Of Mice and Men Chapter 1 Literary Analysis: Close Reading

Introduction Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men is a novelette, written by a pop author, John Steinbeck. John is known to accept coined many pop phrases and neologisms. The novel was first published in 1937.  The storyline takes a peep at the financial crisis of the Great Depression that plunged the center form of the United States into the pits of poverty at that time. The story of the novel revolves around two migrant farmworkers, Lennie Small and George Milton, whom the financial collapse has rendered jobless. The story is about how they are struggling to seek the opportunity to make both ends meet. The novel was a massive hit during those times.

Summary Of Mice and Men

George and Lennie are two migrants, working on a plantation in California when the Great Depression struck the United States. They are let off a charabanc miles away from the California farm where they are about to get-go working. George Meg is an intelligent, minor, dark man with sharp, robust features. Lennie Small, his coworker, and friend is his opposite, with a giant personality and a "shapeless" face. Feeling thirsty, George and Lennie end in a immigration past a pool and camp for the night. As the story progresses, we learn that Lennie has balmy mental impediment/autism. Nevertheless, he is securely devoted to George and depends upon him for protection and guidance.

George knows that Lennie doesn't have a gentle touch. He loves petting soft things but accidentally kills them. He sees that while Lennie is conveying and stroking a expressionless mouse. George angrily throws it away, fearing that Lennie might grab a disease from the dead brute. George complains loudly that his life would be more than comfortable without having to care for Lennie. However, George continues to maintain their friendship and devotion. He and Lennie also share a dream of getting their own piece of land. Which they can farm, and also have pet rabbits for Lennie. While camping, George tells a story to Lennie. He describes how a farm life should be and how peaceful their life could be in such a place.

The side by side day, the men attain the nearby farm. George is afraid of how the new boss might react to Lennie. He doesn't let Lennie to speak and lies to the owner, that they are cousins. He besides tells him that a horse kicked Lennie in the caput when he was a child. Surprisingly, they become the job. They encounter Candy, an one-time "swamper," or handyman, with a missing hand and an erstwhile dog. They also meet Curley, the boss's son, who is stiff-headed and mean. Curley, who is newly married and possessive of his flirtatious wife. He continues threatening Lennie because he suffers from Napoleon Complex. This means a person finds himself disliking beefy-bodied or a person taller/healthier than themselves. Surprisingly, Lennie finds attraction in Curley'southward wife, who also flirts with him.

One time George and Lennie are alone in the bunkhouse, Curley's wife arrives. George, sensing the trouble sends the woman away and too warns Lennie to stay abroad from Mrs. Curley. George and Lennie later meet Slim, a skilled mule driver who exercises nifty potency on the ranch. Carlson, some other ranch-mitt, proposes that in one case Slim's canis familiaris gives puppies, they should give one puppy to Processed and then shoot Candy's dog.

Somewhen, George reveals the truth to Slim that Lennie is not his cousin, simply they accept been friends since their childhood. He as well shares how Lennie created trouble, particularly during their previous job. George recalls the time he was forced to flee with Lennie. Lennie had tried to touch a woman's cherry dress simply was accused of rape. Slim agrees to requite Lennie one of his puppies. On the other manus, Carlson continues to annoy Candy to kill his quondam dog. Slim also agrees with Carlson's decision. They believe decease is amend than letting the animal suffer. Candy is forced to agree, also. Carlson promises to show mercy and kill the canis familiaris painlessly.

While Slim is working in the barn, Curley, filled with rage, searches for his wife. He suspects his wife is having an affair with Slim. Candy hears George and Lennie planning to purchase land.  Processed joins hands with them to offering a sum of $350, his life's savings then that they could buy their subcontract.  He puts a condition that they have to permit him alive in that location as well. The three agree to maintain their cloak-and-dagger. Curley, wanting to vent his acrimony, confronts Lennie and picks a fight with him. Lennie crushes Curley's manus, breaking it. Slim warns Curley firing George and Lennie fired will not be good for him or the subcontract.

