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Literary critique of mice and men
An Analysis of the Theme of the Novel of Mice and Men
Of mice and men literary
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In the book, Of Mice and Men, each character described carries a different outlook on life. Each character was different and unique in the way they thought, looked, and acted. Of Mice and Men, describes the life of two friends, Lennie and George. George and Lennie’s way of life was based on friendship. The two friends relied on each other to make it through life. It is clearly stated throughout the story that George always got Lennie out of trouble. However, one can also see through a psychological approach, that George relied on Lennie to get through life as well. As the two friends drifted from town to town, looking for work, new relationships were made. The last town the two lived in, new characters were introduced to their story. The main new …show more content…
characters introduced were, Slim, Curley, Curley's wife, Candy, and Crook. Within Of Mice and Men, each of the characters were different. Likewise, their different characteristics and backgrounds are very important to understanding the story Of Mice and Men. For each character, with their individual personality, creates a moral statement throughout the book and helps the reader to understand what ideas of life the author was trying to portray. Through the analysis of each character, the story can be better understood. George is a wiry, kind hearted, and caring man who takes care of his friend Lennie.
Lennie is a very large, and mentally disabled man. George often complains about having to take care of Lennie, but it can be seen through the story that George is very devoted to Lennie. George complains, "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl;" (Steinbeck) but as Lennie often threatens to leave George alone, it can be inferred that George loves Lennie because he stays always rejects Lennie’s offer. George describes that, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world...with us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” (Steinbeck) George’s purpose in the story was to take care of Lennie. Lennie is what kept George going. George states that, men like them were lonely, but Lennie and him did not have to be because they had each other. This point is also expressed in Lennie’s quote, “Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why." Although Lennie is very dependent on George, the reader can also conclude that, in a way, George also needs
Lennie. Slim is a very skilled farm worker. Everyone on the farm listens to him. Because of this, Slim is likely the most intelligent among the men for he is also the only one who understands Lennie and George's relationship. Being the “prince” of the ranch, Slim carries great skills, intelligence, and peace with himself. Curley has a very bad temper. Curley is abusive and aggressive towards everyone in his life, including his wife. Whenever Curley appeared in the book, he was always mad. Curley was also a very jealous husband. Because of his bad temper, Curley caused many problems on the ranch. Curley’s wife is the only female in the story, Of Mice and Men. Curley’s wife is desperately lonely and often flirts with the ranch-hands. Curley’s wife causes a lot of troubles for herself by doing this. However, even though she is referred to as a “tart” in the story, the author never portrays her as the villain in the story, but rather a victim in the story. Curley’s wife’s name is never known. She does not have much say in what she can do and does not understand why people will not talk to her on the ranch. Curley’s wife represents female sexuality during that time. In a male-dominated world, women were not treated well during that time. Curley’s wife is extremely lonely and does whatever she can to get attention. Candy is a very old man who works on the ranch. He only has one hand and is concerned about his future. Like most ranchmen, Candy dreams of a better life and because of his broken hand, is worried what will happen to him when his boss decides he is not useful anymore. Candy, in his old age, seeks to join George and Lennie on their dream land. Crook is a black worker on the ranch with a broken back. Crook represents racism in the world. Furthermore, he represents how people with disabilities were treated. Crook symbolizes the moral statement of racism and judgement. In the story, Of Mice and Men, many different themes are developed through the analysis of each character. Different moral statements are represented through them as well, such as racism, judgement, angermen, dreams, friendship, and love.
Lennie Small, a mentally impaired man, is first introduced to us traveling with George. George, however, is not related to Lennie. Lennie travels with George because no one else understands him like he does. Lennie says, “Because…because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you…” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie believes if George ever left him that he could live in a cave by himself and not bother anyone again (Steinbeck 12). Lennie realizes he would be alone without George, but he never has known anyone else to depend on but George, and from that, they have a bond, a friendship. This shows Lennie’s need for his relationship with George.
is in the air. Animals begin to scatter. Two men have arrived on the scene,
It is very apparent that each of the four characters in the two friendships feed off of each other. In Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are very different, yet they need one other. George is a very independent, loyal, and caring person who takes care of Lennie because Lennie is unable to take care of himself. Although George makes it seem like he would be better off without Lennie, George makes it clear that without him he would be better off. This is evident because of this conversation h regularly had with Lennie” I could go get a job an’
Of Mice and Men - George and Lennie seem to have a very close friendship throughout the story. Of Mice and Men George and Lennie seem to have a very close friendship throughout the story. This is strange because they are completely different from each other mentally, as well as physically. The author tells us that George is a small, quick and defined man. He is the leader of the two men and makes all the plans.
Within the beginning of the story, the dynamic of George and Lennie’s relationship is introduced, one that is uncommon and presents a fatherly vibe. The readers are thrown into the novel at the height of the great depression, an economic catastrophe that shook the world. Within these dark time, an unlikely friendship is in full blossom and we are meet by Lennie and George setting up camp for the night by a riverbed. After the duo’s personalities are expressed, they begin to set up the idea of a commonly shared dream which exists according to Lennie “Because... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie is seen as a quite simple minded and extremely dim-witted character from just the first
A coon dog and a tick, an oak tree with moss on the north side, a termite and its internal bacteria, and a shark with tiny fish that eat the extra meat chunks in between the teeth all have one thing in common: symbiosis. Defined as the interdependence of organisms, symbiosis is the basis of the relationship between George and Lennie in “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. One type of symbiosis helps both parties while another type involves one organism being hurt by the exchange. The dog is hurt by the tick while the termites and the bacteria benefit from each other’s presence. These types of symbiosis can occur in humans and are evident in “Of Mice and Men.” Both types of symbiosis exist between George and Lennie in the novel.
