Animal Symbolism in Of Mice and Men
The use of animal symbolism in Of Mice and Men serves to emphasize the ideas of loneliness and isolation, as well as the vulnerability and powerlessness of the characters. In turn, this foreshadows the tragic events that unfold later in the story. By using animals to represent the characters’ emotions and experiences, Steinbeck emphasizes how they are cut off from others and therefore unable to form connections. The use of animal imagery also highlights the harshness and brutality of life on the ranch, where individuals are often made out to be on the same level as animals to survive. Steinbeck highlights the harsh realities of life during the Great Depression and how individuals are often at the mercy of forces beyond their control.
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In Of Mice and Men, Lennie likes to pet the mice, but he often ends up killing them because he doesn’t know his own strength. This represents how Lennie doesn’t always realize how his actions can hurt others. “‘Uh-uh. Jus’ a dead mouse, George. I didn’ kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead’” (Steinbeck 7). Lennie is a large and powerful man, but he is also mentally disabled and unable to fully understand the consequences of his actions. This makes him vulnerable to those who would take advantage of him, such as Curley, who picks a fight with Lennie simply because he knows Lennie won’t fight back. The mouse is symbolic of Lennie himself, as they are both small and helpless creatures that are at the mercy of larger and more powerful beings. The mouse also foreshadows Lennie’s fate, as he too will be crushed and destroyed by those who are stronger than he is. “Lennie sat in the hay and looked at a little