Gena Levin
English Teachers Name
English 9/Period
26 July 2017
Of Mice and Men
By John Steinbeck
Quote
In a previously rustic patch of woods, where
the only sounds were the mild pattering of
animals running across the sycamore leaves,
and the soft flow of the river, footsteps are
heard and the serene landscape is altered.
Here, Steinbeck uses a narrator to introduce
the two main characters and the dynamic
between them. They had walked in single file
down the path, and even in the open one stayed
behind the other (2).
After briefly going over Georges appearance,
defining him as small, quick, restless, and
sharp, the narrator goes on to describe Lennie
as his opposite, in explaining, Behind him
walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of
face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping
shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his
feet a little the way a bear drags his paws (2).
As George and Lennie trek through the
riverbank, on their way to a ranch where they
may potentially find work, Lennie seems to
forget again, as he so often does. This time his
Analysis
The dynamic between the two characters
shows ones dependence on the other. Even at
an opening in the woods, in which it may be
more comfortable to spread out, perhaps walk
side by side, one chooses to stay behind the
other, in a game of follow-the-leader. This game
begins to introduce a friendship and social
order between the two characters, both themes
which one will later find are lasting throughout
the book. The author suggests in this passage
that one of the men is inferior to the other or at
least considers himself to be.
In this passage, Steinbeck tells the reader that
George and Lennie are opposites, as well as the
fact that Lennie is inferior to George, for he
walks behind him. The narrator insinuates that
Lennie is a rather innocent character for he has
large pale eyes and drags his paws when he
walks. The narrator also shows the reader that
Lennie seems to walk the way a bear might,
implying that even in following George and
potentially being a soft person, Lennie could
be dangerous with his size and instincts. This
excerpt of the book also foreshadows a future
conflict that Lennie may have, whether that
conflict be with himself or others, it will be a
result of his size and abilities.
The mouse that Lennie has so crudely stowed
in his pocket is a way for him to feel comfort
much as a child may when holding something
precious to them, for example, a blanket or a
negligence is about the placement of his bus
pass, something he hadn't had in the first place.
In thinking he had the bus pass, Lennie pulls
something out of his pocket, which George
demands to see. As the narrator describes, after
some reluctance and evasiveness Lennie shows
George the contents of his pocket, the dead
mouse, claiming he didn't kill it and that he had
only been petting it in his pocket for a while.
Lennie held his closed hand away from
Georges direction. Its on'y a mouse, George knowledgeable of appropriate behavior, or
(5).
After arriving at the ranch in search of work,
George and Lennie begin to meet some of its
occupants, first Candy, an old man who tells
them a bit about the past workers, followed by
their new boss who is suspicious of them
because George does all the talking for Lennie,
afraid he is too forgetful and dumb to do it for
himself. Next, a man named Curley comes into
the bunkhouse and in his arrogance tries to
engage Lennie in an argument, by telling him
off for his lack of speaking. George intervenes
and Curley leaves. The old man then joins them
again and explains Curleys views, in saying,
'Curleys like a lot of little guys. He hates big
guys. Hes alla time picking scraps with big
guys. Kind of like hes mad at em because he
aint a big guy'" (26).
George has just finished explaining to Slim, one
of their fellow workers, how he travels around
with Lennie, how they look out for each other,
soft toy. Steinbeck uses this passage to further
exemplify Lennies issues, his childlike manner
of doing things, his forgetfulness and his
patterns of speech which would suggest the
lack of an education, but also may be symptoms
of a mental disability. Due to Lennies naive
way of being, it is important for him to have
this comfort that he is so strangely able to find
in a dead mouse. It also adds to the theme of his
innocence and shows that he is not
common sense, which Steinbeck shows the
reader when Lennie picks up a mouse to pet it.
Also, because Steinbeck has already told the
reader how big and strong Lennie is, it is
inferable that Lennie has killed the mouse, and
while he may be oblivious to his strength, he is
quite threatening and dangerous to those
smaller than him.
