Symbols In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men”, Lennie and George travel together to work. They discuss the trouble they experience with Lennie's touching things he shouldn't and how that forces them to run, hide, and constantly search for work. Throughout the book, Steinbeck gives just a small picture of all the trouble Lennie has caused and how George continues to guide him to get by. A problem with a girl leads us to chapter 1 and 6, and how they share in setting, but George and Lennie's interactions differ. The similarities and differences of chapter 1 and 6 show how Lennie and George's cohesive friendship with a bright future develops into a loving bond that had to end.

In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie are traveling farmers. They find themselves at a farm where a loudmouth named Curly and his wife live. Lennie gets upset at Curly’s wife and shakes her to death, leading to George shooting him out of mercy. George was justified to shoot Lennie because Curly wanted to torture him, and he was always getting in trouble.

Lennie has the most obvious handicap, since it greatly affects his ability to function. Lennie has the mental capacity of a child, and he can’t take care of himself. Lennie loves to “pet” things, but he is unaware of his own strength. This results in a dead mouse, puppy, and eventually, woman! Lennie is enthralled by the idea of living on a farm with George, and he uses this picture-perfect image almost as a moral guide.

He [George] pulled the trigger…”’ (Steinbeck 106). This is the part in Of Mice and Men when George kills Lennie peacefully. In John Steinbeck's, Of Mice and Men there are two men named George and Lennie. Lennie is a tall, large, strong, mentally disabled man, while George is a small, smart man.

Lennie’s character is developed by his speech and actions. Due to his lack of intelligence, his innocent intentions turn into horrific complications. The strong, yet mentally deficient character has plans and hopes for the future that soon become memories of the past. George, Lennie’s best friend, is loyal, compassionate, and caring. George’s character is augmented throughout the story; although, he is faced with many trials and tribulations.

George ran down the room.” (Steinbeck 63) Lennie’s actions in response to pressure or even

George and Lennie’s farm is a symbol of hope and freedom. They continued to work hard in pursuit of this dream, in hopes that they would have their own farm where they would not have to worry about what was next. Furthermore, both George and

A migrant farm worker in The Great Depression had to be fearless, to make difficult calls about his friends. In the book Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck George shot his friend:“And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close the back of lennie's head... He pulled the trigger”(Steinbeck 106). George feels scared for lennie that Curley's is going to kill Lennie, Curley was going to try too kill lennie because Lennie killed curley's wife. George wants to spend a peaceful last moments of Lennie's life with him.

Steinbeck, in addition to demonstrating the loveliness of his novel in his use of figurative language, uses contrasting descriptions to emphasize striking details of the text. For example, the author highlights the opposing traits of George and Lennie by describing the two in rapid succession. Steinbeck shows Lennie’s submissive nature by immediately identifying that he follows closely behind George as they walk together (Steinbeck 2). He next details George’s small stature and “sharp features”, and then quickly relates it to the opposing traits of Lennie and his towering frame and “shapeless face” (2). Lennie trudges heavily, “dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws,” hardly trying to keep up with George’s brisk pace (2).

George says ‘Lennie, for God’s sake don’t drink so much!’ This shows that he clearly knows Lennie very well which could only have been created through loyalty and trust between the two men. George also cares about Lennie’s wellbeing as if he didn’t he wouldn’t have stopped him drinking the water. It demonstrates that George supports Lennie and assists him to make decisions he would be otherwise incapable of making himself. This could only be possible due to loyalty which George with holds throughout the whole

George and Lennie, prominent characters in the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, are migrant workers—men who move from place to place to do seasonal work— who end up in California and are faced with numerous problems. Set in the era of the great depression, the story of Lennie and George, two very different men who have formed a family-like union, takes place on a farm where Lennie struggles to stay out of trouble. Having committed an unintentional, harmful act, Lennie is faces severe consequences; and George must decide to make a necessary decision which changes the mood of the entire novel. By the comparison and contrast of George and Lennie, unique characters who are very different from each other, the reader can better acquaint himself

Along with these elements, imagery supports characterization throughout the novel. These elements help to support the theme that chaos can occur in even the most peaceful places. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses conflict, imagery, and characterization to strengthen the story, and develop the theme in the novel. Steinbeck’s development of George and Lennie’s conflicts and even Candy’s help to advance the plot and develop the theme in the novel. George’s internal and external struggle is clear at the beginning of the

1. Of Mice and Men contains many symbols. Discuss two of these symbols. Two prevalent symbols in “Of Mice And Men” by John Steinbeck are dogs and rabbits. Dogs are used in the novel to represent Lennie, and they way he’s treated.

Lennie and George’s relationship and their development throughout the story is shown through these ideas: dreams and reality, the nature of home, and the difference between right and

While the rabbits for Lennie represent such a positive feature in his life, ironically, they also act as a parallel too. Lennie admires the rabbits and often ponders of taking care of them, but his inability to be gentle around other animals in general reflects the downfall of his fondness for them in the