Common Themes In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why” (Steinbeck 14). Steinbeck writes this quote which displays the protagonist’s, Lennie and George, feelings towards one another. Of Mice and Men, a story written by John Steinbeck, is set in the 1930s on a ranch in California with the two protagonists trying to live out their dreams to buy their own farm. To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, is about a family that is fighting for the rights of a black man and trying to figure out the mysterious Boo Radley. These two books have many alike themes that can be identified throughout each. Themes that are part of each plot include loneliness, stereotyping, and courage, which are all actually applicable today. Both

Stereotyping is some kind of belief adopted about a group of individuals that usually is not true. This is shown in To Kill a Mockingbird in is the belief that all whites are superior to blacks. This is shown in the quote: “’Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em—‘ ‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling.” (Lee 264). The prosecutor attempting to convict Tom Robinson, Mr. Gilmer, essentially finds that Tom put himself above Mayella by a saying he was sorry for her. This goes against the stereotype that whites are better than blacks which is not what the Mr. Gilmer and Maycomb believe. The same theme can be found in Of Mice and Men which has relevance to Curley’s wife. Because she is always out and about talking to the ranch hands, everyone calls her a slut. Candy stereotypes her in the quote “You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” (Steinbeck 97). This shows that Candy believes that Curley’s wife is a “tart” despite the fact that she just wants attention. This is why stereotyping is another alike theme between the

Courage is the ability to gather up enough strength to face one’s fears. One such is when Mrs. Dubose showed fought her addiction. Atticus’ quote demonstrates this perfectly “…instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.’” (Lee 149). By saying this, Atticus means that Mrs. Dubose fought for what she thought was morally straight by abstaining from using drugs. Courage is displayed throughout Of Mice and Men mainly with George. George has to haul around Lennie even though he has no stable life in doing so which is briefly mentioned in the quote “When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.” (Steinbeck 14). George literally tells Lennie to his face that he would be better off without him, yet has the courage to stick through it until the end. This shows that courage is a key theme in both