Themes In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
The novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck was published in 1937 and is a novel that displays the hardships and the journeys of life. There are many different themes that Steinbeck shows us throughout the entire novel; one topic that is very important is the connection that Steinbeck draws between Lennie and Candy’s old sheepdog. Steinbeck shows the connection between them by showing us how they are dependent on another person, the way people treat them and the way they both die. Lennie and Old Candy’s sheepdog are very alike. In one way, they both need someone to depend on that helps them get through life; they are each other’s best friends. Lennie depends on George and Candy’s dog depends on Candy for guidance and support. An example of Lennie needing someone to protect him and guide him was when he says, “got you to look …show more content…
People treat Lennie and the dog with little respect because of their disabilities. The other men in the novel are cruel and say horrible things about them. One example is when Carlson wants to shoot the dog and he says, “he aint no good to you” (Steinbeck 42). Carlson has no right to say that to Candy because Carlson barely knows anything about the dog except for the obvious ones. This shows Carlson opinion about the dog, but to Candy, the dog is “the best damn sheepdog” he has known and they have a special relationship. Even though the sheepdog is blind and can’t walk well, to Candy, it’s a man’s best friend. Another example of the men being cruel is when Curley shouts, “big bastard” (Steinbeck 59) to Lennie when Lennie did nothing wrong. Lennie is mentally retarded and doesn’t understand, as well as forgets things a lot. The men play jokes, talk badly about him, and Lennie never knows or understands what’s going on. Steinbeck is showing us that people are mean, life is cruel, but we have to keep on living through the pain and
How Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
932 Words | 4 PagesAfter reading the novel and watching the movie “Of Mice and Men”, I have learned about the lifestyle of migrant workers in California during the 1930s, which I did not know about before studying the novel. California back in the 1930s is very different from what I pictured it to be as the conditions of life weren’t that good. This is also the first novel that I have read in my years as a student that contains so much foreshadowing. Never before had I read a book where the author produced so much foreshadowing in such a short book. Steinbeck uses Lennie as a source of motivation and hope in achieving the dream farm that George, Candy, Crooks and Lennie himself desire.
Examples Of Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
1205 Words | 5 PagesAs the dog lost its serviceability, it lived on with age and suffered, thus had to be put down in order to prevent it from suffering any longer. Contrary to this, Lennie was one of the most useful members of the farm. His strength making it easy to do certain things, his mentality however, was something else, like that of an ignorant, innocent child. Even when a girl screamed, Lennie became “scared all he can think to do is jus’ hold on.” (Steinbeck, 41) Unbeknownst to Lennie and George, his natural innocence and ignorance, will whittle down his usefulness until nothing's left.
Of Mice And Men Lonliness Quotes
753 Words | 4 PagesCandy's dog eventually gets shot for no reason, other than the fact that the others do not like him. The dog was hated by the other men living on the farm. The sense of feeling that others do not like you is one of the main contributes to lonliness in the world today. Steinbeck attempts to allow readers to recognize this, and change their actions and words towards others to prevent this lonely state in
How Does Steinbeck Use Symbols In Of Mice And Men
467 Words | 2 PagesThey believe that Candy should put down his dog to end it’s suffering from its many ailments. Carlson and Slim decide for him that his dog’s life is no longer worth living. This establishes the theme of another person deciding if someone else should die. Later in the novel, George decides to kill Lennie before he gets lynched by Curley; George is in the same position as Candy previously was in Chapter 3. Candy regrets not shooting his dog himself and shows solidarity for George due to experiencing the same
Why Does Steinbeck Use Animal Imagery In Of Mice And Men
427 Words | 2 PagesThe book “ Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck In the book “ Of Mice and men” The use of animal imagery and Working class people develop the theme. John Steinbeck uses animal imagery to describe lennie’s personality . Lennie is very forgetful at times and he’s also slow at processing information as well. “Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water.”
How Does Steinbeck Use Of Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
954 Words | 4 PagesOf Mice and Men tells a story based in California during the 1930s; of two men who have very different characteristics, but share the same goal. The men, George and Lennie, are migrant workers. At their new job, they meet many individuals: Candy, who is very old and cleans the bunkhouse; Curley, who is the boss’s son; Curley's wife, Crooks, the stable hand; and Slim, who is known as the “prince of the ranch.” Though they recently started, their new job quickly goes downhill. John Steinbeck’s book is carefully written and often uses hints to foretell what will happen next.
