John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men uses characterization to express the underlying meaning of the novella. In life, there are mice and there are men, and life is a burden for both of them.
emotions and subtle nuances provided by the author in the book, and many of the deeper feelings and emotions therein are missed entirely, or touched on much too briefly
Without emotion, a novel is merely words on paper; to bring a story to life, the author must create a tone and a mood. Tone refers to an “author’s attitude towards the subjects, characters, or reader,” (Burke 385). In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the tone is sympathetic. Steinbeck shows sympathy towards his characters throughout the novella. Early on, when George wouldn’t allow him to keep a mouse, Lennie “sat down on the ground and hung his head dejectedly,” (Of Mice and Men 9). Steinbeck's word choice tells the reader he has compassion for Lennie. Later on, when Curley’s wife warned Crooks that she could have the stable hand killed, Steinbeck wrote “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing… his voice was toneless,” (Of Mice and Men 81).
Of Mice And Men' by John Steinbeck is a classic novel, tragedy, written in a social tone. The authorial attitude is idyllic, however, as the story develops it changes into skeptic. It is evident that Steinbeck knew the setting and places he is writing about.
Loyalty and friendship play key roles in the lives of those who acknowledge its worth. Living life with whom a person loves greatly increases happiness and trust between those in the relationship. But this unity may come at a cost; true friendship requires sacrifice. Friendship and loyalty in the novella, Of Mice and Men, by expression through John Steinbeck’s interpretation, brings greater understanding to their importance of each.
The book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is about two characters, George and Lennie, who are migrant farmers during the Great Depression. Lennie is extremely strong, but he is mentally disabled. George takes care of Lennie, but often looks at his companion more as a burden then a friend. In the book George and Lennie have just begun working on a farm and they are trying to make money to obtain their dream which is to own a farm. Thomas Scarseth wrote a review of the book, in his review he stated that the novel is a great piece of literature. He supported this with reasons such as Steinbeck's writing reveals that all men are created equal in their ability to suffer, which means it's not just kings and great people who suffer, everyone does. Another point Scarseth makes is that all characters are very complex, but not simple minded. One more idea Scarseth says makes the book great is that all pieces of literature don't end happily, but those that do are the ones that stick with us the most. Thomas Scarseth's analysis of the book Of Mice and Men is accurate that the book stands out from all others because of it's characters, theme, plot, and symbols
Along in with the author’s use of metaphors is the frequent use of imagery. In this reading, it is simple to envision the scenes as the different scenarios are explained and the audience can easily picture Staples in the places he is describing and also the people he comes across. Perhaps the most powerful and memorable imagery is provided in the author’s description of people’s different reactions and faces when they come into contact with him. Actions speak volumes and an immediate change of facial expression is possibly one of the
In life human nature can be known to be thought of as a high quality and/or low quality. Naturally, human nature is there without thought about what it actually is. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the author sprinkles clues and evidence of how human nature was and still is today. The themes that Steinbeck used throughout the novel were, for example friendship, loneliness, and weak vs. strong.
In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, many themes come up often throughout the story, especially the theme about bonds between two people. The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck expresses theme of Friendship through various literary elements. Friendship is people that care for and respect each other. It is the link that makes people stick together through the struggles of life. This essay will prove that friendship is important in life.
Steinbeck’s personal views on people he perceived as less than him shaped of Mice and Men. He had created a story that was in direct correlation with the people that he encountered in his everyday life. Steinbeck developed characters off his own biased opinions of those people. He falls into place within his own story without ever mentioning his own name. Overall Steinbeck based the story off his personal views.
John Steinbeck, an American novelist, is well-known for his familiar themes of depression and loneliness. He uses these themes throughout a majority of his novels. These themes come from his childhood and growing up during the stock market crash. A reader can see his depiction of his childhood era. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows the prominent themes of loneliness, the need for relationships, and the loss of dreams in the 1930s through the novels’ character.
John Steinbeck wrote ‘Of Mice and Men’ to show how hard life was for migrant ranch workers during the time of the Great Depression and how they were often exploited by their employers. In showing how George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own piece of land did not come true, Steinbeck explores a wider theme, criticising the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream tells people that there is ‘opportunity for each... regardless of the fortuitous circumstance of birth and position. Steinbeck criticises this as these ranch workers were given few opportunities. Settings play a very important part in the novel as they pinpoint clear times and places giving a sense of realism to the story, but they are also used to create atmosphere.
Have you ever dreamed of becoming someone important or doing something exciting and memorable? Would you give up or refuse to let go of your dream until you achieve it? Has that obsessive under-minded your success? Many people have dreams that they want to accomplish, but there are obstacles individuals have to cross over in order to achieve their goals, such as facing reality. In the book of Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, the story is a tale of two drifters working from farm to farm, trying to make a living, and save some money to have their own place someday, which is their dream during the Great Depression. The characters face the hardships
In all of his works, John Steinbeck focuses on the hardships of economically and socially challenged communities. He wrote around the Great Depression era of the 1930s, which would influence the situations of all of the characters he creates. He uses settings which are close in proximity to where he was born, the town of Salinas, California. Of Mice and Men, one of Steinbeck’s most well-known works, is set in Soledad, a small town in a valley adjacent to the Salinas River. Another one of his works, Cannery Row, takes place on Monterey Bay just west of the town of Salinas. Steinbeck’s portrayal of the struggles of the characters he creates are so realistic because of his true experiences. For example, Doc in Cannery Row is based on his lifelong friend Ed Ricketts, and the ranch he describes in Of Mice and Men is based off of one owned by Speckrels Sugar where he worked when he was younger. Steinbeck uses setting to critique society during the Great Depression. Though one novel is set in a coastal community and the other rural, their outcomes are extremely similar. The characters in each novel find it difficult to gain a job and keep one while living in poor conditions. No character turns out successful and instead fail to fulfill any dream they may have, such as Lennie’s dream of owning a farm with George and being able to own and care for rabbits. The West was seen by lower class farmers as opportunity and a new beginning throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth
There is only one way an author can get their readers to cry, laugh, and love or just enjoy their master pieces. That one way is through the uses of literary devices such as similes, metaphors and personification. These are the small things that brings the author`s thoughts and ideas alive. The author`s ability to use literary devices through the book helps in direct characterization and lets readers get a better understanding of Lennie and George, the two main characters Of Mice and Men. It also helps in keeping readers thinking on their feet and constantly questioning George and Lennie`s next move while in Salinas, California. John Steinbeck, in his novel Of Mice and Men, makes use of similes and foreshadowing to keep readers in touch