“the way a bear drag his paws… snorting into the water like a horse”
Steinbeck uses symbolism and imagery to give the reader an idea of the relationship of characters. A good example is the relationship between Lennie and George. Their relationship is vital to the atmosphere in this novel, as the novel revolves around them, and is also the reason of many of the events that occur in the novel. By utilizing animal imagery, Steinbeck depicts Lennie in terms of his size and strength; as a bear and a horse at the start of the novel. This symbolizes the relationship between Lennie and George, which is somewhat comparable to a dog and his master; Lennie being the dog.
Additionally, Steinbeck uses images of nature to create the setting of novel
“willows fresh and green… lizard makes a great skittering… yellow sands”
By using images of nature, Steinbeck creates an atmosphere that is easy for the reader to relate to. Steinbeck uses phrases such as, “fresh and green”, “yellow sands” and “golden foot-hill”. These phrases use soft colours and the sense of a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere is implied. The use of onomatopoeia such as, “skittering” helps to create a better mood as well.
Contrast in a novel helps to highlight the events and characters or, as in the case in “Of Mice and Men”, Steinbeck’s purpose of utilizing intrusion and the disturbance from the outside helps to create a sense of interruption from the rhythm of the novel.
“George spoke proudly, ‘Jus’ tell Lennie…’ … There was a clang of horseshoe… and a little cheer of voices”
“ ‘I’m gonna take my pup,’ said Lennie … Voices were approaching from outside”
These constant references show that when an event is in its climax, Steinbeck makes the next paragraph or sentence an interruption. This contrasts between what is going on inside, and what is going on outside, which creates a rude interruption to the current atmosphere. This also creates a passage between tense dialogues. This style is used countless of times throughout the novel, especially when the story focuses on Lennie and George. The constant repetition of the outside world intruding on the lives of Lennie and George possibly shows us that their American dream is persistently interfered, and will not become reality.
Equally, the contrast of man versus nature is created by Steinbeck’s use of juxtaposition of intrusion, constantly being “destroyed” and interfered by the action of man.
“A path beaten hard by boys coming down …and beaten hard by tramps”
The contrast of man and nature is also very important in this novel. It signifies how man constantly intrudes into the calm and serene nature. Every time Steinbeck describes nature, it is pleasant. However, he always contrasts it to man, which Steinbeck portrays as unpleasant, and intrusive. Steinbeck possibly wanted to highlight the hopelessness of humanity, which is one of the main themes of the novel.
Steinbeck also uses another contrast, which is the contrast of light and dark to sway the mood of the novel back and forth.
“The afternoon sun sliced in through the cracks of the barn walls and lay bright lines on the hay”
“Instantly the table was brilliant with light… leaving the corners of the bunk-house still in dusk”
Steinbeck’s use of contrast of light and dark is used throughout the novel. The reference to light and dark is used to create a tense atmosphere in the setting of the novel. Steinbeck uses both dysphemism, such as “sliced” and euphemism, such as “brilliant” in an attempt to change the mood of the novel. The contrast of light and dark is very important in the novel as it creates suspense and a climax, which allows the reader to feel the tension that is going on.
A good example of the use of light is also used when Curley’s wife is killed.
“The sun-streaks were high on the wall by now, and the lights was growing soft in the barn”
This reference shows us that the mood has become calm, as opposed to the short, fast paced rhythm in the few paragraphs before. This helps the reader identify the mood of the novel much more easily, which adds to the apprehension of what is going on.
