Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Character Analysis

Submitted By
Words 1372
Pages 6
In the 1930’s there were lots of hardships during the Great Depression this made lots of people become unemployed. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck it is a novella released in 1937 which tells a tale of two workers named George and Lennie, who lost their old job in Soledad and are going to their new job at the ranch. Largely the ending Of Mice and Men was inevitable because of these following themes; American Dream, cruel society, particularly targeting minorities and friendships helping to build empathy.

It was inevitable that George and Lennie will never get their own ranch because of the American Dream. The American Dream is an impossible vision that leads to disappointment this is equaled through how the workers don’t have empathy. Workers …show more content…
Society was cruel through their lifestyles. Different people in those time were treated badly because of their age, race and gender. In the bunkhouse Carlson wants to kill Candy’s dog because of its stinking the bunkhouse. “ Well I can’t stand him in here,” said Carlson “That stink hangs around even after he’s gone.” He walked over with a heavy-legged stride and looked down at the dog. “Got no teeth he’s all stiff, he ain’t no good for you Candy” Before winning the fight and quickly says to the dog “come, on, boy.” This tells us by Carlson saying “Got no teeth he’s all stiff” this speech tells us that Carlson thinks that if something is old and can’t take care of it’s self it should be killed. How Candy is fighting back tells us that he knows that if the dog goes, he’ll go next because he's also becoming old and this reflects on how society treats people badly because of their age. In Crooks’s little shed Curly’s wife gets mad at him for telling her to leave. “Crooks seemed to grow smaller and he pressed himself against the wall. “Yes ma’am” “Well, you keep your place when nigger. I could get you strung up on so easy, it ain’t even funny.” This extract uses Curly’s speech by how Curly’s wife says “I could get you strung up on so easy, it ain’t even funny” tells us the reader how society was cruel and how people can be treated so badly because of their …show more content…
Friendships help people build empathy for other. Allowing them to know the best thing for someone. This shows why most characters in the novella are isolated and don’t have empathy for others. When George and Lennie are at the campsite, George gets mad at Lennie for asking for ketchup, but ends it an try’s to apologise to Lennie. “No-look! I was jus’ fool-in’ Lennie. ‘Cause I wanted you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill-’em.” Through Georges speech, we can see by his saying. “I was jus’s fool-in’.” Tells us that he understands how Lennie is falling because of their strong friendship that they have. This reflects on how friendships can teach people to have empathy for others, allowing them to know what is best for them. After Carlson takes Candy’s dog, George, Lennie and Candy talk about their dream place more described than before, after a few minutes he states. “I ought to of shot that dog myself George.” This quote tells us that Candy wanted to kill the dog himself because he would’ve known how to kill the dog because he can feel the empathy towards his dog. This reflects on how friendships, teach people of empathy towards another person.Lennie was back turned to look at the river while George faced a gun directly at Lennie’s neck, but before shooting he states of how he is feeling. “I ain’t never

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men Character Analysis

...Thomas Steiner 03/04/10 Hour 5 Lennie Will Never Change During the great depression families and workers were forced to walk the country in search of jobs. Some kept moving to new locations in hope of living the American dream by getting a house of their own and living on it. In the Novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, two characters, Lennie Small and George Milton, are migrant workers living and working on a farm in Soledad, California for a low pay. George is taking care of Lennie because Lennie is mentally handicapped. They both have a dream in which they buy a few acres of land and “live off the fat of the land.” Throughout the story Lennie is shown as a static character through external conflict, motivation, and complication. In the beginning, Lennie and George are being chased by a bunch of workers who want to kill them. Later in the story the author gives more details as to why they were being chased. Lennie had grabbed on to a girls dress because of an attraction he has to touching soft things. The girl started screaming and accused Lennie of raping her. George repeats multiple times that Lennie, “’…don’t mean no harm’” (36) , and the reader can tell he does not seeing he acts like such a kid. This attraction to soft things causes multiple complications throughout the story and you would think Lennie would learn, yet he always forgets and does the same thing. Also, there were external conflicts between Lennie and his boss’s son Curley. Candy had informed...

