Allusions In Of Mice And Men

In the novel, ‘Of mice and Men’, John Steinbeck uses allegory to represent different themes and messages. An allegory is a story, poem or a picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. While reading Steinbeck’s book I noticed different metaphors such as the usage of animals and Curley’s wife. Throughout the whole book the reader can notice many animals mentioned such as rabbits, mice, the puppy and the old dog. Curley’s wife is also a sort of symbol. She represents the way in which the women were treated and looked upon in those days. The animals and Curley’s wife all symbolize different things in life in the 1930’s USA. They all symbolize the hopes and the dreams that the characters share which motivates and drives them

Another biblical allusion in this book that goes along with Eden is of course Adam and Eve. Steinbeck continues the book of Genesis with Adam Trask and Cathy represent Adam and Eve. Which Steinbeck portrays that representation to Adam and Eve throughout the book.

In Of mice and men, John Steinbeck uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and a sympathetic tone to demonstrate the world of limited sources, poverty, human intolerance, limiting social roles, wealth, and freedom.

Steinbeck wrote about many different characters who are full of dreams which sadly none of their dreams came true. Everyone has a big dream that would like to accomplish one day but sometimes , when we get lonely our dreams don’t come true. Through these characters John Steinbeck shows the effects about true loneliness.

Curley’s Wife’s mistake in allowing Lennie to stroke her hair even though warnings were given about her from George to Lennie foreshadows her own death. "Don 't you even take a look at that b*tch. I don 't care what she says and what she does... You leave her be." (Steinbeck 16). This is another example of foreshadowing because Lennie couldn’t keep his hands off of things in the past and tells the reader that he might do something bad to her in the future. George is attempting to keep Lennie away from Curley’s Wife because he is aware of the possible consequences of their interaction, especially as Curley is the ranch boss’ son. Lennie 's accidental killing of Curley 's wife was the situation that George had been dreading from when they met her on the ranch. “She took Lennie 's hand and put it on her head. "Feel right aroun ' there an ' see how soft it is." Lennie 's big fingers fell to stroking her hair.” (Steinbeck 54). Lennie can 't keep his hands off of soft things and covers Curley’s Wife’s mouth when she yells for him to let go of her hair, strangling her by unawareness of his own strength. George

Steinbeck uses foreshadowing in this passage. Lennie is the snake and George is the heron. In the end, George is the one who kills Lennie for what he did. The heron killed the snake because he needed to eat to save his life. George killed Lennie because he wanted to save the rest of his life from having to take care of Lennie, but he also save Lennie from having to suffer even more with Curley.

Through everybody’s eyes is their own version of the American Dream. Whether it’s the stereotypical dream with a good job, a family, and a house with a white picket fence, or it could be just getting by at the end of the month financially. The American Dream doesn’t have a specific image but rather a particular mindset. Lots of people have a goal in their life that they have to work hard to be successful towards that goal, but in most cases that goal may be unrealistic.

American journalist David Grann once said, “You want the story to be about something, have some deeper meaning, but there is also an emotional, almost instinctual element, which is, does this story seize some part of you and compel you to get to the bottom of it?” Every piece of text has a meaning that goes deeper than the page it is printed on. Of Mice and Men is an example of this. Of Mice and Men was written by John Steinbeck in 1937. The story takes place in California during the Great Depression, a time where it was laborious to be anything close to successful. Everyone believed that with a minimal amount of hard work and money saved up, the American Dream could be at their fingertips. The two main characters George and Lennie struggle to get land to call their own. Lennie is driven by his dream of tending rabbits, but he makes it challenging when he is the main reason of their setbacks and complications as they move from job to job. Fortunately, George is always there to clean up the mess. Of Mice and Men is studied as an allegory because the characters symbolize problems more substantial than the ones Steinbeck clearly writes about. John Steinbeck zooms in on other problems that America struggles with besides the enticing desire for just materialistic things. Steinbeck criticizes racism, the mistreatment of those who are disabled, and the disrespect of women.

