Of_Mice_&_Men

ANALYSIS: Throughout the novel many themes are illustrated by Steinbeck, relating to the context of the novel. The book is set in the American period of 1930s when people were classed according to their race or gender. The opening chapter of Of Mice and Men sharply establishes he important relationship between the two primary characters, George and Lennie. George and Lennie are portrayed as two completely opposite characters. However, they fit together perfectly. Steinbeck clearly illustrates this point when the characters are first introduced and from then on they are displayed as opposites. The relationship between George and Lenn ie is also made clear right from the beginning. Throughout George acts as if he is Lennie's father, instructing him what to do, just as a parent would. This is quickly established as George tries to prevent Lennie drinking the dirty water. Lennie continually acts as a young child would. George does everything for him and keeps care of important valuables such as their work cards. Lennie is portrayed in the novel as a small child mentally, being looked after by his guardian George. Lennie looks up to George as his idol, imitating exactly what he does and then checking to make sure he has done it perfectly right. Another clear example of Lennie's childish behaviour is when he starts crying after George throws the mouse away and tells him he can't have it. However, George and Lennie share a master and servant relationship at times. George regularly orders Lennie and at times treats him just like a slave. George orders Lennie until he gives in. At times, George has ambivalent feelings towards Lennie. He feels both anger and affection at the same time. He cannot control his emotions with Lennie. This is shown over a very simple thing when Lennie says that he likes his beans with ketchup. George shouts angrily at Lennie for a while and then at the end he loses his anger and looks ashamed. Although Lennie is so big and powerful, on the inside he's afraid and timid of what George will do. Steinbeck constantly uses the adverb 'timidly' when describing Lennie. Steinbeck also uses imagery to compare Lennie to an animal. Throughout the novel George gives constant reminders to Lennie of how life could be without him. Inside George resents the fact that Lennie is his life partner and they are stuck together for the rest of his life. Nevertheless George sticks with Lennie though thick and thin and together they form a team. Both characters have a strong relationship with each other and this forms an important part of the novel. As soon as George and Lennie arrive at the bunkhouse Steinbeck illustrates the difficulties of life as a ranch worker. Their living quarters are uncomfortable with only rough burlap mattresses to sleep on. Ranch workers own such few possessions and own nothing that doesn't fit in an apple box. They can only afford the absolute necessities and have no room for luxuries. When George discovers the can of insect repellent hidden in his mattress, it shows us another aspect of the bunkhouse. The place is unhygienic and often contains fleas and lice, common for a bunkhouse at that time. The bunkhouse also painfully establishes the cruel, unfair nature of the world; a theme Steinbeck constantly portrays and develops throughout the novel. An important feature brought to our notice is the treatment of Crooks, the stable buck at the ranch. Crooks is referred to as a "nigger", which was an insulting name for a black person. This clearly relates to the social context of the novel, which is set in the period of American history, when black people were not seen as equals to white people and they were kept well apart. In the novel, Crooks has his own separate rooms and is singled out from the rest of the people. Prejudice against Negroes was such at this time that a black man would be lunched at the mere suggestion that he had laid a hand on a white woman. Amongst the workers at the ranch there is a significant number of differences. Between the characters there is a great amount of distrust which creates the loneliness built up on the ranch. At the ranch, every man is on his own apart from George and Lennie who are such great companions. This is the reason why everybody is so astounded at the relationship George and Lennie share. Throughout the novel, women are simply regarded in a sexual way. Women are shown no respect and are considered useful for sex and nothing else. From the very opening introduction of Curley's wife, Steinbeck por trays her as a "tart". Once again, Steinbeck's portrayal of women links back to the social context of the novel when women were good for sex only. Of Mice and Men derogatorily assigns women only two lowly functions: caretakers of men and sex objects. Regardless of their place in the real world, the novel altogether dismisses women from its vision of paradise. Female sexuality is described as a trap laid to ensnare and ruin men. George and Lennie imagine themselves alone, without wives or women to complicate their vision of tending the land and raising rabbits. Much like a traditional, conservative Christian interpretation of the myth of man's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the novel presents women as a temptation leading to man's fall from perfection. Curley's attack on Lennie is a reflection of the male, macho environment the men on the ranch live in. Men must be seen to be had and tough. Curley feels because he is small he has to prove himself by taking on men bigger than himself. Added to this is the problem that Curley is suspicious that his wife is flirting with the men and he is afraid of looking like a fool in the men's eyes. George's attitude to women generally in the novel gives me the conclusion that he is a confirmed misogynist. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck takes a proleptic approach, preparing for something that happens later on. Most significant is Candy's comment to George when he regrets allowing a stranger to shoot his dog and wishes he had done it himself. This occurs at the end of the novel, when George is forced to shoot Lennie, but does it himself, rather than let him be killed by the others. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck portrays an extremely cruel world. Most of the characters are handicapped in some way, be it because of their race, gender or age. The fear Candy has of being sacked because he is too old, establishes the fact that once something is old, it is considered useless and usually got rid off. This little paragraph sums up this statement. Of Mice and Men is a truly fantastic novel and was an enjoyable read for me. The book is only short and for a quick reader, can be read in a few hours. The nature and personalities of the characters gives the reader a perfect idea of what was like in 1930's America. The book can be quite emotional to the softhearted. There is a whole atmosphere of loneliness and distrust created by Steinbeck throughout the novel, and he does this brilliantly. The book is extremely interesting and Steinbeck creates tension and interest at important parts of the novel. Only a few weeks ago I watched a modern adaptation of the novel and like the book it was extremely enjoyable. That was the reason I decided to write about it. John Steinbeck is a fabulous writer and this novel is a demonstration of his ability. If you have not read it yet, I would strongly recommend it. It is an easy read and suitable for all ages. I loved it.