Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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by Andrew Perman | Tuesday 17th of January 2023

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck


Published: 1937

Country: United States

Publisher: Coivici Friede


Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression of the 1930s, Of Mice and Men tells the story of two seemingly mismatched men moving from ranch to ranch looking for work. George, who is quick-witted and good with words, looks after Lennie, who, though immensely strong, is slow in thought and speech. Like a dependent child, Lennie loves to hear George repeat the same story, one where they have their own ranch, free from poverty and bunkhouse living. 


This is their version of the American Dream and for a while it looks as if they may make it a reality. The ranch in the Salinas valley, California (where the author was brought up) proves to contain equally rootless characters, expressing the racial and sexual prejudices of the age, such as Crooks, the only black man on the ranch, and Curley’s wife, who isn’t even given a name. Thus a chain of circumstances is unleashed, through Lennie’s own touching weaknesses, which ensure that ''the best laid plans of mice and men'' referred to in the novel’s title, will come to nothing. The ending is all the more powerful for its emotional impact upon the reader. 


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Of Mice and Men Essays

Learn more about John Steinbeck and Of Mice and men from our essay examples and get ideas to help you write your own.


Of Mice and Men

At the novel's outset, Steinbeck takes great pains to familiarize us with the setting, using poetic imagery to describe the...


Conflict is often shown throughout the novella of 'Of Mice and Men'

This is an extremely well-structured and sophisticated response which examines thoroughly the theme of conflict. The points made are relevant and supported by apt… 


Of Mice and Men - Full Summary and Analysis

Two men emerge from the path along the Salinas River that runs a few miles south of Soledad, California. Travelling to a nearby farm for work, they were let off by the bus driver… 


How does Steinbeck use animals to show the themes in ''Of Mice and Men''? 

Animals are a significant element of Steinbeck's story. As the essay writer ably points out, they appear in most episodes, as harbingers, warnings or to add emphasis to the central… 


Explore the way in which Steinbeck presents the relationships between between Curleys Wife and other…

A well-structured essay which explores the various facets of Curley's wife. The quotations and examples used in order to support the points made are appropriate. There is very good… 


Themes Surrounding The Title Of ''Of Mice And Men''

In this presentation I will talk about the title ''Of Mice And Men'', and the significance of various themes incorporated into the story in relation to how they associate to the title…