One night the men from the farm get to the local brothel. Lennie is left with Crooks, the lonely, black stable-hand, and Candy. Curley's married woman flirts with them, refusing to exit. She notices the cuts on Lennie'southward face. She suspects Curley had lied to her about the injury. So, when Lennie accidentally kills his puppy in the befouled, Curley's wife consoles him. She tells him that she is non happy with Curley and wishes to be a movie star. Lennie tells her that he loves petting soft things. Hearing that, she offers to let him feel her pilus. He grabs it also tightly, and she cries out in pain. While trying to silence her, he unintentionally breaks her neck.

Lennie flees back to a Salinas River, a place George had told him for hiding when either of them gets into trouble. The men at the ranch find out what happens. Along with the men, George goes to find Lennie. George comforts Lenny and assures him that he is not mad at him for doing "a bad thing." George recounts the story of the farm they volition take together. Equally the men from the ranch come to take Lennie and punish him, George shoots him in the dorsum of the head.

When the other men arrive, George lies that Lennie had the gun. While struggling, he had accidentally shot him. Slim understands what has happened, and comforts George. He tells him that by killing his friend, he has washed an act of mercy. Slim leads him abroad, along with the other men. Carlson and Curley are unable to comprehend it.

Major Themes in Of Mice and Men

1. Human Nature: This is the major thematic strand that runs throughout the novel is the unpredictability of the human mind. This theme has been interwoven with the characters of non merely Curley, who becomes ambitious toward Lennie, but also through his wife and Lennie, who is autistic. When George sees that Lennie is proving also heavy a burden for him, he shoots him. Also, when Curley'southward married woman sees that Lennie seems too innocent, she exploits him and flirts with him. Lennie besides depicts this thematic strand through his nature of dependability on others. It clearly shows the Darwinian principle that only the fittest survive syncs well with the characters of Steinbeck in the story. Moreover, daydreaming of the trio of Lennie, George and Crooks as well evidence this unpredictability of man nature.
2. Demand for Friendship and Lodge: A man is a social beast and cannot live in a void. Steinbeck shows this theme in his novel through the characters of Lennie and George. Although both are fed up with working on dissimilar ranches, Lennie thinks that they must have a ranch of their own. Despite his mental condition, he needs beloved that he showers on Curley's wife, and, it costs him dearly. George besides shows keeps friendship until the end when he comes to know that Lennie is proving besides heavy a burden for him to carry on. Therefore, he shoots him after he accidentally kills Mrs. Curley. It shows that a person cannot live without a social circumvolve. However, ultimately, they must salve their own life first and avert conveying burdens.
3. Satire on American Dream: The novel not only shows the hollowness of commercialism but besides of the much desired and much boosted, American Dream. Lennie and George have had a dream that they should have their farm where Lennie would play with rabbits to satiate his desire for touching furry animals. However, this dream soon crashes to the footing when they confront Curley and his wife. Lennie accidentally kills his married woman when she comes to flirt with him and loses his life at the easily of George.
4. Loneliness: The story shows the impact of loneliness and how it proves a torturing problem for a person. Lennie, due to his autistic nature, cannot live solitary. Therefore, he continues to live along with George, while George also is unable to detect a dependable solution or place for him. Therefore, they both endeavour to dispel their loneliness through their friendship. Also, Curley's married woman does not meet Lennie as handsome plenty to crook Curley; rather, she comes to dispel her loneliness merely loses her life in her efforts to cease it.
5. Alienation: The novel demonstrates Marxian alienation in that the workers, George and Lennie, are forced to do menial work at the ranches. They find the routine slow and not soul-satisfying. Their menial labor has besides forced them to realize alienation through the treatment of Curley and his arrogant attitude.
6. Gender Marginalization: The theme of gender marginalization has been shown through the insignificance of Curley's wife for being an anonymous person. She is only stated as Curley'southward married woman every bit if she has no proper name. Secondly, at that place is Lennie's aunt, who does non announced physically in the novel. That is how Steinbeck has marginalized women in this novel.
7. Survival of the Fittest: The novel also demonstrates the Darwinian concept of the survival of the fittest through George and Lennie, for Lennie does not bear witness that he is the fittest and has to be shot downwardly. Curley proves his fitness and stays live while his married woman is killed by Lennie'due south mistake. George kills Lennie when he sees that he should dice than facing the lynching mob and hanging for a murder he didn't commit.
8. Meanness: Curley's character and his madness at Lennie'south bulky body show how the human mind suffers from different psychological problems that seem to originate from social circumstances. He tortures Lennie and also berates George during the work and all this without whatsoever reason.
9. Mysterious Human Relations: The story demonstrates the mystery of human relations through the friendship of Lennie and George, for both know each other, empathise each other, and support each other's daydreaming.

