Critically, Lennie seems to be the most misunderstood character in the novel. He is prejudiced as being ‘mentally retarded’ due to his reliance upon his companion, George. He seems to be oblivious to any form of society he enters, and it’s up to George to guide him. Lennie’s constant tendency to get into trouble is examined by George “Like you always done before.” The pre-eminent example is the incident in Weed which we find out from George and Slim’s conversation. George explains Lennie’s ‘love’ to “touch ever’thing he likes.” George describes how Lennie reached to feel the ‘red dress’ and as a result the lady “squawks.” In panicking the only thing which Lennie can do is to hold on “’cause that’s the only thing he can think to do.” Due to this, the woman accuses him of rape and the so the workers immediately hunt down for him. The writer creates great sympathy for Lennie, he is misunderstood by people in society as they do not realise his mental capability.
Of Mice and Men Essay
Nevertheless, Lennie surely is most blissful from the encounters of loneliness. His mentality and oblivious self does not show him how the other characters are so lonely and so his spirits are not put down by perceiving others. Though for the rest this is not such and characters such as Curley begin to envy the intimacy of George and Lennie’s fond relationship. “Guys like us, that live on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.” George means that if not for each other, then he and Lennie would be all alone, with no friends, like all the other men, who are nomads working from ranch to ranch without seeking no friends, and living a lonely, solitary life.
This is a masterful technique that Steinbeck employs and introduces the small glimmer of hope amongst that troubled society. It separates the intimacy of George and Lennie’s relation from the loneliness and alienation of the other characters on the ranch.
The anchor of hopefulness in the entire novel falls within the relationship of George and Lennie. The American dream of attaining a farm ‘one day’ after having accumulated the sufficient ‘stake’ seems to relish itself throughout the story. Lennie seems to find it irresistible to abstain from these thoughts for long periods of time and so pleads George to “Tell about how it’s gonna be.” This dream has its ups and downs in the book; in several areas of the novel Steinbeck illuminates the chances of the pair accomplishing the dream mainly where Candy offers to contribute a significant stake that will buy them the farm. Again, these hints of optimism cleverly portrayed by Steinbeck will lead to anxiety and thus a greater disappointment when the dream ‘does not come true’.
Candy like Crooks is an exile because his age and physical disability exclude him from the rest of the men on the ranch. Because of his age and disability, he has a feeling of uselessness “They’ll can me purty soon”. Candy thinks that nobody wants to be friends with him due to his disability. He seeks most of his companionship with his dog. Similarly the dog has reached old age and ceases to utilise as the sheepdog he once used to be “He was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen”.
“He ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?” Here Carlson is unsentimental about Candy’s dog as he can see no further practical use for it and so tries to pummel some sense into Candy to exonerate the dog.
Steinbeck has skilfully added hints and many premonitions in the novel which appear only to be identified after having completed the novel. The relation of Candy and the ‘dog’ in comparison to George and Lennie’s prove to be one of the best premonitions Steinbeck has added. He has chosen to reflect a parallel representation of the symbolic similarity between the dog and Lennie. Both are killed off because practically that was the kindest thing to do. As explored, the dog has reached old age; the dog has an unpleasant smell and has arthritis. Lennie on the other hand was killed by his very companion as if he was not to do it Curley-
Of Mice and Men Essay
-would have. Difference is Curley would have made sure he died in agony whereas George killed him making sure he died instantaneously whilst talking his life long dream “an’ we’ll have maybe a pig an’ chickens...” This final event has to be most upsetting of all. The amount of love George must have had for Lennie into killing his life long friend is tremendous. He did it not do it because of his anger but for the fact that Curley would have had done it evilly. George on the other had killed him painlessly in the fantasy of his dream.
After Candy lost his dog, he felt much lonelier than he was before. The dog was something that Candy had owned and confided throughout years. Eventually, he tries to find amity by attempting to join the dream of George and Lennie. He offers an immense sum of money that raises hopes of George and Lennie of ‘realistically’ obtaining their desired land. In return for this he only asks for a space at the land and will do chores such as “cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden.” However, this is only an indirect way of trying to buy what is now missing in his life-companionship.
Crooks, the stable buck, has to be the biggest outcast in the story. Crooks conveys everything about his life pessimistically as he converses with Lennie. He is perhaps the loneliest and most isolated person on the ranch. It is very distressing to hear him talk about his life like that; he
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Even though Curley’ wife is mentioned frequently, no one asks for her name. Nobody wants to talk her for the fear of Curley; his jealousy will start up a fight with anyone who approaches her. Thus, she finds it very difficult to converse with anyone on the ranch; and so experiences harsh loneliness. She does not like Curley, and furthermore he doesn’t talk to her. There is no-one in her life with which she can share her feelings, and so longs for companionship. As the ranch workers avoid talking to her, she notices that’s she is being rejected and ignored. Loneliness is somewhat the strongest cannot overcome and so she has found ways of starting up a conversation. A common example is her constant tendency to pop in and ask “Any you boys seen Curley?” followed by some casual talk of which the people do not accept, or otherwise, have very little enthusiasm. Steinbeck adds features to her such as the heavily way she is dressed (flashy colours) to gain the attention of the ranchers and to sooth her loneliness. Whereas the ranch workers, only perceive this as dressing like a ‘whore.’ In a way Curley’s wife is considerably similar to Lennie in many ways being badly misunderstood by the ranch workers.
Her death could be thought of as a misfortune, but as a hopeful thing as well because it ended her suffering; being the only woman in the ranch and having married a man like Curley she was inevitably destined for loneliness. Whereas, now she is dead, she will not have to worry about being lonely ever again. Curley’s wife case of loneliness was one of the most severe throughout the novel. She struggled in her society to find somebody that she could befriend in vain.
Of Mice and Men Essay
Even if all people are miserable when they are lonely, the consequences of friendship can be even worse. When one of the members of a friendship is removed, it causes misery and pain for a long time.
Certainly, when looking at all of these examples, “Of Mice and Men”, surely does prove to be a pessimistic story identifying callous forms of sadness such as loneliness, discrimination and racism. Though, hope surely does shine throughout the story; and amongst the sadness it can be simply spotted as it stands out high. However, Steinbeck does not evoke these moments of hope just to eliminate some of the deep events. He does this to add more sadness to the novel and so the reader can feel a greater sense of upset. This sense is usually recognized after having finished the novel, and then having time to reflect upon it. Hope keeps society in tacked; with loneliness it will just corrupt through misery.
(This is also not finished…..but can you please direct me to what level the work is at?)
