Of Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis

Cruelty of the World
The cruelty of life remains in an endless cycle. Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, illustrates the harsh life of migrant workers during the Great Depression. Through his use of tone, foreshadowing, and imagery, Steinbeck shows an honest and cruel world that is never changing.
Steinbeck’s tone throughout Of Mice and Men is very honest and to the point, much like life. He compares Lennie to an animal during his fight with Curley, saying he, “covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror”(Steinbeck, 62). His comparison of Lennie shows the naturalist writer in him and explains that man is cruel and detrimental just like wildlife. Another example of Steinbeck’s honest tone is when George is trying to explain to the boss why Lennie isn’t speaking, saying, “I’m ain’t saying that he’s bright. He ain’t. But I say he’s a God damn good worker”(Steinbeck, 23). George describes Lennie honestly, but it shows the cruel side of humanity by pointing out Lennie’s weaknesses and his inability to fix them. Steinbeck’s tone sets up a very honest and cruel world that man lives in
Steinbeck’s use of

One dreary landscape is described, saying, “For a moment the place was lifeless…”(Steinbeck, 4). A lifeless world is frightening and lonely, much like life was during the Great Depression. This is a greater metaphor for George and Lennie’s lives because it says their lives are bleak and lifeless. When George and Lennie arrive at the farm their living quarters are described as, “...a long, rectangular building. Inside, the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted”(Steinbeck, 18). This simple and mundane description shows how austere life was. It also shows the hopelessness of George and Lennie with blank walls meaning an empty life. The dismal qualities of the landscape surrounding George and Lennie points out the hopelessness of man and their inability to change