Light And Dark In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The narrator described the setting in the beginning as “twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight” (Steinbeck 1), but later on he stated that “the sun had left the valley” (Steinbeck 99). These quotes foreshadow what is going to happen later in the story because of their relation to dreams and fate. Steinbeck uses sunlight to represent dreams and he uses darkness to represent fate. The characteristics of a dream and sunlight both consist of beauty, happiness, and brightness ahead. Darkness and fate are known for their scary realities. The darkness takes over the sunlight leaving it with nothing, just like fate takes over dreams. The quotes foreshadow George, Candy, and Lennie’s dream being crushed after Lennie gets in trouble again. They also foreshadow Candy’s dog being killed because of uncontrolled outcome that was bound to happen. Steinbeck chooses sunlight as a way to transmit the message that fate will always win no matter how much you prepare because of the similar characteristics that the light and dark have with dreams and fate. In the novel, Steinbeck tells of a water snake’s head “held up like a little periscope” (Steinbeck 7) until a heron “lanced down and plucked it out by the head” (Steinbeck 99). The water snake is a representative of a dream because of its periscope head preparing for an opportunity to achieve its goal. The heron portrays fate because it takes the water snake by its head to kill it instantly and unexpectedly, like fate crushes dreams. The incident with the heron and the snake foreshadows Lennie’s fate, which is also instant and unexpected. Curley’s wife is like the periscope head, preparing for an opportunity to become an actress, until Lennie started petting her hair and killed her. Lennie’s actions were similar to the actions of the heron and the actions of fate. They all make uncontrollable

Of Mice and Men was an excellent novel about two migrant workers traveling in Southern California, trying to make enough money to fulfill their dream of attaining their own plot of land. They have trouble accomplishing this goal when Lennie, the big and clueless on of the two, consistently makes mistakes, some of them being vital. The author, John Steinbeck, uses great techniques and literary devices that build up to the climax and resolution. Throughout the story, he describes how several characters all have/had dreams or goals, but none of them truly achieved those dreams. All of these literary devices, techniques, and the entire plot lead up to my thesis statement. Steinbeck uses dialogue and conflict to project his belief that dreams

John Steinbeck, the author of the novella, Of Mice and Men, sets the story in the great depression, where itinerant workers travel to California to find work. Through the use of light imagery and setting the author develops the theme of the American dream. The literary devices also create an unrealistic impression of George and Lennie's dream, giving the reader a sense of pity.

In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there are many diverse characters. Every single character portrays a different aspect of the human nature. The naïve, the protector, the calm, the manipulative, the rage filled, the shunned, and the hopeful. Each character is dynamic in their own way. This is a small glimpse into what traits Steinbeck thinks the human race has, embodied into each of his characters’ personalities.

The novel Of Mice and Men by J. Steinbeck is one of the best novel existing nowadays. The story came up with different kind of themes and the best one is “Struggle with Adversity”. Most of the characters in this story are having misfortune in their own lives that leads them through adversity. Adversity comes with different types, it is not about having difficulties in life like humans daily needs but also for the troubles and problems that people are facing everyday. Like Lennie Small, George Milton, and Candy, they are the one in the story who’s facing adversity in different kind of situations.

To begin, one crucial symbol talked about alot is Curley’s wife. In chapter 2, George and Lennie meet Curley’s wife for the first time, and the others have some thoughts about her. On page 28,

Crooks and Curley’s wife are both main characters in the story. Although they both repel each other's characters, both of them highlight the prejudice which Black people and Women suffer in the 1930’s society. During the 1930’s, black people from the south were excluded from white people activities, which then forced them to leave and travel north and west in hopes of a better life. In the same time period,women still faced discrimination in workplaces, households and suffered in the great depression. Steinbeck uses this era of isolation to illustrate the segregated society which the characters live in, and allude their personality to racial attitudes and

War. What starts a war? The misuse of power. In the realistic fiction novella Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, there are many different ways to show power. The men encounter many minor conflicts because of issues with power. In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, he explores some of the different types of power through power in strength, wealth/social class, and knowledge.

Of Mice and Men provides us with plenty examples of dehumanization that guide us to conclusions, or insights or feelings of dehumanization. Some examples of this is the dehumanization of Lennie, Crooks and Curley’s wife. Of Mice and Men perfects the traits of dehumanization of Lennie by relating him to a number of animals like the horse. Steinbeck dehumanizes Lennie by comparing him to a horse when George says, “His huge companionship dropped his baskets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse” (Steinbeck, 2). Furthermore, Steinbeck helps us, by dehumanizing Crooks, living in a barn, to animals, to visualize how poorly Crooks is treated. To prove this, Crook says, “ ‘Cause I’m black.

The cruelty of life remains in an endless cycle. Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, illustrates the harsh life of migrant workers during the Great Depression. Through his use of tone, foreshadowing, and imagery, Steinbeck shows an honest and cruel world that is never changing.

Hungry for attention, Curley’s wife pays the men in the barn a visit, only to be pushed away by their cruel comments and harsh words. Offended and unwanted, Curley’s wife turns the tables against Crooks and insults him by saying: “well, you keep your place then, n*****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (80). Although she does not intend to hurt anyone, the men do not want to take chances retaliating at her resulting at them having to leave the ranch.When Candy found Curley’s wife half-hidden among the straw, lying still, he came to found out his dreams were taken from him. In the midst of things after Curley’s wife had died Candy had stayed behind and scolded at her “You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart”(95) Candy then goes on about how he “…could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys” (96) In this scene, Steinbeck exposes that Curley’s wife actually possessed more power in death rather than in life. In other words, her death revoked the dreams of many characters , including herself. Now candy, Lennie, and George will never have their ideal piece of farm land and Curley’s wife will pursue her dreams of becoming an actress. Unfortunately, Curley’s wife

Their dream caused Candy and Crooks to have a dream as well. It also made Lennie realize that what he is doing is wrong and that it has consequences. Steinbeck illustrates this by using characterization, the motif of dreams, and

When Curley is first introduced to Lennie and George, “He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious” (Steinbeck 25). Steinbeck develops this image because it portrays how Curley is intimidated by George and Lennie and, therefore, has menacing and bitter actions toward them without knowing them yet. To add on, Crooks finds it fun to make Lennie scared by asking him what if George does not come back from town. The narrator says, “Crooks pressed forward some kind of private victory… Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture” (Steinbeck 70). By continuing to frighten Lennie about losing George, his only friend, The image Steinbeck creates describes Crooks maliciousness by continuing to frighten Lennie about losing George, the only friend he has. Instead of stopping when he sees the terror he has brought to Lennie, Crooks finds joy in Lennie’s suffering. To summarize, the imagery implemented into the novel helps illustrate the wicked nature of Crooks and Curley.

Johns Steinbeck’s 1937 masterpiece “of mice and men” gives insight to the lives of ordinary people affected by the great depression in America, during the 1930s. In the novella the themes of loyalty and disloyalty are a key part of the plot. Steinbeck explores the seminal themes of loyalty and disloyalty by careful use of setting, structure and development of complex character constructs. Also the use of language and imagery in the novella depict the reality of the great depression for many people and the challenges they faced everyday.

Steinbeck uses symbolism to portray how people find hope in the direst situations. Although George and Lennie