In chapter one of “Of Mice and Men”, we are introduced to the characters Lennie and George. The book starts with describing a serene scene of a valley with a river running through it. The book then focuses on the two characters that emerge out of the forest. One with sharp features and strong stance and the other looking as though he is still in his pubescent years. As the chapter progresses, the author, John Steinbeck, allows readers to catch a glimpse of the characters’ relationship with each other and see the inner workings of their symbiotic partnership.

Steinbeck shows us the evils of temptation and the innocence they hold. Curley’s wife is a symbol temptation, poison to men on ranch and the main reason for Lennie’s death. In the  Garden of Eden, Eve betrays the word of God and brought sin and evil into world. Curley’s wife is known as a tart, very pretty, and has “the eye”. All of which are distracting and tempting attributes to a man on the ranch, when there is no other women in sight. Eve ignores God’s warnings to fulfill her own wishes and manipulates Adam in the process. Curley’s wife is dressed in red things when she is physically described, this red can symbolize the red apple Eve took. The redness of an apple can stand for love and beauty, but these “good” characteristics also have their flaws. The love and beauty that appears to be genuine is just another example of temptation.  The evil serpent enticed Eve into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. This action was the first immoral act and caused mankind to be set out of place. Curley’s wife is similar to both Eve as well as the evil serpent. For Curley’s wife’s beauty and soft hair is what tempts Lennie towards her, while she is also manipulative like Eve in getting what she wants. Curley’s wife only married Curley so that she wouldn’t feel lonely. “Well I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make anything of myself, and’ where they stole your letter” (Steinbeck 88). Curley’s wife was convinced her mother had stolen her letter from a guy who works in Hollywood, she believed her mother destroyed her chances of ever being a famous actress. She was lonely and hopeless, so when she met Curley at the Riverside Dance Palace she stuck with him because he gave her the attention she seeked. Eve and Curley’s wife only think for themselves, not once do they give thought to how their consequences can affect others. Eve influencing Adam to take a fruit from the forbidden tree caused vile things to enter their perfect world. Curley’s wife’s interest in Lennie, his strength, and his quietness brought

The story “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck is one of the winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature. “Of Mice and Men” is about two characters George and Lennie. George is very smart but short. Lennie on the other hand is the complete opposite. He is big and has a mind of a child. In “Of Mice and Men” George and Lennie have a dream to own a piece of land somewhere in California. In this story Lennie is being made sympathetic by Steinbeck so then the story is more relatable. Steinbeck is doing this by showing Lennie to have some mental problems and also to make him act like a child in a manly ranch in California.

In the book of mice and men the author symbolizes some things such as animals. His tone is also involved during the story that interact with the characters. The author also impacts with the story by showing on the characters how they speak and how their actions are,or being used. There Is some symbolism throughout the book.

Douglas Coupland once said, “Remember: the time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life's cruelest irony.” Douglas Coupland is describing in his quote a way that someone is displaying loneliness and needs someone to break it but deep down you yourself is the only one who can free you from it. Of Mice and Men is taken place in Salinas Valley, California, Steinbeck had written the novel during the great depression: a long and severe recession in an economy or market. George and Lennie the main characters of this novel and are two unemployed men seeking work.

Peter Armour Ms. Graham English 9H 13 February 2015 Literary Devices Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck and “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns have similar themes shown with literary devices. John Steinbeck and Robert Burns use literary devices to convey the theme that plans do not always work out. Steinbeck and Burns use repetition, irony, and tone to show this theme.

In the novella Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, the relationship between Lennie Small and George Milton is complex. Lennie and George are two companions who look for work and brave the hardships of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression together. Although Lennie and George are both grown men, their relationship resembles more of a child and a single parent, or a boy and his dog. Lennie is portrayed as animalistic and childish through his behavior and Steinbeck’s comparisons. This reveals the crucial power dynamic in George and Lennie’s relationship.