How Does Steinbeck Present The Theme Of Death In Of Mice And Men

George is forced to make a decision, so, “In order to not lose him, but to lose him, he shoots him” (Goodrich). Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, illustrates George Milton, the tragic hero attempting to build his life during the Great Depression. Steinbeck provens his noble qualities as George helps other men on the ranch. Although he attempts to support friends, his own needs will bring them all down. He desperately wants to escape the cycle of migration and unrewarding labor. Through attempts to make something of his life, he loses track of what makes him honorable and eventually suffers the same desolate fate of all men on the ranch: loneliness. Steinbeck uses the connections of George to other characters, such as Slim and Candy

Steinbeck addresses the hardships of migrational workers in “Harvest Gypsies”. He claims the workers are poor, hated, and homeless. Furthermore, most men do not have family or friends because California labor “requires that they move about” (“Harvest”). Most men in Of Mice and Men work with no companions, and according to research done at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, excessive loneliness leads to depression. Their studies also showed that when humans spend enough time alone, their brains react and crave social interaction (Brookshire). Moreover, George needs Lennie's friendship to escape a desolate life tainted with depression. Without Lennie, George would become battered and defeated like every other man on the

The things George does and wants lead to his downfall. For example, into a Mouse by Robert Burns said, “The best-laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley,” which means no matter how carefully someone planned their life, things may go wrong (Burns). George constantly claimed if he didn't have Lennie with him, he would be much better off. Sitting around a fire, bickering and scolding Lennie, “‘you lose me ever’ job I get’” George yells (Steinbeck 11). As well as yearning for a different life, he craves the respect Slim receives. When George meets Slim, he idolizes him because he finds Slim attractive and clever. Slim is a natural leader of the bunkhouse residents; he surprisingly has the admiration of his cruel supervisor, Curley. As a result, George begins abandoning Lennie to spend more time with Slim. When George starts to give Lennie less supervision, simple Lennie is misguided and murders Curley's