Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men

“All things truly wicked start from innocence.” (Hemingway). This quote by Earnest Hemingway relates to the novella Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck as it mentions how people who are overcome with innocence may be deprived of a fair life. In the novella, Steinbeck uses foreshadowing, motif, and circular plot to reveal that innocence can suffer in a harsh world. By using these techniques Steinbeck can create connections between each of his characters that are too innocent to understand the troubles in life. Steinbeck uses foreshadowing throughout the novella to indicate what may happen later in the story. He uses Candy's dog being murdered as metaphor for the ending of the novella. Crooks says, "The way I'd shoot him, he wouldn't feel nothing. I'd put the gun right there." He pointed with is toe. "Right back of the head. He would not even quiver" (Steinbeck 45). This a subtle way of showing what will

Lennie having the dream of owning and tending to rabbits is a crucial motif which drives the story. “Tell me- like you done before” … “About the rabbits” (Steinbeck 13). Lennie is naive and does not care about the land or the money, all he cares about is the rabbits. This idea only makes him feel comforted but does not solve the problems that he is faced with, and that is why it is such a key part of the storyline. The idea of rabbits is present throughout the whole novella however it is most important in the begging and in the end. "And I get to tend the rabbits" (Steinbeck 105). Rabbits were what George and Lennie were talking about just moments before Lennie dies. George knew that this innocent idea of tending rabbits would calm Lennie down so his last thoughts would be something that brought him joy. By using the motif of rabbits Steinbeck shows how Lennie would have never been able to survive off that dream and how having innocent dreams can blind you from the real