Of Mice and Men: A Literary Analysis of Friendship and Fate
Plot Summary: Of Mice and Men Narrative
Key Characters and Core Conflict
This book narrates the story of two migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small. George is intelligent and resourceful, while his companion, Lennie, is mentally handicapped but possesses immense physical strength. Sent by an employment agency, the two men arrive at a ranch in California.
They spend their first night near the ranch because their bus driver dropped them off too far, and George wanted to rest. Upon reaching the ranch, they begin their work. In the afternoon, after loading barley, they meet the other ranch hands. George and Lennie share a profound dream: to save enough money to buy their own small farm, where they can live independently and Lennie can tend to rabbits. They later befriend Candy, an old ranch hand who shares their aspiration.
However, Lennie’s mental disability and inability to control his immense strength, despite George’s constant protection, lead to a tragic climax. Lennie unintentionally kills Curley’s wife. George and Lennie attempt to flee before Curley and the other ranch hands, seeking vengeance, can find them. George eventually locates Lennie and, to spare him from a brutal lynching and a life of further suffering, tragically shoots him.
Crucial Scene Analysis: Lennie and the Mouse
At the beginning of the book, Lennie’s character is immediately highlighted through his interaction with a mouse. He enjoys stroking soft things, and inadvertently, due to his immense strength, he kills the mouse. Despite this, he continues to want to caress it, demonstrating his childlike innocence and lack of understanding of his own power. This scene foreshadows the tragic events to come.
Themes and Outcomes: Survival of the Fittest
The work’s conclusion powerfully illustrates the harsh reality of ‘survival of the fittest’ within society. Lennie, lacking intellectual strength and the social adaptability required to navigate the world around him, ultimately cannot survive. His tragic end underscores the unforgiving nature of their environment and the vulnerability of the weak.
Title Significance: Of Mice and Men
The title, Of Mice and Men, is a direct reference to a scene where Lennie secretly carries a dead mouse in his pocket to caress it, unbeknownst to George. This act symbolizes Lennie’s innocent desire for soft things and his inability to control his strength, leading to destruction. It also alludes to Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse,” which speaks of how even the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Alternative Title: Dreams, Hopes, and Rabbits
An alternative title could be Dreams, Hopes, and Rabbits. This title’s paradox refers to Lennie’s recurring dream of owning a farm where he could tend to many rabbits, an obsession that represents his deepest desires and simple aspirations. This unique title aims to capture attention and reflect the central themes of aspiration and innocence, which are tragically unfulfilled.
Narrative Structure: Of Mice and Men
The narrative of Of Mice and Men can be divided into three main parts:
- Approach: Chapters I to III. This section covers the journey from the bus stop to their arrival at the ranch, introducing the characters and their shared dream.
- Rising Action/Climax: Chapters III to VII. This encompasses their time at the ranch, the unfolding events, and the escalating problems, culminating in Lennie’s accidental killing of Curley’s wife and his subsequent escape.
- Denouement: Chapter VII. This final chapter concludes with the tragic murder of Lennie by George, bringing the narrative to its sorrowful resolution.
Character Profiles: George and Lennie
- George Milton: Described as a small man with a ruddy face, restless eyes, and strong, tough features. He is further characterized by his small, powerful hands, slender arms, and bony nose. George is intelligent, quick-witted, and burdened by the responsibility of caring for Lennie.
- Lennie Small: Portrayed as an enormous man with an undefined face, large, pale eyes, broad shoulders, and a stooped posture. Lennie is mentally disabled, childlike, and possesses immense, uncontrollable physical strength, often leading to unintentional destruction.