Review #6: "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

Favorite Quotes:

"Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket. His voice broke a little. 'I don't know why I can't keep it. It ain't nobody's mouse. I didn't steal it. I found it lyin' right beside the road.'

George's hand remained outstretched imperiously. Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at that sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand.

'I wasn't doin' nothing bad with it, George. Jus' strokin' it.'" -page 9

 

"Lennie broke in. 'But not us! An' why? Because...because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why.' He laughed delightedly. 'Go on now, George!'" -page 14

 

"The swamper considered...'Well...tell you what. Curley's like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he's mad at 'em because he ain't a big guy. You seen little guys like that, ain't you? Always scrappy?'"
-page 26 {little man syndrome as explained by Steinbeck :)}

 

"Candy said, 'George.'

'Huh?'

'I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.'"

-page 61 

 

About the Main Character:

 

George and Lennie are the two main characters of the novel, but Lennie (kind of like the BFG) is hard to describe without giving too much away. George is described as "small and quick and dark of face." He is the brains of the pair and has big plans for their future. Lennie and George are migrant workers, but hope to buy a piece of land to call their own. George's temperament is very hot and cold. He often gets frustrated with Lennie and doesn't always keep his feelings quiet. Yet, he is tender and apologetic with him as well. This part of his character is very endearing. Lennie and George are an odd pair because most migrant workers go from job to job alone. But not Lennie and George...they have each other.

 

Another Character to Note:

 

Steinbeck describes Crooks as "the negro stable buck." He is a hired worker at the Salinas Valley ranch Lennie and George come to work on. He is also described as a "proud, aloof man" who "kept his distance" with a "crooked spine." I like Crooks because he emphasizes one of the central themes of the book: loneliness. There is a scene when Lennie happens into Crooks living quarters in the barn. At first Crooks is curt and demands that Lennie not invade his privacy. But after conceding to let not only Lennie, but Candy sit down with him, Crooks' delight in having company is made known to the audience. He talks about how a man needs someone to talk to even if they don't understand. He reminisces on having brothers growing up and his life as a boy. This scene is crucial to show that what George and Lennie have is special.  

 

Plot Breakdown:

 

1. The Dead Mouse...Lennie and George's relationship and individual character is introduced with the dead mouse.

 

2. Keep Your Mouth Shut...George is still able to talk his and Lennie's way into jobs even though Lennie can't keep quiet.

 

3. Curley the Little Man and his "Tart" of a Wife...the foreshadowing abounds when the audience is introduced to these two.

 

4. Candy's Smelly Old Dog...after a bit of bullying, Candy loses his companion.

 

5. Lennie Gets a Puppy!...after promising him one, George delivers on a pet he hopes is big enough to withstand Lennie's loving {gigantic} hands.

 

6. Curley's Accident with the "Machine"...Curley tries to prove himself with Lennie and fails miserably.

 

7. Crooks, Rabbits, and the Wife...Lennie spends some time in Crooks' living quarters with Candy talking about what might be, but the happiness doesn't last long.

 

8. A Dead Puppy...by far one of the saddest conclusions. Ever.

 

Something Interesting to Note:

 

John Steinbeck, the author, was born in Salinas, California where the story takes place. He used this setting for many of his works. Also, Of Mice and Men is sometimes classified as a play.



 

Should you read Of Mice and Men before you die?

 

Absolutely. I think Of Mice and Men has much to say about the human experience. It's themes of companionship, loneliness, and human strength and weakness are something we can all relate to. I think Steinbeck really captured the essence of the setting and time period in his descriptions and character dialect which really drew me in as a reader. I've read other works by Steinbeck, but Of Mice and Men is my favorite.