Essay on John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie and George have both similarities and differences that are revealed throughout the storyline. These comparisons and contrasts are used to explain their unique friendship and dependency on one another. The story begins with the description of their physical and intellectual differences and establishes their roles of who is the dominant one. The story shares the obstacles that have stood in the way of them obtaining their “American Dream” to own land, even if they if they have different motivations. The story concludes with the difficult choice that George makes to end Lennie’s life himself, out of his love for his friend.

Of Mice and Men follows George Milton and Lennie Small in an adventure to get their American Dream. It takes place in 1930’s Soledad, California. The novella, by John Steinbeck, focuses on topics of friendship, masculinity, the American Dream, poverty, loneliness, injustice, and mercy. George and Lennie's’ relationship, has a distinct mentor and protegee dynamic.

The novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck is set in America in the 1930’s and it describes the lives of migrant farmers as they go from farm to farm looking for jobs. It also shows the loneliness of the characters and the hard work that they put in. The main characters of the book are Lennie, a man-child, and George, a small man but very powerful character that takes care of Lennie in their journey. Also when they get to the farm they meet the bosses wife who is very lonely and looks for company in the workers. Steinbeck uses characterization to bring his characters to life using various techniques.

John Steinbeck shows that George and Lennie have a true friendship be them taking care of each other by stating, “If you don’ want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time. No – look! I was jus’ foolin’” (Steinbeck 12). This quote shows that George and Lennie share the true meaning of friendship by taking care of each other. George tells Lennie to stay with him and not to run of because Lennie can’t care for himself. Another quote that shows George and Lennie support one another is when the narrator states, “… I musta lost it… You never had none you crazy bastard” (Steinbeck 5). This quote shows the true meaning of friendship

Throughout the book Lennie has not changed at all really because he forgets things and also cannot remember everything well at all. Because of this Lennie can’t really change in this book at all. Though little changes have occurred. He was once a gentle giant but now realizes how dangerous he really is. Lennie is a loving person that loves soft and hairy animals. He likes rabbits, rats, mice, and dogs. He likes animals that are soft to the touch. George does not like the idea of Lennie holding young animals or mice and rats because he will kill them on accident and does not want Lennie petting a dead mouse or dog. On page 9 in “Of Mice and Men” Steinbeck writes, “I wasn’t doin’ nothing bad with it, George. Jus’ strokin’ it.’ George stood up and threw the mouse as far as he could into the darkening brush, then he stepped to the pool and washed his hands.” Lennie is stroking a dead mouse when George notices and takes the mouse from him and throws it as far as he can. This shows how Lennie likes furry and hairy things. But when he handles them he accidentally kills them because he is too strong and doesn’t know how to control it.

In Of Mice and Men George's ability to reach his goal is hindered by having to deal with Lennie. Lennie throughout the book gets in trouble "just wanted to feel that girl's dress,-jus' wanted to pet it" (Steinbeck 11) Lennie is constantly making bad decisions because of his stupidity. because of this George gets dragged down and affected. Lennie continues to make bad decisions which lead me to his own death. " he pulled the trigger, Lennie Jarred and then settled down slowly forward.

In contrast, Steinbeck gave George a dream that he truly wanted for his and Lennie's own good, though he could not have due to the many boundaries in his way. George was a generally placid character, and knowing he was limited only to himself to rely on, he regarded the dream as a mere story. George was dubious of the idea until Candy offered his help that George illustrated the true hope he had of living off the “fatta the land”(Steinbeck, 60). Although in comparison to Gatsby, George’s ideas were much more realistic, at that moment he seemed to forget the burden encumbering him; Lennie’s troublesome behavior was arguably the only imposition as to why George could not have the freedom he longed for. Crooks spoke to Lennie of the many men who had the same picture of land in their minds. “‘...an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it…’”(74, Steinbeck). The unlikelihood of George getting a beautiful piece of land to himself was high on its own, let alone with Lennie at his side. George allowed the idea of having money offset his true values, thus allowing himself to forget his responsibility, as well as his role to take care of Lennie.

In John Steinbeck's novel, “Of Mice and Men,” we meet two best friends that travel together. Both total opposites, George is the smaller, yet smarter one and Lennie is bigger, but mentally challenged. Lennie gets both of them into bad situations, that led Lennie to his death. In my opinion, Lennie worshipped everything George said and George felt bad for him. Their relationship cost george to lose the dream him and Lennie both made together, also, Lennie didn't have as much freedom because he was always getting in trouble and that cost George to waste his time solely on Lennie.

     The friendship between Lennie and George went beyond what was unambiguous, they shared a common dream, and they never stopped trying to acheive their dream. They dream of a peice of land of their own. Independence. A couple of acres, a cow, some pigs, and rabbits that Lennie dreams of tending to. Their dream will later be shattered by fate.

In spite of George being small ,quick , dark of a face, restless eyes, sharp features, some would think Lennie could be caring for him, not the opposite. George cares for Lennie because his aunt Clara passed away. Lennie’s aunt Clara took him in when he was a baby and raised him. When his aunt Clara passed away Lennie just came around and went with George. “ An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither” ( Steinbeck 7). This is George telling Lennie not to do anything bad . For example, George tells him do not talk to anybody only do work. George will do all the talking. If Lennie gets scared he would panic, and if he panics he would hold on to the object. Another example is “You go get wood. An’ don’t you fool around. It’ll be dark before long” (Steinbeck 8 ). By this quote some can tell that Lennie is childish since George told him not to fool around. Some can also tell that George is kind of like a parent to Lennie. The quote proves that George is kind of like a parent to Lennie. George cares for him and also feeds Lennie. The fact that Lennie’s parents are gone, it was a good thing that George took him in like his own. By caring for Lennie and caring for George himself his dream gets harder to

In the beginning of the novella, Lennie is portrayed as innocent and dependent on George. When Lennie had a mouse and George asked for it, Steinbeck describes Lennie’s reaction

Of Mice and Men was published in 1937 and was an immediate success. The novella 's status is a best seller. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck writes about the lives of George Milton and Lennie Small attempting to achieve The American Dream and have prosperity and success in a very hard time. The novel takes place in California in the mid 1930´s, at that time America was suffering a great economic depression. John Steinbeck was born in California in 1902 and died in 1968, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature for 1962, Steinbeck attended Stanford University but he did not get a

‘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.

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.

As they move from one ranch to the other Lennie finds comfort in imagining his dream come true: “ Go on, George! Tell about what we are going to have…”. This is reinforced by George’s quote “you know all of it” which shows what a constant source of consolation it was for them. Even moments before killing Lennie, George reassures him through this happy place they had imagined and yearned for together ; “look down there acrost the river, like you can almost see the place”. This shows how powerful a dream can be in one’s life. In Of Mice and Men the dream gives them life, even though life itself doesn’t allow them to achieve it. In the same way their dream makes death sweeter and bearable. George and Lennie may have never achieved their dream; but that is what kept their friendship alive throughout the difficulties of life. The goal of living “off the fatta the land” couldn’t actually be reached, yet it was real in their imagination and that is what really mattered. Additionally Steinbeck gives, through Lennie and George’s aspiration, a clear picture about the culture that had created