Of Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis

Every day people are looked down upon or thought less of due to things as simple as the color of their skin, something they can not even control. Moreover, race is not the only characteristic that carries unfair stereotypes. Although it is a big one, things such as gender, age, and aptitude can also affect how people negatively view others. In Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck, the author, is able to illustrate all of these disadvantages through archetypal characters. The ways in which they are stereotyped play a huge part in the book, creating conflicts on every page. Steinbeck does not directly tell the reader what each person represents, rather he uses specific devices to make the reader empathize with the characters . Through the use of imagery, symbolism, and foreshadowing, Steinbeck is able to make his audience reconsider how the handicapped, the

elderly, and women are unfairly treated.

Through imagery, Steinbeck establishes a direct comparison between man and nature.

The story is excellently painted through Steinbeck's vivid narrative techniques using imagery in ways unimaginable. Steinbeck writes, “He walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.” (Steinbeck 4) This quote displays how Steinbeck provides readers with an exceptional picture of Lennie as a large, slow moving bear and a feel for how strong he really is. A few pages later Lennie is again referenced as an animal when Steinbeck writes, "Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again."(Steinbeck, 9) Being compared to a dog not only show Lennie’s loyalty, but it also shows his master-dog relationship with George, his companion. Later in the story, George reveals he has played tricks on Lennie and he has always stayed by his side doing everything he is told, much like a trained dog. The imagery of Lennie being compared to animals gives off the notion that Lennie has a mental

disability.

Through the use of symbolism, Steinbeck illustrates the belittlement of the elderly. Candy, the oldest character in the book, and his canine companion are often looked down upon on the ranch. The dog is symbolic of anything that's usefulness has been taken away. At that point in time he was of no use to anyone but Candy, the dog was not wanted on the ranch and was suggested to be killed. However, it was revealed that years before he was a good "sheepdog". This, is not brought to attention when being shot, nor the fact that he was Candy’s only friend. Candy too is like the dog; elderly, crippled, and lonely. The dog represents Candy’s uselessness at the ranch and makes Candy think that he is next. The dog also symbolizes the relationship between George and Lennie, when Candy’s dog is killed, he says, "I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog." This is a paradox and foreshadows to when George shoots Lennie, he knows that he is the one that has to do it. The symbolism John Steinbeck is able to

Through the use of dialogue, Steinbeck is able to portray the disadvantages and loneliness women experienced. Curley’s wife definitely does not appear in many scenes, but she undeniably alters the ones she shows up in. She is used as an instrument of destruction towards Lennie and George and their dreams. Most men on the ranch try to avoid her, as they are aware she is bound to cause trouble. Crooks says to Curley's Wife when she enters his room one day in the barn, “Maybe you better go along to your own house now: We don’t want no trouble” she responds with “Well, I ain’t giving you no trouble” (Steinbeck). This shows that the men are cautious of her, not knowing what she would do, or how Curley would react. She is obviously looking for someone to talk to and accompany her. Curley's wife is constantly looking for company, as she was in this dialogue, and is often flirting with other men. Thus creating Curley to constantly be searching for her, fearful of her disloyalty. When Curley's hand got crushed by Lennie and they took him to the hospital, they left all the 'weak' characters behind, Candy, Lennie, and Crooks. All three have a strong stereotype, age, mental stability, and skin color. "They left all the weak ones here," she says once the men have left. These three are the only ones she has power over, and this is her way of showing them that. She also realizes that she was left behind and is not in a powerful position in life due to her gender. Curley's wife may not have played a huge role in the novella, but she did have a key part in representing women and how they were

John Steinbeck uses specific literary devices such as imagery, symbolism, and dialogue, to portray the precise characterization and unfair treatment of the disabled. He uses imagery to compare man to nature and show Lennie’s disability ; Symbolism to illustrate the connection between Candy, his dog, Lennie, and George; Dialogue to represent the loneliness of women and their impairment in society. Steinbeck uses figurative language to paint the picture of the American Dream and show the struggles of the minority.