Major Characters in Of Mice and Men

1. George Milton: A guardian, a friend, and an intelligent laborer, George Milton appears on the scene with his ignorant and innocent friend, Lennie. Both of them face bleak futures on account of lack of job during the Great Low on a ranch. Therefore, he guides the way for Lennie and proves his guide whenever he needs any advice, even for small tasks such every bit the call to nature. However, he also proves selfish when information technology comes to saving his life, though, he ever stands by Lennie through thick and thin, and even in daydreaming. Past the end, he shoots Lennie afterward seeing his escape incommunicable when he kills Curley'southward wife.
2. Lennie Pocket-sized: A huge and beefy-bodied human, Lennie is physically strong and stays with George equally his friend. He needs a person to depend on him instead of assisting others. He dreams of having rabbits on the ranch George tells him to purchase when he has the coin. He gets forth with him normally only his fondling nature proves fatal for him because of his lack of control. He tries to fondle animals but kills them, also when Curley's wife flirts with him, inviting him to play with his hair, he pulls it hard. He accidentally breaks her neck. Lennie flees and hides, while the lynch mob goes in search of him. Later, George kills him to save him from the consequential torture of the mob or perhaps long imprisonment.
3. Candy: Candy, a menial rach handyman, is aging and suffers from physical ailments. That is why he is worried nearly the futurity work, a idea, which has brought him close to George after he comes to know that George is going to buy a subcontract. He also offers his money to join Lennie and George'south plan.
4. Slim: Slim is an important graphic symbol in that the author terms him every bit a prince. He wins respect on the ranch and is the but character whom Curley does not treat desperately. In fact, he demonstrates non only natural authorization only as well demonstrates insight into human nature. He comes to know the real relationship betwixt Lennie and George and Lennie's dependability on George. As a working hand, he drives a mule on the ranch.
5. Curley: Curley seems to be the adversary of the novel, for he not only shows his bossy nature on account of being the son of the primary of the ranch only also teases Lennie, unnecessarily and provokes him. Although he is a non-professional person boxer, he injures his paw when it comes to fighting with Lennie of whom he is very jealous. Despite his overprotectiveness toward his wife, he lets her flirt with Lennie, which shows the carelessness and lethargy of the landowners.
6. Curley's Wife: This bearding character non only reflects the marginalization of the gender in the novel but also reflects the neglect that her hubby shows toward her past mistrusting her. In Steinbeck's own words, she just symbolizes some attraction that Lennie moves toward her readily and gets trapped in the murder after he accidentally kills her when he tries to stop her yelling due to his body weight on her.
7. Crooks: Crooks is not only a bitter and cynical fellow in the novel, but he likewise shows his devious nature through his warped concrete appearance and behavior. He helps in stable intendance at the ranch and stays by and large in isolation from the remainder on account of his pare color. However, strangely, he is attracted to Lennie and joins the duo in their daydreaming of a ranch with the plea that he would exist hoeing their would-be garden over at that place.
8. Carlson: He plays the function of a side character who kills Processed'due south dog, though, information technology is out of mercy to pull him out of trouble. He works with Lennie and George on the ranch.
9. The Boss: A favorite of Candy, the Boss is the ranch owner who employs Lennie and George when they move from California to some other ranch for work. Candy's likeness of him is due to his generosity of offer them whiskey on Christmas.