Words: 540 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Character Analysis Essay

...OMAM After all the years George and Lennie have been going through together, “[George] pulls the trigger” to end Lennie’s life (Steinbeck 106). In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie, who is mentally handicapped, travel together finding work. Both of them have a dream of owning land together and getting rabbits to let Lennie tend. Lennie and George have previously been kicked out of Weed because of an incident having to do with Lennie grabbing onto a woman’s dress. Lennie is constantly getting in trouble because of his bad judgement. George and Lennie then arrive to a new ranch to work at. Curley’s wife is a beautiful woman who is searching for attention because of the lack of attention from her husband, Curley. Lennie is unaware of his own strength, kills a pup and then does not know what to do. He thinks that George will be mad at him and not let him tend to the rabbits. Curley’s wife talks to Lennie and lets him touch her hair because it is soft. When she starts to panic, so does Lennie. He grabs tighter and tells her not to yell because George might hear and get mad. While just trying to cover her mouth, Lennie accidentally breaks her neck and kills her. Lennie runs away and George and the other men from the ranch find him. George...

Words: 642 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

...Even though Lennie does not have the mental capacity to understand it, he poses a danger to those around him. Lennie is unable to decipher right from wrong, hence why he doesn’t understand his own strength hurts others whether it may be an accident or not. One example being the puppy which Lennie cared for. To Lennie, the puppy was “soft and nice”, until the puppy showed aggression to Lennie and he hit it too hard causing it to die. Lennie often retaliates to “aggressive” behavior throughout the novel, such as the mice he tends to as a child. When they show aggression to Lennie, he “pinched their heads”. Lennie’s actions may be accidental, such as the murder of Curley’s wife. However, when he kills her, he notices he’s “done a real bad thing”. Lennie’s choice to hide her body is essential because if anybody found out that he killed Curley’s wife, the consequence would result in his own death. George prevents more trouble for other men on the farm by killing Lennie because he would have been killed anyways. After the fatal death of Curley’s wife, Lennie’s death and there were only 2 ways: the men’s way or George’s way. George and Lennie’s relationship shows a strong correlation to Candy and his dog’s relationship. Candy...

Words: 461 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

...If your friend and coworker would die at the hand of a man he didn’t know would you ponder killing him to protect him from suffering at the hands of the other man? The novella Of Mice and Men was set in the midst of the Great Depression. The novella focused around two men; Lennie Smalls and George Milton, two traveling migrants looking for work in the money deprived American financial system. Lennie is mentally unstable and has a troublesome time performing at the level of a stable minded person. Lennie finds himself in a troubling predicament when he kills Curley's’ wife, this brings a very problematic decision for George. George must decide whether to protect or come to the correct resolution and kill Lennie himself. In the novella Of...

Words: 348 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men George Milton Character Analysis

...Do you know someone that has to be like a father figure to someone? If you read the book Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck then you know at least one person. George Milton, the main character, has to be a fatherly figure to his friend Lennie Small because he has a mental disorder. Lennie had the best father that he could ever ask for. Even though George might be bipolar, he is understanding and a fatherly figure. George is bipolar because at one moment he can be happy, and instantly he can be pissed off at Lennie. When George and Lennie started to make a fire for their beans, all was well. Then Lennie wanted some ketchup with his beans, and they obviously didn’t have ketchup for his beans. George became instantly mad at Lennie for even asking. George scoulded at Lennie...

Words: 499 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

...John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a thought-provoking novel set in the 1930’s during the Great Depression on a ranch. The main characters are two men: Lennie and George. Looking out for one another, these two wander from place to place in search of work. The conflict occurs when the two find work on a ranch in Soledad, California, and Curley, the ranch owner’s son, starts harassing Lennie. Curley’s wife, who is not named in the novel, arouses Lennie, and Lennie’s unhuman-like strength causes him to accidentally kill her. George knows the men on the ranch will brutally kill Lennie once they find out he killed Curley’s wife, so George decides to end Lennie’s life quickly by shooting Lennie in the back of the head. Throughout the novel, the reader can infer that George is protective of Lennie, and his personality exhibits a short-temper, but also, understanding. The author describes George as small and short with sharp features. To begin with, the author shows George’s affection towards Lennie. George feels obligated to watch after Lennie. He feels this because Lennie’s Aunt Clara asked George to take care of Lennie before she died. Although George...