In Curleys immediate and unjustified hatred
for Lennie, Steinbeck foreshadows a future
conflict between the two of them. Because
Lennie is so big, powerful, and
unknowledgeable of his own strength, he has
the potential to hurt Curley or for that matter
anyone else who challenges him. Curley is
similar to Lennie in that he lacks common
sense, for he should not pick fights with the big
guys, but he has his goals in doing do. Curley
reacts to his insecurities by challenging those
who are bigger than him, in this case, Lennie.
Curley often targets big guys for he thinks of it
as a win-win situation. If Curley wins, he has
beaten the big guy, and if he loses he has the
excuse that he went up against someone much
bigger than him, and can theoretically turn
others against this big guy. All Curley seems to
want is to be tough, powerful, and respected
and picking scraps with guys bigger than him is
a way for him to embrace this feeling, even if
others will view him as petty and as childish as
Lennie in doing so.
George and Lennie are partners, although
Lennie is much like a mischievous child,
causing a lot of unnecessary trouble for George.
and how Lennie is not bright, but a good
worker. George also informs Slim that he has
known Lennie for a long time. When Carlson, a
skinner who works at the ranch, walks into the
bunkhouse, the topic shifts to a discussion of
Slims newfound puppies, four of which he
drowned so the mother would survive. Carlson
then follows that thought with a remark about
Candys dog. That dog of Candys is so God
damn old he can hardly walk. Stinks like hell,
too. Ever time he comes into the bunkhouse I
can smell him for two, three days. Whynt you
get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one
of the pups to raise up? I can smell that dog a
mile away. Got no teeth, damn near blind, cant
eat. Candy feeds him milk he cant chew
nothing else (36).
When commotion stirs outside, George and
Lennie are left alone with Candy in the
bunkhouse. Lennie questions George about
their future place and when they will be able
to live off the fat of the land. Lennie grows
hopeful in his visions of rabbits and his childish
expectations, as George tells him once again
about their shared dreams. This is when Candy
joins in on the conversation telling them he
would be able to pitch in for the purchase of
their land and that he has 350 dollars to do so.
George explains they could swing [buy] the
place for 450, despite the initial price of 600
dollars. The narrator walks us through as
George, Lennie, and Candy come to this
realization. They looked at one another,
amazed. This thing they never really believed
George often wonders if he could do better
without Lennie, and even expresses that to him,
but has known and cared for Lennie for too
long to act on it. In this situation, Carlsons
remark about how feeble and debilitated
Candys dog is, shows that Candy really doesnt
need him and that he is more of a nuisance than
the herding dog he once may have been. Candy
still persists to care for the dog, feeding him
milk, and keeping him around. This old dog
very much relates to Lennie, as George relates
to the old man. Both George and Candy have
known their obedient companions for so long,
it is hard for them to part ways and let them
die, or go on their own. They both contain
caring hearts in keeping their friends around
even if their own interests may be otherwise.
Lennie is like an old dog, oblivious to human
tendencies, and Candys dog is old and useless.
This passage reflects the ongoing theme of
friendship between George and Lennie, for it
may or may not overpower the external conflict
that perhaps Georges life would be better
without Lennie, as Candys would be without
the dog. The passage also foreshadows that if
George or Candy is to give in to the pressure of
an easier or more productive life without their
companions, Lennie or the dog will be left
alone or dead.
George and Lennie have been traveling
together for some time and it is a form of
comfort for them both to fantasize about their
future home. The American dream is a fantasy
to most, especially during the time period in
which this novel is set, the Great Depression.
This concept of an American dream is what
George and Lennie seem to perceive as working
hard to hypothetically later purchase their own
land land. Steinbeck illustrates this passage as
an example of how important it is to have
people one can trust and friends to rely on, as
well as how far ones dreams can push them.
He also shows the reader how dearly happy
George is when he believes he could finally be
free of all the work and responsibilities he has
had for so long. This place or house or
in was coming true. George said reverently,
Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her. His
eyes were full of wonder. I bet we could swing
her, he repeated softly (60).
whatever one wants to call it is a way for
George to find a loophole in what is Lennies
burden, and live his life how he wants to. It is a
way for Lennie to stay out of trouble, and a way
for Candy to live out the rest of his days in
peace. Although their idealistic fantasy may
very well be too good to be true, it is important
for the men to have a dream that keeps them
going.

