How Does Steinbeck Use Figurative Language In Of Mice And Men

John Steinbeck tells the story of two migrant workers, George and Lennie, in his novel, Of Mice and Men. George and Lennie are two men who travel together and find themselves working on a ranch in Salinas Valley, California. On the ranch they meet Slim, Candy, Crooks, Carlson, and Curley who are all workers that live in the bunkhouse with George and Lennie. As they make new friends and work through their struggles they stick together. Throughout the book Steinbeck uses figurative language to compare Lennie to an animal. Lennie and George’s dynamic is incredibly complex, however Steinbeck's figurative language shows an owner and pet like relationship. Therefore, Lennie depends on George for everything, and he couldn’t survive without him. Lennie

Lennie is being compared to an animal without the figurative language. He is literally acting as an animal. Afterwards, George reprimands him for running off to the lake and drinking “I ain’t sure it’s good water,” he does this just like an owner walking their dog would do if the dog walked off the path or got into something they shouldn’t. Afterwards, Lennie tries to convince George that the water is good and he plays around in it to show him that it’s good because he wants George’s approval. “[Lennie] wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes...‘Look, George. Look what I done.’” When Lennie is proud of something, the first thing he does is tell George. Oftentimes this “accomplishment” is something small and silly, but to Lennie it’s a big deal. A dog owner tells their dog when they’ve done something wrong or right. They use “good dog” or “bad dog” and then give them a treat or some sort of punishment. It is all out of love, their pet is dependant on them, and they want them to succeed. Lennie needs a response or approval from George in order to continue and George loves him enough to supply him with that response as well as the resources Lennie will need to keep going.
Lennie has relied on George throughout it all, seeking his approval and obeying his every word. An immense amount of trust has been established between the two. In Lennie’s last moments he comforts George

George looked down at the gun. There were crashing footsteps in the brush now. George turned and looked toward them. “Go on, George. When we gonna do it?” “Gonna do it soon.” “Me an’ you.” “You . . . . an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from ‘em.” Lennie said, “I thought you was mad at me, George.” “No,” said George. “No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.” The voices came close now. George raised the gun and listened to the voices. Lennie begged, “Le’s do it now. Le’s get that place now.” “Sure, right now. I gotta. We gotta.” And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering. George shivered and looked at the