How Does Steinbeck Use Characterization In Of Mice And Men

In the book “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck uses characterization to demonstrate the humans are self centered, and that they don’t pay much attention to others.

To begin with, Steinbeck shows that humans are self centered through the use of characterization. After Lennie dies, Carlson says, “now what the hell you suppose is eatin’ them two guys.” (Steinbeck 107). This dialogue serves to remind us that even though someone just died right in front of them, they don’t honestly care. Steinbeck characterizes him to show how self centered and rude he is because he doesn’t even understand what just happened. In this way, Steinbeck uses characterization of different people and their actions to show how humans are self centered, and don’t pay much

After Curley’s wife dies, Curly says this, “I know who done it, he cried. That big son of a b*tch done it. I know he done it.” (Steinbeck 96) After his wife dies, Curley doesn't feel any sympathy towards his wife. In fact, the book doesn’t even mention Curley having any feelings or reverence towards his wife. All he wants to do is hunt down Lennie himself. However, Curley does have feelings of hatred towards Lennie. So technically, he was not being self centered because he did have feelings towards someone else. But they were negative feelings, which are worse than no feelings at all. So if anything, this part of the book does make people seem like jerks. In the end, Steinbeck uses more characterization to demonstrate the humans are self centered, and that they don’t pay much attention to others. Curley doesn’t even care about his dead wife, all he cares about is killing Lennie, which is technically not self centered because he does have feelings, but not the good kind. That is how John Steinbeck uses a combination of symbols and characterization to demonstrate the humans are self centered, and that they don’t pay much attention to