Steinbeck has already informed the reader that
Curley has it out for Lennie and that he has an
objective against him because of his size. When
Curley storms into the bunkhouse looking for
his wife, then to the barn to look and see if she
is with Slim, and then back after failing to spite
Slim, he is built up with rage and who better to
take it out on than Lennie. Steinbeck uses the
narrator to show the reader their unjust fight
and Curleys actions in starting it. Curley
stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. What the
hell you laughin at? Lennie looked blankly at
him. Huh? Then Curley's rage exploded (62).
The way Curley treats Lennie shows that
although the other workers were able to stand
up to him, because they have the sense to stand
up for themselves, Lennie is like an easily
confused, obedient dog waiting for Georges
command. Although Lennie was never laughing
at Curley in the first place, and practically had
no idea what was going on, Curley still targeted
him. Curley targeted Lennie for he is
emotionally the weakest and most compliant
and wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt
someone, as well as because he is the biggest
and Curley believes he would gain the most
respect from beating the biggest guy, respect
being something which he is completely lacking
at the moment. Curley also abuses his power
over Lennie for he is the boss' son and feels
Lennie is good for nothing. Curley is insecure
about himself, which shows because he takes
his anger about his wife being bored with him
out on other people. He tried to anger Slim first,
then told everyone else to essentially mind
their own business, then decided on Lennie. He
did not target Lennie because of his character,
but rather because he wanted control.

When most of the workers, including George,
go off into town, Lennie is left at the ranch. In
search of his puppy (given to him by Slim) he
finds Crooks' room in the stable. Crooks is a
stable buck, he is a black man, and is often
insulted or demeaned because of it. When
Lennie enters Crooks bunk, unwanted,
claiming he saw a light, Crooks retorts that he
himself is undesirable, as he has been
previously told, and that no one should come
Crooks is the only black man on the ranch (as
far as the reader knows) and is used to being
treated poorly and denied respect. Steinbeck
portrays his character as lonely and smart.
Crooks does not seem very happy when Lennie
barges into his room because he is so used to
being alone that any sort of company he sees as
forced and unwanted. Crooks tells Lennie how
lonely he is and it seems like he was only
saying that George would leave Lennie, to
into his bunk. When Lennie won't leave, Crooks
asks him to sit and engages with him in a
conversation. Crooks calls Lennie nuts and
starts explaining to him hypothetical situations
where George would leave him. When he sees
how angry Lennie grows, he tells him that he is
really just lonely and wishes he had someone to
talk to, much like George and Lennie have each
other. Crooks is explaining to Lennie how many
guys with dreams he has seen pass by the
ranch, and how these dreams never work out,
when Candy enters the scene looking for
Lennie. Candy is hesitant to enter Crooks
room, for he feels embarrassed. Crooks
reluctantly responds, Come on in. If
everybodys comin in, you might just as well.
[The narrator then remarks that] It was
difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with
anger (75).
It is a Sunday afternoon and Lennie has
harbored himself in the barn, petting his pup,
another victim of his innocent strength. Lennie
has killed the puppy and is afraid George wont
let him tend the rabbits anymore if he finds
out.. He takes his anger out on the dead puppy,
retrieves it from where he hurled it and strokes
it again. Lennie is still pondering about the pup
when Curleys wife quietly enters the barn.
Lennie is reminded he is not supposed to talk
to her and that she is trouble, but she
manipulates him into a conversation. She is
lonely and cant talk to anyone without Curley
getting mad, which is precisely the reason
Lennie isnt supposed to talk to her. Curleys
wife expresses her concern about the puppy
but comforts Lennie in his loss and begins to
talk about how she could have made something
of herself, maybe being an actor. Lennie then
rambles on about the rabbits and the land hes
gonna have with George, and how he very
much likes soft things. Curleys wife agrees and
tells him her hair is soft. Lennie begins to
stroke it enthusiastically and messes it up, and
when Curleys wife screams he holds on tighter,
terrified, and covers her nose and mouth to
prevent her screams. This further elaborates
degrade Lennie to his own level, and reflect on
his own lifestyle, where he has no one.
