolation causes the feeling of loneliness and one of the main causes of being isolated is if you aren’t what society expects you to be. Steinbeck shows this throughout the book by using different characters and devices to represent big ideas. The characters who have a certain level of social power and support have less problems presented to them. The world is challenging and complex, some start off weaker than others, but the ones who are weak can become stronger and break social boundaries. Social tiers shouldn’t have the power to cause loneliness or suppression and they shouldn’t affect what people do, instead, it should be what people do that affects people’s place in society.

In the novella, Of Mice of Men, George is described as being, “small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong hands, slender features. Every part of him was defined” (2). The other main character, Lennie, is expressed as, “his [George’s] opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.”

Lennie is different from most people because of how he is simple-minded and unaware of the consequences of his actions. After Lennie couldn’t find his work card and bus ticket in his pocket, he reached back in his pocket to grab something, and told George, “Ain’t a thing in my pocket…It’s only a mouse, George… Jus’ a dead mouse, George…I found it dead” (Steinbeck 5). Lennie is much more foolish than others, he found a dead mouse and kept it in his pocket. Many would never think twice about keeping a dead mouse with them, which differs Lennie from many.

The relationship between George and Lennie presents itself as a parent and child. When Lennie says he could leave George because he feels like a burden, George replies with, “I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody shoots you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your Aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself” (13). George feels the responsibility to keep Lennie safe, which is extremely similar to the role of a parent. Lennie relies on George, who has gotten Lennie out of trouble many times.

George and Lennie have to leave Weed because of Lennie’s behavior which could have been perceived as inappropriate. When George is furious at Lennie, he exclaims how Lennie “Jus’ wanted to feel that girl’s dress…She jerks back and you hold on like it was a mouse. She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin’ for us” (11). Lennie lacks common sense, which makes him want to pet a woman’s dress only because it looks soft, which in turn causes her to be alarmed. This caused the pair to have to flee Weed to escape the men looking for them.

“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.”(Steinbeck 13) This quote by Steinback through the character George symbolizes many of the people’s lack of aspirations for a comfortable and happy life during the Great Depression. John Steinbeck portrays his character George to exemplify the difficulties that a 1930’s migrant worker had to face.

Of Mice and Men takes place amongst a lifeless and difficult time not only for America, but for the entire world, and the characters in the book share the same troubles. George is just like any ordinary migrant worker in California, he lives from paycheck to paycheck with no hope of having a life to himself. He like many other workers dreamed of easier times and a better life; filled with hope and happy life with those he loves. A place to call home where they can work and live for themselves. But hopes and dreams are often just that and during those troubling times that was especially true. George nonetheless had hoped to live “off the fatta’ the lan’ ” (Steinbeck 14), and with Lennie and Candy he pushed to make those dreams come true. Even so in the end it wouldn’t be so simple, and like many others he was exposed to the hopelessness of his dreams and that the only sense of happiness he could ever hope to achieve was at the end of every month in the cat house. George’s life in a sense was even lonelier and harder than most of the men in the book even with Lennie. Because Lennie had a mental illness, George had to constantly take care of him which required a great deal of patience and sacrifice. It is often stated in the book that George would always think of Lennie first in any situation. However when Lennie asked for something too unreasonable, George would explode out of anger saying, “ If I was alone I could live so easy…why I could stay in a cat house all night. I could eat any place I want, hotel or any place, and order any damn thing I could think of.”(Steinbeck 11). Back then all the things he said he would do was the norm for these workers. They had to fight through awful conditions and hard work,” These migrants, many of them racial and ethnic minorities, had always worked for low wages and lived in horrible conditions. The Great Depression merely exacerbated their harsh circumstances. ” (Mapes 1) for one night of very temporary happiness.

George can also be further related to the struggles of that time through his reaction to Lennie’s mishap at the end of the book. At the end he was tired and felt great despair in his situation. Justified or not George knew he had to find a new way to live and ease Lennie of the suffering he would undoubtedly have to face if he was found. Of course he was very conflicted with this because like many migrant workers he and Lennie developed a sense of brotherhood with one another, even more so than normal. Slim in a few simple sentences from the book summarizes the view of George perfectly when he tells him, “ You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me.”(Steinbeck 107) Through these small messages, he clarifies George’s feelings and heartaches and invites him to have a new life with him and the rest of the workers. The migrant workers formed very strong ties. The uncertainty of the job led them to rely on their close friends and family. According to one of the sources many workers set up unions for better rights and pay, ” Even though migrant workers were excluded from the National Labor Relations Act, thousands joined unions and engaged in strikes to garner better wages and living conditions.” through these common ideals and goals they had much to relate with and create a culture of their own. Throughout the book through Crooks and Curley’s wife it is often mentioned that a person goes crazy if they don’t have a person to talk to and spend time with. George along with all the others at that time were no different they just wanted a place to belong, with people they consider friends.

Throughout the span of human history many peoples and cultures faced alienation and migratory workers were no exception. Both in the book and in many historical sources they faced hard discrimination and inequality. George experiences this heavily in the very beginning of the book. It occurs when George and Lennie are lied to by the bus driver and are forced to walk miles and eventually end up being late to their first day, although it may have been a small ordeal it leads to a gateway of prejudice and hardship. George said,” God damn near four miles, that’s what it was! Didn’t wanta stop at the ranch gate, that’s what. Too God damn lazy to pull up.”(Steinbeck 4).Two people, Todd and Sonkin, interviewed many migrant workers and found a connecting theme in all of their experiences, ”The bulk of the people Todd and Sonkin interviewed shared conservative religious and political beliefs and were ethnocentric in their attitude toward other ethnic/cultural groups, with whom they had had little contact prior to their arrival in California. Such attitudes sometimes led to the use of derogatory language and negative stereotyping of cultural outsiders.”(Fanslow 1). They all were confronted with negative bias and disrespect, not George and Lennie.

Steinbeck builds all the characters in Of Mice and Men in a way that exhibits the alienation and tribulations that migratory workers have experienced, especially George. He never wanted to be lonely and sorrowful, in fact, he tried hard to make something for himself and Lennie, but like many other migrant workers at the time, he didn’t have a choice in the matter; he could only fantasize of a better life with little hope of acquiring it.