Importance Of Journeys In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a fiction novel. This novel is about two best friends who work as farm hands. Both men dream of owning a farm together one day. On the way to that dream the men face some struggles and that is what most of the novel is about. The novel goes into detail about how they overcome their struggle.
George and Lennie are both main characters in Of Mice and Men. They both have journeys that they go on throughout the book. George was a quick-witted man who cared for Lennie. George took on the job of caring for Lennie when his aunt died. He frequently spoke about how his life would be better if he did not have to care for Lennie. Although he spoke of this often he was devoted to Lennie and to delivering them the farm

of their dreams. Lennie was a large migrant worker with a mild mental disability. His mental disability caused him to completely depend on George. Lennie depended on George for everything but especially for guidance and protection. George and Lennie always take care of each other. This reminds me of the relationship that I have with my cousin Marissa. We are both only children and even though she is 8 years older than me we both look out for each other because we know at the end of the day we are all each other has outside of our parents.
Of Mice and Men takes place during the great depression. It starts by a stream close to the Salinas River just a few miles south of Soledad California. The novel then moves to a ranch where most of the novel takes place. By the end of the novel it is right back where it started. When we meet Lennie and George they are by the stream and they are on their way to a nearby farm. It is obvious that this area is frequented by a lot of people. The farm where most of the novel takes place seems to be isolated and lonely.
Of Mice and Men is about caring and the importance of friendship.

Through out the story you see this over and over again. It also had several other theme’s that where very evident in the novel. The first theme you see in the novel is the need for human contact. Characters in this novel wanted a friend or you could say a listening ear. Some of them settled for complete strangers because they could not find that in the people that they were close to. The Impossibility of the American dream is the second theme. Each character had a dream that they never fulfilled. They all wanted the American dream but never achieved it and the American dream is different for

everyone.
George and Lennie, are let off a bus miles away from the California farm where they are starting work the next day. They go to a clearing nearby to camp for the night. As they talk that night George finds that Lennie, has been carrying and stroking a dead mouse. George throws it away, worrying that Lennie could catch a disease from the dead animal. Although he is upset George knows that he and Lennie share a dream of buying their own piece of land, farming it. The men report to the nearby ranch the next day. George is afraid of how the boss will react to Lennie so he says that he will do all the talking. He tells the boss that they are traveling together because they are cousins. At this time they meet Candy and Curly. When George and Lennie are alone they meet Curly’s flirtatious wife. George can sense the trouble with here even though Lennie can’t. George warns Lennie to stay away from her. The men then meet slim a man of authority on the farm. He tell George and Lennie how rare it is to have a friendship like theirs. The next time we see Slim he is talking with George and George confesses to him that they are not cousins but best friends. Georges also tells him about the trouble that Lennie has gotten into in the past because of women. The next night the men go out to a brothel they leave Lennie to work with Crooks. Curley’s wife comes in and flirts with them a little and she refuses to leave until the reset of the men get back. Lennie accidentally kills his puppy the next day and Curley’s wife tries to console him. While she is consoling Lennie she admits that she wishes that she would have just followed her dream of becoming a movie star instead of marrying Curley. Lennie tells her that he loves petting soft things so she offers to let him pet her hair but he grabs it to tight and she screams out and when he tries to silence he breaks her neck. Lennie goes back to the Salinas River that they designated as a meeting place should either of them get into trouble. At the ranch after discovering what has happened are gather together a lynch party. George joins Lennie and much to Lennie surprise George is not mad at him for what he has done. George tells Lennie the story of the farm that they will own together one more time and as he is telling the story he shoots Lennie in the head.
I think Of Mice and Men was a novel that gave great insight into the nature of friendships.

I think my favorite thing about this novel was the realistic ending. Some books try to just give you a fairy tale but this book had an ending that mad you think in the end if I was in the same position would I do the same thing. I didn’t like the fact that the novel portrayed mental illness in a way to say that it needed to be hidden and protected. I thought this novel was very believable for the time period that it was set in. I think the ending to this novel was perfect it was an accurate ending to this

story.