Words: 685 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Character Analysis Of Lennie From Of Mice And Men

...Lennie Small from Of Mice and Men was the least lively character throughout the story, but also the star from the beginning to the end of the book. Throughout the entire book Lennie has three traits, he is unknown of his strength, he is very devoted to the people in this life and the things around him, and he likes the feeling of being protected. Lennie shows no significant change in the book but yet he is the favorite character by many readers. In the beginning of the book, Lennie is unknown of his strength. His love of petting soft things, small animals, dresses, and people’s hair, leads to disaster. Aunt Clara used to give Lennie mice to pet but he unintentionally killed them. Lennie does not mean to kill the animals, but he pets...

Words: 388 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Character Analysis Of Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

...The Unknown Death A 2014 study shows that 69% of people in the United States say that if someone is suffering from an incurable sickness and they are in pain, the doctor should be allowed to assist them in medicated suicide with patient consent. People in the United States do not want their loved ones in pain and suffering from incurable diseases. Lennie was hurting animals, other people, and holding George back. George made the best decision by putting Lennie out of his misery. The death of Lennie in Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck was euthanasia because Lennie had an incurable mental illness. One important piece of evidence is that Lennie was suffering from a mental disability that could not be cured. George and Lennie have to move multiple times to find jobs because Lennie would always get fired. When George was talking to the new boss to try to get a job George lied and said they were related and traveled together. George also said Lennie was perfectly normal and would not let Lennie speak to the boss. In the text, it says, “Lennie dipped his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers…” (Steinbeck 3). This quote shows Lennie being compared to a dog because of his mental disability....

Words: 603 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Character Analysis Of Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

...If the novel would have taken place in today’s society, George would have definitely known Lennie had a mental disorder. Lennie’s aggressive manner towards petting things would have been a red flag to George as mentioned in chapter three, “Lennie breathed hard.‘You jus’ let ‘me try to get the rabbits. I’ll break their God damn necks. I’ll...I’ll smash ‘em with a stick’” (pg.58). In the end of the novel, Lennie’s self conscious speaks to him and tells him how he ruined George’s life, “She interrupted him. ‘All the time he coulda had such a good time if it wasn’t for you. He woulda took his pay an’ raised hell in a whore house, and he coulda set in a poolroom an’ played snooker. But he got to take care of you’” (pg.101). Mental disorder is very...

Words: 359 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Character Analysis Of Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

...novel of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck you witness George being a good to Lennie by Caring for his ever care and need, He stands up for Lennie countless times, and shows respect and compassion for Lennie though out the entire novel. George is a good friend to Lennie because he cares for Lennie, Stands up for him and respects Lennie. George cares for Lennie’s every care and need. “We kinda look after each other.” He indicated Lennie with his thumb. “He ain’t bright. Hell of a good worker, though. Hell of a nice fella, but he ain’t bright. I’ve known him for a long time.”(Steinbeck 34). This quote represents how George shows that he cares for Lennie. When George says “We kinda look after eachother” He’s telling slim that he only takes care of Lennie. Throughout the book We watch George take blame for him and try to do what is best for Lennie not himself. He treats Lennie almost as one his own son or brother. You truly see Lennie go through thick and thin for Lennie and doing whatever he can him. George Stands up for Lennie countless times, “Well I’ve never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is” (Steinbeck 22). This quote takes place when...

Words: 510 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Great Gatsby Quote Analysis

...she never loved Tom. Why else would she stay with a rich, handsome man? For the wealth and the way other people will see her. -Introduction of example #3: Although the characters in both books are hopeful to make their dreams a reality, in the end their dreams do not come true. -Example / Quotation: “Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away” (Fitzgerald). "Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock" (Fitzgerald). "O.K. Someday—we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and—" "An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An'...

