How Does Steinbeck Present The Connection Between Of Mice And Men

Authors introduce themes throughout novels regularly. A well-constructed story establishes connections with the reader(s) through those themes made through the author’s words. That connection draws the reader into the book and keeps them drawn in. In the novella, “Of Mice and Men” written by John Steinbeck, many characters show common themes that everybody goes through. They acknowledge the characters’ evolution throughout this novella. Analyzing the dialogue and actions of the characters, used to connect to the reader, Steinbeck delivers the common themes: loneliness, power, and discrimination. Throughout Steinbeck’s descriptions and the character’s actions, he established the theme of loneliness. One of the characters Steinbeck introduces

Multiple characters were discriminated against, but there are two that stuck out the most. One was Curley’s wife. Steinbeck describes it well when he says “A girl was standing there looking in. She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little red clusters, like sausages” (Steinbeck 31). This description proves that males only care about her looks, discriminating against her to being respected as the men respect other men around the ranch. To add to this, she was not acknowledged by her name throughout the entire novella. The common respect of referring to the men by their name was given, but she was nothing more than “Curley’s wife.” Steinbeck also shows there was discrimination towards Lennie. Lennie has a disability and is seen as less compared to the other men; although he is a big guy. George has to constantly defend Lennie and speak for him. George does this when he says “He ain’t bright. Hell of a good worker, though. Hell of a nice fella, but he ain’t bright” (Steinbeck 34). These words from George show that Lennie is discriminated against for his disability. Others see him as a child George is responsible for, rather than being a strong worker alike the other men in Soledad. This causes him to be seen as less and bullied for being dumb, which acknowledges the discrimination in the story. From how the characters are described by Steinbeck and the other characters, he establishes strong themes that kept the reader wanting