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Fate In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the entitlement Of Mice and Men reflects a central theme of person struggle with fate, shown among several of the characters. The title of the novella is an allusion to a poem “To a Mouse” By Robert Burns. This represents person vs. fate because it is about a mouse whose house got plowed over and ruined by a farmer and this house was the mouse's fate and “American Dream”. For example, Crooks struggles with his fate and being the only African American on the ranch. Secondly Curley's wife struggles with her fate not being able to have her dream of go going into show business fulfilled. Finally, George and Lennie lost their American Dream for a reason they could not prevent. Crook's fate is going to be difficult being the only African American. …show more content…

Crooks tells Lennie to, “go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain't wanted in my room” (68). This shows that society has not expected Africans Americans yet, which is why he struggles with his person vs fate. This is why he is put in the barn because he is not allowed to be around where the other migrant workers are. Another example of this is, is when curley's wife is scolding Crooks for bossing her around and telling her to get out of his room. She says to him, “Well, you keep your place then n*****. I could get you stung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.” (81). This shows that they would take whatever Curley' wife says over what Crooks says. So she could say some to get him in trouble for something he did not even do, because the people would trust Curley's wife and not Crooks. This again shows. Africans Americans are not accepted in society and do not have a good fate which is why he has complications with hi person vs. fate. Curley's wife could of had a good fate if she had made it into the show

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