Steinbeck uses symbolism as the central element in his novel “Of mice and men”. The symbols are in the form of people, belief, and animals. Steinbeck uses effective themes during the novel. Using these, he illustrates friendships, an image of the depression, and events in which lead to the final decision at the end of the story.
Symbolism within characters is widely shown throughout the novel. Candy demonstrates several uses of symbolism, his disability is the symbol of the migrant workers who were literally forgotten about, when they were no use to their owners.
Candy’s dog is a symbol of no more use, it dies with a single bullet to the back of it’s head, Lennie parallels this event when he dies the same way, this symbolises tragedy, but also triumph because the last thoughts in Lennie’s mind was his “dream”. Candy’s dog also symbolises companionship, Lennie foreshadows this, as Candy was lonely the only friend he had was his dog, Lennie showed the same companionship to George.
Crooks has many symbolical items, his disability symbolises loneliness. He constantly rubs his sore back with special medication to protect himself, this symbolises the pain he experiences. Crooks book of “Californian Rights” symbolises power and knowledge of rights of freedom. The neatness of his stable room is symbolising that he too is trying to show that he is equal to white people. Crooks is represented as a black person in the novel this symbolises loneliness because he was always left out. (“Why aren’t you wanted?” Lennie asked. “Because I’m black, and I stink.” said crooks.)
The Essay on George And Lennie Loneliness Crooks Companion
First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men is an American based novel by John Steinbeck. George and Lennie are two ranch hands that travel together, with George watching over the mentally inferior Lennie. When they start work at a new ranch, several different characters are introduced. One affliction that seems to face several characters is loneliness, created by factors such as the character s ...
Curley and Curley’s wife both represent evil, they both weigh down and abuse the migrant workers. Curley harasses Lennie because of Lennie’s strength and how big he is. (“Come on ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I’ll show you whose yella!”. says Curley) this is a sign of cat and mouse.
Lennie symbolises himself in action to be amused by soft things. Like when he strokes that ladies dress and she called out rape, this symbolises the power a white women had then. Another example of this type is when Crooks asked Curley’s wife to leave or he would call the boss, but all she did was black mailed him. (Lisn, Nigger, you know what I can do if you open your trap, I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t funny”. says Curley’s wife.)
George and Lennie’s “dream” is the main thread in the story. It is mentioned throughout the whole novel repeatedly. This relates to the migrant workers all having the same goal of working on their own farms.(“Live off the fatta the lan”. says George.) As George and Lennie plan on this dream become reality, other workers seem not to think so, because it’s every workers dream. (“You guys is just kiddin yourself. You’ll talk about it hell of allot, but you won’t get no land” Says Crooks. Another example, “Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody never gets no land” Crook comments to George.)
Steinbeck creates three main themes in his novel “Of mice and men”. His first main theme is to get the reader to show concern and compassion for the “outcast” of society. The characters in the book express that they are unaccepted in society and unable to live a “normal” life. The novel tries to bring out that even though people may be dispossessed in their life, they can still live a meaningful one (the dream).
Steinbeck’s second theme is the need and desire for friendship in life. Steinbeck shows that friends can be ones most prized possession (George and Lennie’s relationship).
The Essay on Lennie George Curley Dog
... guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie.' " (p. 41) Curley's wife and Lennie were talking and the subject of feeling soft ... ranch. Lennie is a man who doesn't think for himself, and relies on George for guidance. They travel together, forever chasing the dream ... because they were unavoidable. The dog and Lennie both had no life ahead of them. Lennie would have been imprisoned, and the dog ...
The ultimate test of true friendship is encountered when George had to kill Lennie, sparing him from an even greater death. Just as a true friend would George calms Lennie down before killing him, making him think of the rabbits and says “I ain’t mad, I never been mad, an’ I ain’t mad now. That’s the thing I want you to know”. George makes sure Lennie dies in peace knowing that somebody loved him.
The third theme in which Steinbeck creates is the fact of loneliness within his characters. This is shown countless times throughout the novel. Candy’s dog was killed, leaving Candy alone, Curley’s wife felt as though she didn’t belong on the farm and couldn’t connect with anybody, Crooks was forced to live by himself in the stable. George and Lennie were both lonely, so they quickly bonded together and looked out for each other. Curley is lonely because he felt everybody was below him and there was no one on his level that could connect with him. All of these pieces stick together to create a livable environment.
Society has long been excluding people who are not like them, who are different in one way or another. This novel serves as a look into how those minorities might act and feel about how they are being treated. It serves an account of how they cope with what they have. It tells of people truly being happy with their lives and living to their fullest capacity no matter in what state they are in.
