Good Vs. Evil In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

1541 Words4 Pages

Every story has a hero, a villain, and the cliché ending in which good conquers evil. These sources of false hope are all a lie because no matter how desperately the world needs goodness, it constantly refuses to let go of its immoral ways; therefore, evil will always prevail. But how is the force of evil so powerful? In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, good and evil are in a constant state of chaos, but evil overwhelms all. Various characters fight against wickedness to no avail, and as a result, they undergo a punishment that is the greatest burden to humanity.
Nobody can bear the pain of being alone. In a world where human connections are imperative to the functioning of society, isolation can drive people to do abominable things. Hidden …show more content…

Just as people like Curley, Curley’s wife, and Carlson are born of evil, fate is as well. Lennie and George do not stand a chance against fate because in every circumstance fate spins, both characters are doomed. Lennie is dependent on George for the obvious reason that his mental disability causes him to be troublesome, but George also relies on Lennie despite his constant ramblings about how much better his life would be without Lennie in it. Lennie’s love is precious to George, and they are able to create a family for themselves. In a society where ranch workers are shrouded in loneliness, the companionship and love they offer each other are a cherished part in both of their lives, but more so for George because Lennie makes him feel needed. However, fate tears these brothers apart because Lennie cannot change his way of thinking, control his actions, or understand why the “bad things” he does are bad, and his destructive innocence is not compatible with the world. As a result of his mental frailty, Lennie is destined to die, which relates back to the frailty of the mice that die at his hands. The fate Lennie would reach if Curley has his way would be agonizing, and George fulfills the role of his brother’s keeper when he bears the emotional burden of killing Lennie instead. The quick and painless death George gives to Lennie is a mercy that correlates to the death of Candy’s dog, but whereas Candy is too meek and cowardly to comfort his dog on its way to its slaughter, George is brave enough to console Lennie even if it causes emotional anguish for himself. George even recites their lifelong dream about owning land and rabbits, but it is his way of saying farewell not only to Lennie, but also a way to surrender the dream they created together that transforms from a dream into a delusion. When Lennie says “‘An’ I got you. We got each other, that’s what, that gives a hoot in hell about us’” the reality that George

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