How does John Steinbeck use animals in "Of Mice and Men"?

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How does John Steinbeck use animals in “Of Mice and Men”?

Steinbeck refers to animals in various ways during the novel. He compares characters to animals, revealing their physique or personality. Animals are especially important to the main character – Lennie. Animals also hint at the future as Steinbeck uses them as good or bad omens, which excite the reader.

Animals have been compared to characters many times in the novel; Steinbeck often describes Lennie with animalistic terms. One example is when he compares Lennie to a bear, “dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws”. Steinbeck also describes Lennie by using a simile of a horse to show that he is not only as strong as one, but also has manners like one: “snorting the water like a horse.”

Other characters are also identified with animalistic descriptions, but not always in metaphors and similes. For example; Candy’s dog is old, weak and has many problems, it “can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without hurting”. It is a mirror image of Candy who is also elderly, weak and lonely.

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Animals are extremely important to Lennie revealing his child-like mentality. Lennie wants to “pet” something all the time. However, George is not convinced to allow Lennie a pet because he constantly ends up killing them, although it is not intended.

Candy’s dog is extremely important to him as the dog is Candy’s only friend. Candy has had this dog since he was young, he  “had him from a pup” and “had him too long.” This is why Candy does not wish to “put the dog out of his misery.”

Many incidents in the novel hint at ...

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