How Does Steinbeck Use Power In Of Mice And Men

Power is an important theme throughout the plotline of John Steinbeck’s book, Of Mice and Men. The book Of Mice and Men is placed in the time of the Great Depression. Throughout the story, friends, George and Lennie travel together to find work and make money; in which they eventually find a place where they can work. While there are many lessons that Steinbeck teaches, in the novella Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck suggests that some people aren’t aware of their power; which is shown in the scene where Lennie crushes Curley’s hand and when he kills Curley’s wife.

First, Steinbeck suggests that some people aren’t aware of their power throughout the scene where Lennie crushes Curley’s hand. Curley ends up beating Lennie up because Lennie started

Additionally, when Lennie was in the process of crushing Curley’s hand, George tells Lennie to let

As we know, Curley’s Wife is very lonely, so she goes to talk to Lennie. During that time, Curley’s Wife shows Lennie her hair, and Lennie touches it because he likes the feel of it, however, “Lennie’s fingers closed on her hair and hung on. ‘Let go,’ she cried. ‘You let go!’ Lennie was in a panic. His face was contorted. She screamed then, Lennie’s other hand closed over her mouth and nose.” (91) Lennie panicked and held onto Curley’s Wife’s hair. She started yelling because Lennie is so much stronger than her. Curley’s wife lets out many cries and screams, which shows how she is in pain. Lennie doesn’t take that into account and forces her to be quiet so he doesn’t get in trouble; unaware of how much he is hurting Curley’s Wife. When Lennie is described as in a panic, it tells the reader that Lennie isn’t aware of what's going on, causing him to believe he’s doing something wrong besides causing her pain; which he seems to not notice. In addition, after Lennie had been holding onto her hair for quite some time, Curley’s wife “continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror. He shook her then, and he was angry with her. And he shook her and her body flopped like a fish. [...] He lifted her arm and let it drop. For a moment he seemed bewildered.” (91) Unintentionally, Lennie has broken Curley’s wife’s neck; which caused her to die. When