John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men: Themes and Analysis
Author: John Steinbeck | Published: 1937 | Genre: Novella, Tragedy
Plot Summary
Set during the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men follows two friends, George and Lennie, who dream of owning land. Lennie is mentally disabled and unintentionally harms things due to his strength. They find work on a ranch, meeting various characters like Curley, his wife, and Crooks. A tragic accident forces George to make a heartbreaking decision for Lennie’s sake.
Main Characters
George Milton
A small, smart man who takes care of Lennie, acting as both a friend and protector. He is practical, resourceful, and dreams of a better life, but he is often frustrated by Lennie’s actions.
Lennie Small
A large and strong man with a mental disability. He is gentle and kind-hearted but does not understand his own strength, leading to tragic consequences.
Candy
An aging ranch worker with a missing hand. He fears becoming useless and sees hope in George and Lennie’s dream of owning land.
Curley
The boss’s aggressive and jealous son. He is insecure about his size and constantly seeks to assert his dominance, especially over larger men like Lennie.
Curley’s Wife
She remains unnamed and is lonely, craving attention. She once dreamed of a better life but finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage.
Slim
A respected and skilled worker. He is wise, calm, and understanding, serving as a voice of reason and compassion on the ranch.
Crooks
The African American stable hand. He suffers from racial isolation but is intelligent and observant, yearning for companionship but also bitter from years of discrimination.
Carlson
A practical but unfeeling ranch hand. He shows little empathy and believes in a survival-of-the-fittest mentality, as seen when he kills Candy’s old dog without remorse.
Key Themes
- The American Dream: The dream of a better life is fragile and often unreachable.
- Loneliness: Many characters feel isolated, including Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife.
- Friendship: George and Lennie’s bond is rare in their harsh world.
- Power and Weakness: Curley abuses power, while Lennie’s strength becomes dangerous.
- Fate: Some characters, like Lennie, seem doomed from the start.
Important Symbols
- Lennie’s Puppy: Represents Lennie’s inability to control his strength.
- Candy’s Dog: Symbolizes the fate of the weak and aging.
- The Dream Farm: A symbol of hope that remains out of reach.
Key Quotes
- “A guy needs somebody—to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.”
- — Crooks
- “Tell me about the rabbits, George.”
- — Lennie
- “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road… every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it.”
- — Crooks
- “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.”
- — Lennie
- “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda.”
- — Slim
Major Conflicts
- Man vs. Society: The characters struggle against poverty and rejection.
- Man vs. Self: George must choose between loyalty to Lennie and survival.
- Man vs. Man: Curley’s aggression toward Lennie highlights power struggles.
Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men explores dreams, loneliness, and sacrifice. Its tragic ending and powerful themes make it a timeless classic.