Themes In Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men

In the 1930’s there were causal hardships during the Great Depression this made lots of people become unemployed. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck it is a novella released in 1937 which tells a tale of two workers named George and Lennie, who lost their old job in Soledad and are going to their new job at the ranch. Largely the ending Of Mice and Men was inevitable because of these following themes; American Dream, cruel society, particularly targeting minorities and friendships helping to build empathy.

It was a predicament that George and Lennie will never get their own ranch because of the American Dream. The American Dream is an impossible vision that leads to disappointment this is equaled through how the workers don’t

Society was cruel through their lifestyles. Different people at these time were treated badly because of their age, race and gender. In the bunkhouse Carlson wants to kill Candy’s dog because of its stinking the bunkhouse. “ Well I can’t stand him in here,” said Carlson “That stink hangs around even after he’s gone.” He walked over with a heavy-legged stride and looked down at the dog. “Got no teeth he’s all stiff, he ain’t no good for you Candy” Before winning the fight and quickly says to the dog “come, on, boy.” This tells us by Carlson saying “Got no teeth he’s all stiff” tells us that Carlson thinks that if something is old and can’t take care of it’s self it should be killed. How Candy is fighting back tells us that he knows that if the dog goes, he’ll go next because he's also becoming old and this presents on how society treats people badly because of their age. In Crooks’s little shed Curly’s wife gets mad at him for telling her to leave. “Crooks seemed to grow smaller and he pressed himself against the wall. “Yes ma’am” “Well, you keep your place when nigger. I could get you strung up on so easy, it ain’t even funny.” This extract uses Curly’s wife speech to reflect on the theme when she says “I could get you strung up on so easy, it ain’t even funny” tells us the reader how society was cruel and how people can be treated so badly because of

Allowing them to know the best thing for someone. This shows why most characters in the novella are isolated and don’t have empathy for others. When George and Lennie are at the campsite, George gets mad at Lennie for asking for ketchup, but ends it an try’s to apologise to Lennie. “No-look! I was jus’ fool-in’ Lennie. ‘Cause I wanted you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill-’em.” Through Georges speech, we can see by him saying. “I was jus’s fool-in’.” Tells us that he understands how Lennie is feeling because of their strong friendship that they have. This reflects on how friendships can teach people to have empathy for others. After Carlson takes Candy’s dog, George, Lennie and Candy talk about their dream place more descriptive then before, after a few minutes Candy states. “I ought to of shot that dog myself George.” This quote tells us that Candy wanted to kill the dog himself because he would’ve known how to kill the dog and how to burry the dog correctly because he has empathy towards his dog. This reflects on how friendships, teach people of empathy towards another person.Lennie was back turned to look at the river while George faced a gun directly at Lennie’s neck, but before shooting he states of how he is feeling. “I ain’t never been mad before quickly ending the conversation “he brought the