How Is Animal Imagery Used In Of Mice And Men

Humans and animals are more alike than most people would think. They often act the same way, and do similar things. Animal behaviors are used to describe humans and their actions, especially in literature. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, he uses naturalism to get his point across. Steinbeck uses animal imagery to emphasize power, including how Lennie has physical power over other people, George has power over Lennie, and Curley and his wife are seen as weak and helpless. Steinbeck’s use of animal imagery emphasizes Lennie’s notable strength compared to others. The men mock Curley, and he tries to push his authority onto Lennie by fighting him, thinking he can re-establish his “boss” status with the men by showing the power he holds over others. He attacks Lennie for smiling as the men mock him, but Lennie was dreaming of his future, not mocking him, and at first Lennie just stands there. When Lennie finally fights back, he stops Curley just by crushing his hand in his fist, and “Curley [is] white and shrunken now, and his struggling [becomes] weak. He [stands] crying, his

When George asks Lennie to give the mouse back, he "slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master, approached, drew back, [and] approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand" (Steinbeck 9). George knows that Lennie will listen to him because of the relationship they have, which is similar to a terrier and it is master. Steinbeck’s description of Lennie as a terrier clearly presses upon the reader that George is the leader, and Lennie is the follower. Later, George continuously yells at Lennie to fight back, to put Curley in his place. Lennie listens when “George [yells] again, ‘I said get him’” (Steinbeck 63). George constantly commands Lennie to attack, to defend himself, much like a master would command his