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Of Mice and Men
1) ‘A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green… In front of the low horizontal limb of a giant sycamore there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it…The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A silted heron labored up into the air and pounded down river.’ (Page 1 -2) The first vivid description that is given by Steinbeck takes place during the very beginning of the novel. The purpose of the eloquent imagery is to hook the reader into the story, offering a sign of mystery that leaves the reader curious as to what will break the prosperity. The description is a mix of colors and animals, both which create a very serene environment. This environment seems to never be disrupted, and is seen as being in perpetual peace. The prosperity is interrupted when the two main characters of the story walk in. This is signified by the abrupt movement of the rabbits for cover. It can be said that Steinbeck did this to introduce the beginning of a long conflict for a dream. The place described is the dream that both Lennie and George always wanted, it is the place where the story in which the story is born, and the story will die. ___________________________________ 2) 2)‘The deep green pool of the Salinas River was still in the late afternoon…The heron stood in the shallows, motionless and waiting. Another little water snake swam up the pool turning its periscope head from side to side.’ (Page 99 – 100) The second quote describes the same setting once again, but this time in the end of the novel. This time the description seems to portray a message of subtleness, as if Steinbeck wanted to create a notion of silence within the reader, and notion that things were coming to an end whichever way it did. The use of words such as “motionless, smoothly, and silent,” all create this type of quiet “mood.” When the book finally comes to an end, the reader can conclude and recognize that this was the appropriate place to end the novel, the place where Lennie and George first began their adventures to the ranch. Once again, the place can be seen as a dream that never happened, a prosperity between the environment and the characters that was never reached because of the conflict that revolved around these characters. Therefore Steinbeck creates a sort of setting in which the reader can relate more to Lennie’s death.
On page 104, before George killed Lennie, he told him that, “Guys like us got no family. They make a little stake an’ then they blow it in. they ain’t got nobody in the worl’ that gives a hoot hell about em.” Obviously this terrified Lennie, so he constantly told George that they were different. Eventually George gave in and knew what he had to do. The need for companionship really shows in this quote and the context following it because it shows how attached Lennie is to George and without him he would be nothing. He would always depend on George for whenever he needed advice or help and that’s what George was for, there as a best friend. Sadly, George had to take care of business and annihilate the beautiful friendship they once had. ______________________ While Lennie and George were talking, Lennie really pushed his buttons till George said to stop giving him hell. On page 104, Lennie told George what he felt, “Well I can go away, I’ll go right off in the hills an’ find a cave if you don’ want me.” As a reader, one would feel sorry for Lennie, but when George responded after the heated lecture, he told him, “No, I want you to stay here with me.” This statement clearly shows how even though George says so many hurtful things to Lennie, he still loves him deep inside and will never want to hurt him, unless he knows its good for him.
Imagery
The Need for Human Companionship
On page 107, George says to slim “I just had done it” (pg. 107). This quote is in relation to when George was forced to kill Lennie because of all the trouble Lennie was causing, so he had to take him out of his misery. Unfortunately, George had to have an intense battle with himself about whether or not he and Lennie should run away, or if he should finally end it. Obviously, George picked the second option. In the end though, he didn’t take it well. All he could say was he needed a drink and casually admit that he’d just killed his closest companion. George was quite devastated and didn’t know what way to show it, so he didn’t. ___________________________________ The first time Lennie saw Curley’s wife, her beauty captured him. He was so engrossed on her to the point where he told George, “Gosh, she was purty” (pg 32). To say this in front of George, Lennie needed to have guts and somehow he came up with them. When George heard what Lennie had to say, he went on a complete swearing rampage and told Lennie to have no interaction with her. Both Lennie and George had to fight themselves in this situation – Lennie had to keep his mouth shut and George had to keep calm, both which were not accomplished.
Conflict: Man vs. Self
Hasan Ismail and Philippe Becker
