Of Mice and Men
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“Of Mice and Men” is a classic prize winning novella. This book is a required reading in many schools, but also it has been known for vulgarity and offensive and racist language. A quote stated from John Steinbeck in 1930 is “We are lonesome animals. We spend all our life trying to be less lonesome.”. Of Mice and Men was published in 1937, it turned out that loneliness was a major theme in the book. Which leads to, in the book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, the author creates this story that is about two men George and Lennie, and their struggle to achieve their dream of owning a farm through their companionship during The Great Depression. In the book Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbecks use of the characters friendship and the role of outcasts exhibits John Steibecks criticism of society during the Great Depression which forced the lower classes into a life of solitude.
John Steinbecks criticism of society comes from the differences of the characters. The differences in some people make them an “outcast” in this world even if they do not have any control of it. The people that had something wrong with them are faced with a tragic event. Specific characters such as Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curleys wife are all examples of outcasts within the book. For instance, Lennie was a big and strong guy but he had a mental disability which caused him a lot of trouble throughout his life. Candy had a disadvantage because he was old and he lost his hand, so he couldnt do much around the farm. Also, Crooks was different because he was African-American and at that time they werent really respected that well. He was even segregated from the rest of the guys on the farm because of the color of his skin. He also had a disability that something was physically wrong with him. Lastly, Curleys wife is different because she is the only girl that was in the book, shes introduced as the property of Curleys. Steinbeck never said her real name; she goes by “Curleys Wife”. Steinbeck created those characters with differences to show society that people with differences….
Countless times in “Of Mice and Men”, George and Lennie were questioned on why they travel together because it was rare for two people to travel together and it all tied together with friendship. John Steinbeck purposely put George and Lennie together or else the story wouldnt have been the same. Throughout the book you notice how sometimes George gets so frustrated with Lennie such as when he says “God, youre a lot of trouble…. I could get along so easy and so nice if I didnt have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.”. Even though George probably didnt mean to say that, there is some truth to that. Its true, that Georges life would be so much easier if Lennie wasnt there because of the hassle Lennie causes George. The thing is, is that Lennie doesnt know how much trouble he causes George. Towards the end of the book thats when Lennie starts to understand some things. When Aunt Clara said “All the time he coulda had such a great time if it wasnt for you. He woulda took and prasied hell in a whore house and he coulda set in a pool room and played snooker. But he got to take care of you.” to Lennie, thats when he starts to realize that what his Aunt Clara is telling him is true. But he doesnt want to believe it. But even through all the things Lennie puts George through, George always ends up forgiving Lennie because that is what “friendship” is about. They only have each other and no one else as what Lennie says “Because…. Because I got you an… An I got you. We got each other, thats what, that gives a hoot in hell about us,”. That shows how much George