Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck first published Of Mice and Men in 1937. The story takes place in the mid 30s during the Great Depression, in Soledad, California. Although the story takes place during the Depression, unlike The Grapes of Wrath, it focuses on the friendship between George and Lennie instead of the plight of the families during this time. The problems that George and Lennie face are the same they would have faced in any time period because they have to do mostly with Lennie’s mental condition. Lennie has the mind of a child, but, physically, he is a very large man. As a result, George and Lennie get into trouble a lot because Lennie unintentionally hurts people, particularly women.

At the start of the novel, George and Lennie are headed out to Soledad because they got a job at a ranch there. They had to leave the ranch they previously worked at because Lennie got into some trouble when he tried to feel a woman’s dress and ended up hurting her. He “jus’ wanted to feel that girl’s dress.” (Steinbeck, 11) Although George could have a better life without Lennie, he continues to care for him at the new ranch until he decides that the best thing for Lennie is to kill him. Lennie’s death is foreshadowed when Carlson shoots Candy’s dog, who is suffering from old age. (Bloom, 24-25) After Lennie kills Curley’s wife, Candy tells George that Curley will organize a lynching party. George “ain’t gonna let ‘em hurt Lennie” (Steinbeck, 95), so he kills Lennie himself because he didn’t want Lennie to be tortured by the others. George killed Lennie because he cared about him , but Slim is the only one who understands the depth of George and Lennie’s relationship and why he ultimately kills his friend. (Bloom, 24)

Sources:
Bloom, Harold. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Broomall: Chelsea House
Publishers, 1996. Print

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Books, 1965. Print