Steinbeck’s Use of Foreshadowing in "Of Mice and Men"

In John Steinbeck’s famous novel Of Mice and Men, foreshadowing plays a large part in the reader’s experience. Almost every event that is important was foreshowed at some people, such as the multiple deaths that occur throughout. If Steinbeck wasn't so prolific in his use of foreshadowing the readers experience would be very different.

In Of Mice and Men, almost every character and setting is used for foreshadowing, and it begins right away. The first scene depicting a calm, serene, peaceful haven of sorts, reminiscent of Eden, was the first bit of foreshadowing, although initially it didn't seem so. This safe haven located just outside of the ranch that George and Lennie are supposed to work at, where lennie was to go if anything bad ere to happen would soon become a place of tragedy. Once the two arrived at the ranch, Lennie stated that he didn’t think that the ranch would be good place for him or George to be, and that he believes something bad is going to happen there. He couldn’t have been more correct.

Candy’s old dog, which has no name (that is known) is without a doubt the subject of the most important bit of foreshadowing, in which his murder directly represents the book’s end, and Lennie’s unfortunate demise. The old dog, in Carlson and Slim’s words is “a burden and no good to himself or anybody” and Carlson kindly offers to put him out of his misery so Candy wouldn't have to, to which candy painstakingly agrees. Carlson made a point to ensure candy “ill shoot him right there (points to back of dogs head) he won’t even know what hit him.)”

.

When Lennie kills his puppy the only thing he can think about is what george will think and whether or not he will get to tend the rabbits (all lennie really ...

... middle of paper ...

...r another. All foreshadowing led into the next, eventually leading to multiple deaths and finally the ending of the book. Candy and his dog were much like George and Lennie, Candy didn’t need the dog, like George didn't need Lennie. The dog was a burden to Candy, and Lennie a burden to George, yet both Candy and George felt connected to the dog and Lennie even though they were a burden, because they had been with them for so long. When it was time to rid themselves of their burden’s, both George and candy wanted it done in a painless manner with the victim unaware of what was to happen. The demise of Lennie, and others showed that a dream is a dream, although you may get close to it, it is a challenge to actually achieve it. Lennie’s death ended the chances of getting a place and living off the land, and ultimately ended a saga of two very different men.