Sacrifice In Of Mice And Men
561 Words | 3 PagesThe story Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck was made to describe how the 1930’s was when the Great Depression came about. The characters George and Lennie had a very special bond. They took good care over one another and made sure one another stay out of trouble. They also support each other with their one goal in life, such as wanting to have land of their own. All these things come with consequences, they have to risk or sacrifice things for each other or are responsible for one another.
Of Mice And Men Friendship Essay
398 Words | 2 PagesOne of the major themes of John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, published in 1937, is that having a dream breeds hope and friendship. First and foremost, candy’s solitary life prompts him to be friends with George and Lennie after his dog gets killed. Then George and Lennie’s dream of owning land leads them with hope. Due to the unproductivity of the dog, Carlson kills candy’s dog. Candy was prompted by George and Lennie’s conversation of possessing a land.
Of Mice And Men Quotes Analysis
532 Words | 3 PagesIn John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie share an unbreakable bond. The bond they share is based off of many obligations; such as guilt, love, and the fear of being alone. Despite their many obligations, they both possess many qualities that help to benefit each other. Their bond is justified throughout the novel by elaborating on their everyday life on the ranch and by conversation that occurs amongst George and Lennie. Lennie is a mentally unstable man who is not capable of properly taking care of himself, or making the best decisions in the situations that he is faced with throughout the novel.
Of Mice And Men Figurative Language
692 Words | 3 PagesIn the novella, John Steinbeck employs figurative language and symbolism throughout the story to compare Lennie to different animals, dehumanizing him. To begin with, Lennie was always an unusual human being. He would act abnormally compared to others when it came to activities. He would show
Examples Of Unintentional Violence In Of Mice And Men
375 Words | 2 PagesThe author shows an example of this “Steinbeck’s portrayal of Lennie’s handicap is therefore completely sympathetic; the other characters have only themselves to blame for provoking Lennie, who is merely a child in a world of selfish adults”(240). Throughout the novella it is constantly foreshadowed about death from the mice, puppies, and Curley’s Wife’s death which is an example of how Lennie is dangerous to many unaware of his strength. Curley’s Wife’s death made Lennie a target to Curley whose intentions were
Compare And Contrast George And Lennie
605 Words | 3 PagesGeorge and Lennie, prominent characters in the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, are migrant workers—men who move from place to place to do seasonal work— who end up in California and are faced with numerous problems. Set in the era of the great depression, the story of Lennie and George, two very different men who have formed a family-like union, takes place on a farm where Lennie struggles to stay out of trouble. Having committed an unintentional, harmful act, Lennie is faces severe consequences; and George must decide to make a necessary decision which changes the mood of the entire novel. By the comparison and contrast of George and Lennie, unique characters who are very different from each other, the reader can better acquaint himself
Why Are Dreams Important In Of Mice And Men
505 Words | 3 PagesSteinbeck states in the novel, “You seen what they done to my dog tonight?”(60). An example of Candy telling George and Lennie his problems. Candy still feels upset over his dog death by Carlson. But by using that excuse he got George to agree with him, to let him live in the ranch once they earn enough money. With Candy’s help with George and Lennie’s dream, it is easier and now faster for the three of them to get their ranch.
Human Condition In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
573 Words | 3 PagesThe book Of Mice and Men is full of puzzling examples of the human condition, from Lennie and his mental disability to Curley only caring about his social appearance. With characters like these two, the book exploits the human condition that concerns circumstances life has given you. John Steinbeck brings to life what being a laborer in the American depression meant to the men and one woman who had enough personality to stand out. Steinbeck shows the human condition of men while they survive in the American depression.
Importance Of Life Lessons In Of Mice And Men
607 Words | 3 PagesCandy is one of the other migrant workers George and Lennie work with he is very old, rundown, and not up to the “standards” that migrant workers should have been back then. When his dog is killed for being “no good to you and no good to himself” (Steinbeck 44), Candy starts to talk about his own life and connect to the dog's life. He realizes that when people and animals are no good anymore they tend to get pushed away and not needed anymore. This shows that emotional bonds create connections between situations happening in the novel and what these people are
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