Of Mice And Men Comparative Analysis

Comparative Analysis Essay Many authors use similar styles and themes in their work and apply it to more than one piece of writing. The author, John Steinbeck used this method often to allow his readers to notice these connections. In the novel Of Mice and Men and the short story Tularecito, Steinbeck uses similar plots, themes, topics, and symbolism to give readers an opportunity to notice and compare these cohesive writings. Both these pieces by John Steinbeck have many facets in the personality of their main character. Tularecito is the underdog, the misunderstood child who is isolated from his family and school because of their inability to comprehend his differences. Lennie, the main character of Of Mice and Men, represents loneliness

In Of Mice and Men, Lennie is repeatedly compared to a dog and a bear because of his obedience persona and tendency to become defensive when he, or someone/something he loves, is in danger. Lennie has an unsophisticated manner, like his immediate instinct to drink water from a river in a forest when he’s thirsty. Lennie is entertained by actions that a dog or small child would be entertained with, such as when he dips his hand, or as Steinbeck describes it in the novel, “paw” in a river and is consumed by the ripples that he creates himself. Tularecito is referred to as “Little Frog”, due to his physical attributes, throughout the story by his guardian. He is also called “Cayote”, for, “there is in this boy’s face that ancient wisdom one finds in the face of a coyote” (45). In the beginning of the story, his soon to be guardian finds him in a clearing, and when he looks at him closely, he sees animal, almost creature-like teeth in his mouth. When Tularecito’s school teacher tells his father about his son’s behavior in school and his violent reactions to situations in which he feels targeted, Tularecito’s father beats him in front of his teacher and Tularecito seems indomitable, not affected by his father’s beatings at all. “Why, he’s an animal,” she cried, “It was just like whipping a dog”

Tularecito, George, and Lennie all live on a ranch with their guardian/companion(s). Steinbeck connected his childhood experiences in his novels and stories – he grew up on a ranch himself. He reflected off of the life that he lived in his early childhood and connect it to the characters he wrote about. Both works go into what life is when living on a ranch, and the deeds or misdeeds that can take place on one. The three of these characters are also different from the people on the ranch, and have qualities that set them apart. George and Lennie have each other and a dream that’s bigger than themselves, while Tularecito has a separate home with his gnomes, and does not feel accepted or belonging at the ranch. Both works are concluded with similar endings. Tularecito goes home to his gnomes, only to find that they’re nowhere to be seen and that he will continue to represent loneliness. The character does not find a revelation or resolution to his internal conflict. Lennie ruins his and George’s plan to move away from the ranch and pursue their dreams, because he kills Curley’s wife and can no longer get away with his mistakes. All three characters experience great disappointment at the end of these