Of Mice And Men Literary Analysis

Society brings man to his death! The story, “Of Mice and Men” is based on the two close companions, George and Lennie who travel around together. George and Lennie look out for each other because they are all they have. “Of Mice and Men” takes place in the small town of Soledad, out on the ranches of California, in the late 1930’s during the Great Depression. George and Lennie go from ranch to ranch looking for a job out in the fields because they are running away from crime. All they have are each other; no home, and nothing else except a few personal belongings. The two main characters share a common dream which invariably motivates them throughout the story. George and Lennie aspire to buy their own land, have their own crops and livestock,

One of the main themes that is portrayed throughout the book is desperation and discouragement. The author uses the literary technique of symbolism to portray these themes. George and Lennie's dream of owning their own land someday symbolises the hopelessness and desperation of the era. It also represents the unfortunate likelihood of the “American dream” that is so commonplace among men similar to them. In the novella, one of the stable bucks named Crooks, warns Lennie that he has seen men just like him. Men who never get any land, and never get to live the carefree, laid back way of life, that so many commonly dream of. For instance, Crooks tells Lennie and Candy the following; “You guys is just kiddin’ yourself. You’ll talk about it a hell of a lot, but you won't get no land. You’ll be a swamper here till they take you out in a box. Hell, I seen too many guys. Lennie here’ll quit an’ be on the road in two, three weeks. Seems like ever’ guy got land in his head” (Steinbeck). The two companions’ discouragement of fulfilling their dream clearly symbolizes the desperation and discouragement that is enforced upon their society. Another important motif the author emphasizes throughout the novella is

Often times in the novella, George gives up many opportunities to put his companion, Lennie first. Due to society's inadequacy of resources for disabled people such as Lennie, many people have no other option but to care for those who could not themselves. In the novella, when one of the ranch hands, Slim questions why George looks out for Lennie, George quickly says the following; “When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just came along with me out workin’. Kinda got used to each other after a little while… I told the old lady Id’ take care of him” (39). George makes this sacrifice due to the fact that there is no other option, or in other words, no other means of taking care of Lennie. George symbolises society's sacrifices, because he himself, is an individual who makes a sacrifice by cause of a discriminatory society. Clearly, many of the characters in the novel are put in a position to make critical sacrifices, which on the contrary, would ultimately lead to there death in