GCSE ENGLISH COURSEWORK
Response to Prose
'Of Mice and Men'
Essay Title: Look again at the opening pages, of the novel up to the point where George throws away Lenny's mouse. How well does this opening prepare you for later events in the novel?
The opening pages of 'Of Mice and Men' feature many small details which the author John Steinbeck uses to hint at what will happen next in the novel.
In this essay, I am going to look at the significance of the opening pages of 'Of Mice and Men' and the way in which Steinbeck prepares the reader for later events in the novel.
The first link, Steinbeck has made is the idyllic setting which is described in the opening scene of the novel and again when George has to kill Lennie.
The novel begins with Steinbeck using great detail to show where George and Lennie are:
"Willows fresh and green with every spring,
... and branches that arch over the pool."
This quote, shows how in depth, Steinbeck described the setting. The language used gives the reader a real idea of how everything looks and also the words "fresh and green", symbolise life and new beginnings. The importance of this is to show it is a fresh start for George and Lennie. When imagining the setting the reader pictures a beautiful, peaceful place full of wildlife. Steinbeck does this to show how the river can be seen as Lennie's utopia- a place where he is free and is at peace and happy.
Although the river is described as a place full of life, Steinbeck does hint towards the idea of death:
"In front of the low horizontal limb of a
giant sycamore there is an ash pile made by many fires;"
This quote shows that the river also represents death because the pile shows the end of a once bright and burning fire. Steinbeck mentions the ash pile to show a contrast between the lively fresh river, showing new life and the end of an object such as fire which is seen as powerful and strong like Lennie.
We return to this setting, later in the novel when George is face with the fact that he has to kill Lennie. George goes to the river as he knows Lennie will be there because at the start of the novel, Lennie is told by George to go there should anything happen. While Steinbeck still describes the river as a beautiful, scenic place there is more of a dark, deathly side to it:
"A silent head and beak lanced down
and plucked it out by the head, and the
beak swallowed the little snake"
From this quote, you can see that Steinbeck is showing the idea of death more when he describes the river for a second time. In the above quote, you can also see that Steinbeck is hinting towards Lennie's death. The way in which the heron kills the snake is quick which shows the snake did not endure much pain. The reader later finds out that Lennie is killed in such a way that it is instant, and he doesn't feel anything. Lennie's ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
and plucked it out by the head, and the
beak swallowed the little snake"
From this quote, you can see that Steinbeck is showing the idea of death more when he describes the river for a second time. In the above quote, you can also see that Steinbeck is hinting towards Lennie's death. The way in which the heron kills the snake is quick which shows the snake did not endure much pain. The reader later finds out that Lennie is killed in such a way that it is instant, and he doesn't feel anything. Lennie's death is painless as George shoots him at the back of his neck so he has an instant death:
"He looked at the back of Lennie's head, at the place
where the skull and the spine were joined"
This quote shows that Lennie died instantly, and that it was a quick painless death.
I think the opening pages, prepared the reader well for Lennie's death, as there was a lot of evidence to show that there will be a death of one of the main characters, such as the idea of death being shown in the opening pages of the novel.
The second point that I will write about is, Lennie's obsession with soft furry things. Steinbeck has mentioned this to the reader in the opening pages of the novel, and this prepares the reader for many later events such as the death of the pup and Curley's wife.
We first realise Lennie's obsession with soft objects, when George finds him with a dead mouse:
"What you want of a dead mouse, anyways?"
"I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along"
This quote shows that Lennie has a weird obsession with soft things as it is not normal for a person to touch a dead mouse. This quote also shows that Lennie doesn't understand a lot of things, as he responds to George in a calm manner and thinks his answer is valid, and that it is normal to want to do this.
The above opening prepares the reader, by introducing Lennie's obsession with soft things well because his obsession is one of the main storylines in the novel.
We are shown Lennie's obsession again when one of Slim's pups are accidentally killed by Lennie. The puppy is killed because Lennie is not gentle with it again, this shows he doesn't understand a lot of things:
"Why do you got to get killed?
... I didn't bounce you hard"
"He bent the pups head up and looked in its face,
and he said to it, "Now maybe George ain't gonna let me
tend no rabbits, if he fin's out you got killed."
From this quote, you can see that Lennie is angry because he believes that he will not be able to look after the rabbits, which of course he wants to because they are soft and furry. The fact that he admits to bouncing the puppy shows his inability to understand how to look after things, as this is not what is considered normal.
Steinbeck shows Lennie's obsession for a final time and this proves fatal for both Lennie and Curley's wife. After Lennie has killed the pup, he is found by Curley's wife in the barn.
She insists that he talks to her, as being a woman in those times meant facing extreme prejudice and lack of rights, - so therefore she could only really talk to her husband. While they are talking they come to the subject of Lennie liking soft things, she then tells him to touch her hair, which he does. As Lennie doesn't let go, there is a struggle and this results in Curley's wife being killed:
"Lennie said, "Oh! That's nice", and he stroked harder.