Steinbeck informs us in this passage that
Crooks actually takes pleasure from some
company. Crooks feels insecure about his
needing company and only tells Lennie, the
forgetful giant, how he wishes he had someone
to talk to all the time, even if they dont listen to
a word he says. Crooks, in his insecurities, puts
up a charade of anger to cover up his longing to
be heard and to have company.
This passage is where the foreshadowing pays
off, for Lennie hurts someone else doing
another bad thing, like he had done in Weed.
Steinbeck is able to further build up Lennies
character for he did not kill Curleys wife out of
hatred, anger, or cruel manners but simply out
of fright. He is so scared George will find out he
was talking to her that he feels the need to
cover her mouth, unintentionally killing her.
This passage reflects the theme of loneliness,
shown throughout the book, because Curleys
wife is viewed as a tart by most, and really just
wants someone to listen to her. She was not
scared of Lennie and he was not intimidated by
her. Although she was married to Curley, she
confides in Lennie that she never really liked
him and has dreams of her own, much as
Lennie has his. All Lennie wants is to carry out
his dreams, and doesnt want George to be mad
and not let him tend the rabbits. He is always
confused by his own bad actions and doesnt
know of the harm he can do to other people
until it is too late.
Lennie's character through his actions after he
unknowingly kills Curleys wife. 'He looked
down at her, and carefully removed his hand
from over her mouth, and she lay still. "I dont
want ta hurt you," he said, "but Georgell be
mad if you yell." When she didnt answer nor
move he bent closely over her. He lifted her
arm and let it drop. For a moment he seemed
bewildered. And then he whispered in fright, I
done a bad thing, I done another bad thing"'
(91).
After Lennie kills Curleys wife, he chooses to
flee. Candy finds the body and shows George.
Worried Curley will think George was involved
in the murder, he tells Candy to inform the
guys, while he goes back to the bunkhouse and
pretends not to know. The other workers,
specifically Curley, who was filled to capacity
with rage, believe that Lennie should be killed.
They all go to find their guns and trek into the
woods. Carlson discovers his gun is missing
from the bunkhouse and suspects that Lennie
has stolen it. George knows where Lennie
would head after doing something bad and
sends the lynch mob on a wild goose chase so
he can get to Lennie first, bringing Carlsons
gun. George finds Lennie in their agreed
meeting point and tells him that everything will
be okay. George bombards him with white lies,
saying he is not mad, that they will still have
their patch of land, that Lennie can still have
the rabbits, and basically that his dreams will
be fulfilled. Then the real truth emerges as
George brings Carlsons gun to the back of
Lennies head. Steinbeck writes Lennies death
as follows, And George raised the gun and
steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it
close to the back of Lennies head. The hand
shook violently, but his face set and his hand
steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the
shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again.
Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward
to the sand, and he lay without quivering
(106).
In this passage, one of the final excerpts in the
book, Steinbeck illustrates a beautiful
friendship with a horrible end. Sure, George
and Lennie had many problems in their
relationship, but when it came to the general
aspects, they had each other. The theme of
friendship is powerful in this passage and
shows that George cares enough about Lennie
to shoot him and spare him an awful death.
George spares him the hatred he would receive
if he was killed by one of the other men and
provides him a sugar coated comfort in his final
moments. Lennie is like Candys old dog,
useless and unknowing and unlike Carlson
shooting Candys dog, for he didnt have the
will to do it himself, George shoots his version
of the dog square in the back of the head.
George had the courage and assurance he
needed, for he believed he had no other choice,
and was able to shoot Lennie without letting
out any of his rage about having to do so.
Georges way of killing Lennie shows very
much that he cares about him. George gave
Lennie a peaceful ending and chose to defeat
the conflict he had had all along. Lennie is the
one who always got George into trouble, made
living his life so difficult and destroyed his
hopes at even having dreams. Although, George
does not do it out of selfish manners, he has a
commitment to kill Lennie, for Lennie has
killed someone, and letting him get away with
it was too extreme. George knew Lennie would
not survive in jail and couldnt run from
murder charges forever. George now can live
his life without being burdened by Lennie
burden and know that he did the right thing in
killing his companion.