 Writing Manner Of Mice and Men ‎

The writing manner of the novel, Of Mice and Men, shows a factual clarification of the writer, John Steinbeck, in that he seems to be stay objective. It shows that his objective is to present the real description of his characters of George and Lennie and their trials, lack of income, and unemployment during the Corking Depression. Most of the descriptions given in the novel announced to hinge on the ideas which could be used as directions for creating a play. The use of a conversational mode with slang and regional niceties shows the reality of the farming workers and their dilemma of joblessness. They also shed low-cal on their uneducated background and resultant fall into poverty.

Analysis of Literary Devices in Of Mice and Men

1. Action: The master action of the novel comprises the joblessness of George and Lennie and their social mobility toward another ranch. The falling action is of the flight of Lennie after he accidentally kills Curley's wife after which Curley leads a mob to find him out to lynch him. The rise action, however, is his fondling behavior and efforts to adjourn her yelling which proves fatal for her.
2. Allegory: The book shows the use of allegory through the grapheme of Lennie nigh whom Steinbeck says that he is non but representing madness simply also a desire of humanity, in general, to have something tangible to live upon. He shows "survival of the fittest" in the Darwinian sense.
3. Anaphora: The novel also shows good utilize of anaphora. For instance,
   i. "It was silent outside. The silence came into the room. And the silence lasted." (Chapter-3).
   Here the use of "silence" refers back to the earlier mention of the idea.
4. Antagonist: Although it seems that the Slap-up Depression is the main antagonist in the novel, it seems that information technology is an abstract idea that spread in the Us during the 30s. However, Curley is the actual antagonist, who tortures George and Lennie when they work on the farm of his father.
5. Innuendo: There are diverse examples of allusions given in the novel. For case,
   i. An allusion to Golden Gloves tournament: Curley says that he got into the concluding of that tournament as a boxer, which is a lie. (Chapter-three)
   ii. An allusion to Robert Fire'southward poem "To a Mouse," which is given in the shape of a mouse that Lennie and George refer to several times. (Affiliate-1)
   iii. Biblical innuendo of Adam and Eve's story through their dream ranch. (Chapter-4)
6. Disharmonize: There are various conflicts in the novel. The showtime one is the external conflict going on between George and Lennie and their state of affairs. The second conflict involves man against nature, homo against human being, and homo confronting himself. The commencement is shown past George, while the second is shown by Lennie and Curley, and the tertiary by George and his mental thinking.
7. Characters: The novel presents both static as well every bit dynamic characters. George and Lennie are two major characters, while Curley's wife, Curley, Carlson, Crooks, and the Boss are some minor characters. However, it is George who goes through struggles and changes by the terminate. Therefore, he is a dynamic graphic symbol, while the residue of the characters stays the same, the reason that they are all static characters.
8. Climax: The climax takes place when Lennie, accidentally, breaks the neck of Curley's wife in his attempts to silence her. Information technology leads to tension in the novel that subsides when George shoots Lennie.
9. Foreshadowing: The first case of foreshadowing in the novel occurs when Processed'due south dog is shot by Carlson to relieve him of suffering. Similarly, George shoots Lennie to salvage him of the suffering he is to go through in case defenseless alive. The second foreshadow is the hand of Curley that he keeps close to him. It foreshadows that he would pick up a fight with somebody who happens to be Lennie, afterwards.
10. Hyperbole: Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs when Crooks says to George, "A guy goes basics if he own't got nobody. Don't make no deviation who the guy is, long's he's with y'all. I tell ya" (Chapter-4). The second hyperbole is once more past Crooks when he says, "Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets to country" (Chapter-4).
11. Imagery: Imagery means to apply images such as in these examples:
    i. His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity. His lean face up was lined with deep blackness wrinkles, and he had sparse, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face. (Chapter-4)
    ii. Every office of him was defined: small, strong easily, slender artillery, a sparse and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of confront, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a footling, the way a behave drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, simply hung loosely. (Chapter-i)
    In the first example, the clarification of Crooks shows the utilize of dissimilar images such as touch and sound, while the second shows the images of color and touch as Steinbeck uses for George Milton.
12. Metaphor: The volume shows good utilize of various metaphors such as:
    i. The curls, tiny piffling sausages, were spread on the hay backside her caput, and her lips were parted. (Chapter-five)
    2. Lennie covered his face with huge paws and bleated with terror. (Chapter-3)
    iii. He was a jerkline skinner, prince of the ranch. (Chapter-four)
    The first instance shows the curls compared to sausages, the second hand with paws, and the third comparison of a skinner with the prince.
13. Mood: The novel shows a sad mood in the beginning but turns to doomed and helplessness equally before long equally George and Lennie movement out to some other ranch and then turns to tragic when George shoots Lennie after he accidentally kills Curley's married woman.
14. Motif: The almost important motifs of the novel are loneliness, animal images, and daydreaming of a ranch by George and Lennie.
15. Narrator: The novel is narrated past a third-person narrator or all-seeing narrator, which is also chosen an objective narrator.  It is also called an omniscient narrator, who happens to be the author himself, as he can see things from all perspectives. Here Steinbeck himself is the narrator.
16. Personification: Personification means to attribute homo acts and emotions to not-living objects. For example:
    i. The sycamore leaves whispered in a petty night breeze. (Chapter-ane)
    ii. The shade climbed upwardly the hills toward the top. (Affiliate-one)
    3. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down once again. (Affiliate-half dozen)
    The first example shows sycamore, the 2nd shake, and the tertiary crash, which are showing signs of human acts and emotions.
17. Protagonist: George and Lennie are 2 protagonists of the novel on account of their indispensable friendship. The novel starts with their joblessness and moves with them until George is forced to shoot Lennie to brand him relieve the sufferings.
18. Paradox: The novel shows the apply of paradox in a very practiced sentence such equally "Candy stood in the doorway scratching his baldheaded wrist and looking blindly into the lighted room." (Chapter-4). Here the phrase "looking blindly" shows the utilise of a paradox.
19. Theme: A theme is a central thought that the novelist or the writer wants to stress upon. The novel non only shows human's nature but likewise his state of affairs in the m design of the universe, his loneliness every bit well every bit man's desire for relationships.
20. Setting: The setting of the novel is the area of Soledad in California. The rest of the minor settings include the room of Crooks, the bunkhouse, and the barn at the ranch.
21. Simile: The novel shows good use of various similes. For example,
    i. …and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. (Affiliate-2)
    2. …he's sure a hell of a practiced worker. Strong as a bull. (Chapter-two)
    iii. Curley was flopping similar a fish on a line. (Chapter-3)
    iv. Slowly, similar a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to his master, he approached. (Affiliate-3)
    The first simile compares the sheet to a patchwork, the second man's creases to a desert, and the third the clouds to mountains.
22. Symbol: The novel shows that the symbols through Candy'south domestic dog, mice, and the dream of a ranch. Whereas the domestic dog represents the fate of a man, mice show hope and the farm shows the desire for independence.
23. Irony: The story shows situational irony through the daydreaming of George and Lennie in that they are homeless and yet want to be the owners of a ranch. This could as well exist chosen tragic irony.

Of Mice and Men Chapter 1 Literary Analysis: Close Reading

Source: https://literarydevices.net/of-mice-and-men/

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