... She jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed
on her hair and hung on.
"Let go," she cried"
From this quote you can see how easily frightened and scared Lennie gets, as his grip on Curley's wife gets tighter and she starts to scream. It is also obvious to the reader that when she asks Lennie to touch her hair nothing good will happen as, Steinbeck has already prepared the readers throughout the novel that anything soft he touches dies. The language used emphasises Lennie's obsession, for example the words "stroked harder" shows how once he felt her hair he couldn't let go, and was determined to touch it. Lennie's reaction when first touching her hair is that he seems quite surprised, but pleased at the same time. The words used shows Lennie's pleasure at stroking soft things, for example "Oh! That's nice", shows the enjoyment Lennie gets from soft things. The quote also states that Lennie hung on, when Curley's wife moved her head. This shows that Lennie was scared to lose another soft object, in the way he lost the pup or the mouse, and was determined to keep hold on to the hair.
The third point that, Steinbeck has prepared the reader for is the strength of Lennie. In the opening pages of 'Of Mice and Men', a lot of animal characteristics are used to describe Lennie:
"And he walked heavily dragging his feet a little,
the way a bear drags his paws...
he drank with long gulps, snorting into
the water like a horse"
This quote shows Steinbeck has intentionally described Lennie as the bigger stronger man compared to George, from the start of the novel. The point of this is to emphasise the size of Lennie and the major role, this plays in the story. The language used gives the reader a clear image of what Lennie look like as the reader is able to use the animal descriptions to think about his size. The words "heavily dragging" show that as he is so large he finds it a struggle to walk and has no choice but to drag his feet. Lennie is also compared to a bear, which is seen as a large and very powerful animal but also at the same time it is seen as a furry, quite loveable animal. The use of the simile, ("water like a horse"), also allows the reader to imagine the way in which Lennie is drinking, and the fact that he is compared to a horse, again shows his strength and power.
This opening prepares the reader for later events very well, as Lennie's size and his strength is an important point as it is mentioned throughout the novel.
Steinbeck mentions Lennie's strength again when Lennie and Curley have a fight.
Curley is annoyed by the size of Lennie and so he tries to pick a fight with him. Although Lennie doesn't retaliate at first, after he is instructed by George he fights back:
"Curley's fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it.
The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line,
And his closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand"
From this quote, the strength of Lennie is shown in a very dramatic way, as he is able to squash Curley's hand so easily. Steinbeck has also used animal descriptions, but this time to describe Curley. The language used "flopping like a fish" shows what Lennie is capable of and just how strong he is. This simile has a very good effect, especially when compared to the simile above as it shows how a big, strong bear like Lennie can make someone appear as weak and defenceless as a fish. The quote describes that Lennie reached for Curley's fist as it was swinging, this shows how powerful Lennie is as he didn't attack Curley and all he needed to do was grab his hand. Also the words, "the next minute" show how quickly Lennie was able to take control over Curley, and "his closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand" shows how small and feeble Curley is in comparison with Lennie.
The fourth point Steinbeck has used to prepare the reader is Lennie's dependence on George for everything. This is mentioned from the very start of the novel, and it prepares the reader for the strong bond between Lennie and George.
Lennie's dependence on George is first mentioned when they are by the river and talking about their new job at the ranch:
"George... I ain't got mine. I musta lost it"
"He looked at the ground in despair."
"I got both of 'em here."
"Lennie grinned with relief"
This quote shows Lennie's dependence exactly as he gets worried that he has lost his card, but it is George who reassures him. The words "looked at the ground in despair" show how disappointed Lennie feels with himself when he thinks that he has lost the card and how he doesn't know what to do. After George has reassured Lennie, it is obvious to the reader that Lennie is pleased and thankful that he hasn't lost the card. The language used ("grinned with relief") shows how happy Lennie is to have someone like George to look after him.
The above opening prepared the reader, by showing the reliance Lennie has on George and the bond between them, which is a major theme in the novel
Steinbeck shows Lennie's dependence on George later on in the novel, when he has a fight with Curley:
"He cried, "Make 'um stop, George."
"... The big face was covered with blood.
George yelled again, "I said get him."
This quote shows Lennie's dependence on George, as he is getting hit by Curley but does not hit back until George has told him to. The language used, portrays a scared and frightened Lennie. The words "he cried" show how desperate Lennie is and how much in pain he is. In the above quote George has to shout at Lennie to get him, this shows that Lennie will not defend himself and fight back unless George tells him to.
In conclusion, I think the opening of 'Of Mice and Men' prepares the reader for many important events, and when the novel is finished the reader thinks about the significance of the events which made it an enjoyable book.
GCSE English Coursework
Aisha Khan 11N
