Of Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay
John Steinbeck is a famous author known for his outstanding and thought provoking writing, especially in his novel Of Mice and Men. His writing portrays the discrimination and social justice issues present in the time period. His characters portray the different social statuses in the time period. How people’s experiences impact their life, can change them forever. John Steinbeck has an excellent understanding of this concept. He uses paradox, symbolism, and pathos to portray these themes in his novels.
Steinbeck shows the paradox of the characters based on how they were brought up. In the novel, he uses paradox to the characters as they actually are and to show how they are viewed in society. Lennie, a strong and sensitive man,“[...covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. He cried. Make ‘um stop George” (Steinbeck 63). Lennie, based on his appearance, seems to the reader to be a strong-willed man who exudes confidence. But in reality he is shy, reliant on George to tell him what to do, and would never hurt anyone purposely. Lennie is the prime

example of paradox and how a writer can use it to improve the story. Paradox all throughout Of Mice and Men shows how the characters contradict themselves and their societal views.
Symbolism in a story shows the significance in an event without drawing direct attention to it.

Steinbeck uses symbolism a lot in his writing to show how the emphasis in a tone/mood can change or even how the symbolism within internal or external changes within characters and how they are viewed by society. “A silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically” (Steinbeck 99). The setting all throughout is very calm and relaxed also mimicking other aspects of the story. But in Chapter 6 the story takes a turn, and the setting follows. Suddenly, everything becomes violent and no longer peaceful or relaxing, and the quote used above shows the new violent nature of the setting through the killing of the snake. Through the use of symbolism, John Steinbeck was able to show the twist in the

plot.
Pathos is evident throughout Of Mice and Men and throughout many other novels and many advertisements. Steinbeck uses this technique as a way to allow the reader and/or the characters to give sympathy and feel empathetic towards that character. Lennie tries to use pathos on George and says, “Well, I can go away, said Lennie. I’ll go right off in the hills an’ find a cave if you don’t want me. George shook himself again. No, he said.” (Steinbeck 104). Lennie did not want to be left alone, but he knew the only way to keep George was to make George feel sorry for him. Also, when a reader experiences pathos he can connect with characters on a deeper level due to the emotion brought into the story. Pathos is also very persuasive because something that will “tug at your heartstrings” will convince people of anything. Pathos a form of persuasion that many authors use within their novels in order to allow the reader to feel emotions about the story.