For example, Lennie confidently encourages George that their support of each other will lead to the success of their American dream. In the novella Lennie states, “...’because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you’…” (Steinbeck 14). The quote means that Lennie and George have each other to rely on and support throughout their journey. This proves that friendship affects Lennie because despite his size and strength, Lennie needs George to make sure he does not get in trouble for doing something harmful that he did not mean to. Another example of how friendship affects Lennie is when he tells George he could leave him alone so he would not be bothered anymore. “‘I could go off in the hills there. Someplace I’d find a cave’” (Steinbeck 12). Then, George asks Lennie, “‘How'd you eat? You ain’t got sense enough to find nothing to eat’” (Steinbeck 12). In the quote, George says if Lennie went off on his own, he would not be able to survive. This proves that Lennie is not capable of doing anything by himself in order to survive which is why he relies on his friendship with George to protect him. By depending on George for responsibility, Lennie is affected by friendship because George is always there to get him out of
These devices are incorporated into the journey of two companions working their way towards a dream. Steinbeck uses symbolism to complement his words to depict a higher meaning. As experienced readers will discover, the relationship between the intelligent, but small and weaker George Milton and the mentally handicapped, but large and stronger Lennie Small is symbolic. Even Lennie expresses this relationship “because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you, and that's why” (14) .This suggests that they are not alone-they have each other. While George complains in the first chapter that he does not know why he keeps Lennie around, George argues "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail"(11), he later explains the importance of Lennie's friendship -:“I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good. They don't' have no fun. After a long time, they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time” (41). Although he is often irritated with Lennie, The reader can infer George stays with Lennie out of his promise to Lennie's aunt or the reader could look deeper and understand George cares about Lennie and that, meaning in life depends on upon sharing. This idea is central to Steinbeck's theme of brotherhood and how men are better if they are not alienated because, if alienated, they become mean and cruel out of their fear of vulnerability. The strength to oppress others originates of weakness, Steinbeck tells his readers. Most importantly for both George and Lennie, Lennie is the keeper of the dream. Without the child-like Lennie there is no dream of a ranch and rabbits and "livin' off the fat of the land." It is for Lennie's sake that George repeats the dream of them owning land. At first George does not really believe that this dream will come to fruition. But, with his childlike friend's
There are a variety of relationship of people can have with other people. In John Steinbeck's novels, relationships between characters can be difficult, but are always important. The central relationship in Of Mice and Men is between Lennie and George.
Life is an array of emotions and experiences. At times it blesses us with experiences that instill feelings of happiness and joy, in which we are able to celebrate life and all it could offer us. Other times life hits us in the face, letting us endure hardships, sadness, depression and loss. Most may argue that Of Mice and Men is either intended to celebrate the joys of life or meant to be a depressing book. Yet what most fail to see is that Of Mice and Men portrays both aspects of human life through the mutual friendship of two uncommonly men, George and Lennie, the dream they both share, and the sudden calamity that befall them.
Loneliness and Companionship are one of the many themes that are conveyed in the novel Of Mice and Men, By John Steinbeck. Many of the characters admit to suffering from loneliness within the texts. George sets the tone for these confessions early in the novel when he reminds Lennie that the life of living on a ranch is among the loneliest of lives. However Lennie, who is mentally disabled holds the idea that living on a farm very high. "Tending the rabbits" is what Lennie calls it. Often when Lennie is seaking encouragement he askes George to tell him how its going to be. Men like George who migrate from farm to farm rarely have anyone to look to for companionship and protection. George obviously cares a lot for lennie, but is too stubborn to admit to it. The feeling of being shipped from place to place leaves George feeling alone and abandoned.
As the story, Of Mice and Men, ends, it it easy to realize how important the theme, characters, and symbols are and how they reflect ordinary life. The theme proves that no one can stay lonely forever, and everyone needs someone to be there for them. Many people could see themselves in the characters as they figure out who they really need. Lastly, as we hold onto our youth we also hold onto unrealistic dreams just like George. Before he can let go of the dreams, he must mature and get rid of the part that is holding him back,
George’s struggles with himself become apparent at the beginning of the novel. Steinbeck clearly lets the reader know that George has conflicting feelings about Lennie. He believed, “ ...if he was alone he could live so easy. He could go get a job an ' work, an ' no trouble” (11). George is basically telling Lennie that sometimes, he wishes he could live
In Of Mice and Men, George shows the weight of responsibility on taking care of Lennie. George knows he could be better off without Lennie. “When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts,” George finally expresses. He even tells the other farm hands, “If I was alone, I could live so easy.” George often keeps his “single like” in the back of his mind. Even so, George stands up for Lennie many times. His advice is always in Lennie’s best interest. He watches out for Lennie when he keeps hold of Lennie’s work card and bus pass. George also knows that he and Lennie wouldn’t have jobs if he didn’t make Lennie keep quiet. Lennie cannot take care of himself without George. With George watching out for Lennie like he does, Lennie’s mishaps can also have detrimental effects on George’s life. George loses his job and his best friend because of his connection with George.
The characterization of George and Lennie’s friendship shows the importance of having a friend to be staunch for you. Here, when George and Lennie argue, they resolve to do whats best for eachother. “I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.” Lennie later adds: “I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it.”(Steinbeck 12) Lennie, although mentally disabled, still does what he can for George and only wants him to be happy because he knows how much George does for him. He can’t help himself, but when it comes to George he’ll do anything for him, because George gives him hope. Lennie gives George the ambition to succeed because George knows he has to succeed to support both of them. Lennie is later told by Crooks what it’s like to be lonely: “A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.” (Steinbeck 72) Without a friend, Crooks doesn’t have the brightest light for a great future because he has nobody to depend on like Lennie and Georg...