How Does Steinbeck Use Animal Imagery In Of Mice And Men

In the novel “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck portrays a story about two men, George and Lennie, whose dream is to own a farm on their own. However, they never really tried until they found out it was actually possible. Then, Lennie ruins their dream by murdering Curley’s wife. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck’s description of Lennie is filled with different animals and actions of animals. The author utilizes animal imagery to emphasize the protagonist Lennie’s physical and mental characteristics to illustrate his idea that the working class struggles to survive in the harsh economic catastrophe of the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, jobs were difficult to attain and maintain. In the novel, when George grows tired of Lennie’s

The workers had to rely and depend on their employers to get their salary to support their families just as babies rely on their parents for their survival. As George throws away the dead mouse, “He heard Lennie’s whimpering cry and wheeled about. ‘Blubberin’ like a baby! Jesus Christ! A big guy like you.’ Lennie’s lip quivered and tears started in his eyes.” (Steinbeck 44). Steinbeck portrays Lennie as a vulnerable baby that requires a fatherly figure like George to take care of him just as a migrant worker needs to get paid by their boss to get money during a desperate economic

Steinbeck represents these struggles of migrant workers through the murder of Curley’s wife. As she lay motionless Lennie tells her, “‘I don’t want ta hurt you,” he said, “but George’ll be mad if you yell.’ When she didn’t answer nor move he bent closely over her. He lifted her arm and let it drop. For a moment he seemed bewildered. And then he whispered in fright, ‘I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing.’ He pawed up the hay until it partly covered her.” (Steinbeck 131). Just like migrant workers were afraid of their employers replacing them, Lennie was in fear that George would be mad at him and won’t let him tend the rabbits. Curley’s wife’s death was an example that Steinbeck used to illustrate how the migrant workers couldn’t get what they needed when they got fired and were worried if they lost their jobs during a major economic