Comment on the effectiveness of the opening section of

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Rachel Hughes

Comment on the effectiveness of the opening section of “Mice and Men”

The story is set in California in the 1930’s, during the depression in America. There was little work, no money so everyone was depressed.

There is a place called Soledad a few miles south is the Salinas River, where we are introduced to George and Lennie. George and Lennie are itinerant workers which move from ranch to ranch searching for work. At the ranch they receive a bed which is situated in a bunkhouse and they are given basic food.

The story opens with the positive scene of a beautiful river bank and all the nature that surrounds, “golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains”. Then in the distance there is the noise of footsteps which makes the animals flee to safety. That’s when two men emerged from the path into the opening by a green pool. Even in the opening they walk in single file one behind the other, the man walking in front is described as “small and quick with sharp strong features.” His name is George. He leads the two, so we feel like he is the one in charge. Behind him is his total opposite, he is described as a “huge wide man with big shoulders who drags his arms by the side of him like a bear drags his paws”. He is called Lennie. After they talk next to the pool it becomes obvious that George is the smarter of the two and that Lennie is actually quite simple.

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We start to form opinions of the characters, we are drawn towards Lennie due to him being described as a bear, which shows his soft and gentle side but also incorporates power and the tendency to hold on to things.

The way they speak and look shows the difference in their characters, George walking in front is described as “small and quick... with sharp strong features. This description of George suggests that he is alert and intelligent, and this continues throughout the story. Lennie however is described using animal adjectives for example he behaves similar to a horse and ...

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