Words: 889 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men Lit

...Literary analysis Of Mice and Men Loneliness can be a large point in fiction writing. Loneliness can push people to extremes. Once can be pushed to become extremely introverted while the other can rage, setting a path against the world to find a place to fit in. In John Steinbeck’s of Mice and Men loneliness is evident and a huge focus of the author. The characters Lennie, Crooks, and Candy are set apart from other due to loneliness. The country of America has long been tainted with segregation, a divide of black and white. Segregation can push people to the dark ends of loneliness. A prime example of this would be in the novel of Mice and Men. One person in particular experienced loneliness due to segregation. That character would a black fellow knows as crooks. “…The stable buck put in his head; a lean Negro head, lined with pain” (p.50) Crooks was slow in entering the white quarters, knowing he was not allowed in. The only black man on the ranch, without any company. “He kept his distance and demanded that other keep theirs.” (p.67) He pushed himself away from other and made them keep their distance from is quarters due to him not being allowed in theirs. Crooks shows his loneliness through separation from others due to his color. More expressions of loneliness would come from Lennie. Lennie shows many proofs of loneliness in the novel of Mice and Men. Lennie shows his desperation when he panics and says “George wun’t go away and leave me. I know George wun’t do that...

Words: 584 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Mice to Men

...Professor Gordon ENC 1102 TTH 830 am 19 November 2009 Research Paper Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck the author of the novel, Of Mice and Men, wrote a story about two migrant workers and their dream of one day owning their own piece of land (Bloom). George Milton and Lennie Small are the two main characters that travel together in search for work. The story took place in California, during the Great Depression, a time in history where everyone suffered from the economical problems and hardship. It was a hard era to live in, there was an extremely high unemployment rate, no one had a steady job and people had to adapt to a new living style. John Steinbeck was present at this time and had a firsthand experience working on a ranch (Leaf). He wrote about the American dream every human being wanted; through the characters of George and Lennie, who both dreamt for the same future, in owning their own land and working for no one else. These two characters are both similar in the sense of wanting the same thing, yet are completely different. Also, Steinbeck included a character, Curly, who lives every American dream and displays how he is. I am going to characterization these three major characters and show their part in the novel. The story begins with two different, thus alike men who are each other’s companion. George and Lennie are both men who work on ranches for money and do not have family, thus they both have a common future. They are both hard workers and optimistic for...

Words: 1632 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men

...Essay Topics Plagiarism Donate a Paper Related Essays - Chocolate Rabbits: Foreshadowing in "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck - Forrest Gump’s Mama once preached the saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” These words of wisdom maybe true in some cases but In Of Mice and Men by John St...[ view ] - Analysis of ‘Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - Analysis of ‘Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck ‘Of Mice And Men' by John...[ view ] Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Rate This Paper: 1 2 3 4 5 Length: 738 words (2.1 double-spaced pages) Rating: Red (FREE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck There is a wide variety of what some people would call a good friend. Some would say a good friend is someone who will cover for them even though they know they are wrong. Others would say that a friend is someone that has good connections to get them discounts on what they want. However, my definition of a good friend is someone who doesn't laugh when you tell them something serious, who listens and is considerate to what you are feeling at that moment and tries to help in any way they can. A friend is also someone that you can have fun with and accepts your flaws as well. I believe that George, a main character from the novel "Of Mice and Men", was a good friend to Lennie, George's problem person. I know many have reasons to state otherwise so...

Words: 1199 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Quotes Analysis

...Quote analysis: Pull directly from quote, connect to topic sentence, connect to thesis. Discrimination in Of Mice and Men All throughout American history, minorities have been mistreated. In the John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, prejudice influences the way the ranchers treat others. Curley’s Wife, Crooks, and Candy are excluded because of gender, race, age, or disability. This bias results in these people feeling lonely and inferior. In Steinbeck’s novella, multiple characters experience alienation due to discrimination by other ranchers. Throughout the novella, Curley’s Wife is isolated from the male workers several times due to her gender. This is portrayed when the men in the bunkhouse argue with Curley about his wife, when they try to avoid Curley’s Wife because they view her as a nothing more than a distraction because they think her beauty is her only valuable characteristic. Carlson says, “Why’n’t you...

Words: 590 - Pages: 3