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Irony In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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“If you look at great human civilizations, from the Roman Empire to the Soviet Union, you will see that most do not fail simply due to external threats but because of internal weakness, corruption, or a failure to manifest the values and ideals they espouse” (Booker). No one likes feeling weak; even more so when it’s their own fault. Weakness can be caused by a multitude of reasons such as the lack of a comprehension or for health reasons which sometimes lead to negative outcomes. John Steinbeck 's novella Of Mice and Men proves that weakness leads to a variety of repercussions by using irony to show weakness, Candy’s self troubles, and the use of foreshadowing. Irony was used to the show the outcomes caused by weakness in Of Mice and Men throughout the entirety of the story. In the first chapter, Steinbeck …show more content…

Foreshadowing was used in Of Mice and Men to present the theme of weakness. For example, in a conversation between Lennie and George, Lennie states, “‘Jus ' wanted to feel that girl 's dress- jus ' wanted to feel that girl 's dress- jus ' wanted to pet it like it was a mouse-’” (Steinbeck 11). This event was used to suggest that Lennie would end up doing something like he did in Weed again in Soledad, California. Lennie’s childlike demeanor is what gets him in the most trouble. Due to this he does what he wants without thinking about the consequences. Lennie’s entirety as a character is built around his main weakness; his childlike mindset. Steinbeck also uses foreshadowing in a setting description of the pond by stating, “Another little water snake swam up the pool, turning its periscope head from side to side" (Steinbeck 99-100). This description is used to show that the water snake didn’t learn its lesson from the beginning of the novella much like how Lennie didn’t learn his from the incident in Weed. All frailties can be avoided by analyzing what you did wrong. However, Lennie’s flaw is one that cannot be fixed by himself; much like the water

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Lennie had low brains and high strength, allowing him to get far with George helping him. But, Lennie never knowing when he did something wrong only put him on a clock before he would end up dying for something he didn’t understand. “They run us outta weed,”(Steinbeck 7) this quote shows that already at the beginning of the book Lennie has

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The men in “Of Mice and Men” relate to the men in “To a Mouse.” Men have a past, a present, and a future, but most of all they have a fear of their futures.

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The vocabulary used by Lennie is not the best. The characteristics of Lennie shows that he is not the brightest person. He was drinking lake water that was not clean. He ened up putting his hat in all and took a big gulp from the water. There is are mistakes made by Lennie throughout the book.

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In the Novel Of Mice and Men written by an American author John Steinbeck, there were many Foreshadowing points that gave readers a hint of what events might occur further on in the story. Some of the Examples of Foreshadowing in the novel was when Lennie and George was walking to a new ranch to work and finds a dead mice on the side of the road, and when Carlson shot Candy's dog. These two examples were signs of Foreshadowing that gave reader a hint of what might happen as they kept on reading. In the Novel Of Mice and Men one of the main Points that was Foreshadowed was when Lennie and George were walking to anew ranch, where they will be working and Lennie spots a dead mouse on the side of the road and he picks it up and puts it in his

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Steinbeck makes the tragedy of Of Mice and Men apparent to the readers by portraying an ideal setting and dream. This foreshadows the concept of ideas being “too good to be true.” He also used the foreshadowing of other events. The story began in an ideal state.

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Throughout Steinbeck’s naturalistic novel, Of Mice and Men, He portrays two distinctively different men struggling to persevere and survive in an otherwise cruel world. Two migrant workers, George and Lennie thrive off the company of one another and the impossible dream that one day, they will acquire land and make a contented life for themselves. Through their friendship and constant hope for a better life, George and Lennie learn how to survive and cling to aspiration during the harsh Depression era. Steinbeck uses symbolism, irony, and characterization in his classic novel to illustrate the undying hope found in a desperate situation. Steinbeck uses symbolism to portray how people find hope in the direst situations.

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Lennie can't see the line that separates right and wrong. For example, "And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck" (91). The quote by Sherrilyn Kenyon, "Sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right." Lennie did a lot of wrong and never did what was right. People need to fail to succeed, and Lennie failed but never succeeded.

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Of Mice and Men was an excellent novel about two migrant workers traveling in Southern California, trying to make enough money to fulfill their dream of attaining their own plot of land. They have trouble accomplishing this goal when Lennie, the big and clueless on of the two, consistently makes mistakes, some of them being vital. The author, John Steinbeck, uses great techniques and literary devices that build up to the climax and resolution. Throughout the story, he describes how several characters all have/had dreams or goals, but none of them truly achieved those dreams. All of these literary devices, techniques, and the entire plot lead up to my thesis statement.

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One example of foreshadowing in Of Mice and Men is when George told Lennie where to meet him. George said, “Lennie- if you jus’ happen to get in trouble lie you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.” George was trying to make sure that Lennie knew where to go if he got in trouble like he had in Weed. Steinbeck is telling us that Lennie is going to get in trouble again at some point. When Lennie does get himself into trouble he goes to the brush to hide, and George meets him there.

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Of Mice and Men is about Lennie and George in which Lennie decided to feel a girls skirt because he liked the type of material. So George went with Lennie to escape and not get in trouble and decided to go to a bunkhouse where they work and are provided with food and a place to live. George and Lennie are best friends and so they went together. Lennie has the mind of a 6 year old and needs to be with George. When quit their jobs, George planned out a dreamland of how they will live when they get enough money to move to their own house.

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In the novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck incorporates many thematic ideas into his text. He includes the ideas of dreams and reality, the nature of home, and he difference of right and wrong. He develops these ideas throughout the story. The first theme incorporated is the idea if dreams versus reality. Lennie and George have a plan.

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Along with these elements, imagery supports characterization throughout the novel. These elements help to support the theme that chaos can occur in even the most peaceful places. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses conflict, imagery, and characterization to strengthen the story, and develop the theme in the novel. Steinbeck’s development of George and Lennie’s conflicts and even Candy’s help to advance the plot and develop the theme in the novel. George’s internal and external struggle is clear at the beginning of the

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This relates back to naturalism, because Lennie gets himself into a situation that he cannot control. He does not understand that he has to be very careful with the puppy because it is so small, and he does not know his own strength. “What is clear is that Lennie’s body wins out over his mind repeatedly,- in the end with tragic consequences”(Keener 1215). Lennie is very kind- hearted, and never wants to hurt anyone. This quote explains that Lennie’s strength wins over his intentions.

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The book Of Mice and Men is full of puzzling examples of the human condition, from Lennie and his mental disability to Curley only caring about his social appearance. With characters like these two, the book exploits the human condition that concerns circumstances life has given you. John Steinbeck brings to life what being a laborer in the American depression meant to the men and one woman who had enough personality to stand out. Steinbeck shows the human condition of men while they survive in the American depression.

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Although described as a rather large man, Lennie’s role between the two men is very childlike. Lennie is treated like a child by George because Lennie does not have the maturity or mental capability to make decisions for himself. For example, George must continuously remind Lennie of the spot he must come to if in trouble because Lennie cannot focus long enough to process this information. Lennie is also fairly unintelligent and blindly loyal to George. This loyalty is seen when George tells Lennie to jump into a river, and Lennie obeys even though he is unable to swim.

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