Themes and Symbols in Of Mice and Men

The American Dream The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931

The American Dream "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve the fullest stature of which they are capable of, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the circumstances of birth or position."

OMAM and the American Dream Do the characters of OMAM strive for the American Dream? What do they hope for?

George & Lennie’s Dream What is George & Lennie’s Dream?   Why do they want this? Who else wants in on the Dream? Why?

George & Lennie’s Dream 'Well,' said George, 'we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof...'"

George & Lennie’s Dream Candy and Crooks also want in on George & Lennie’s dream. Why does each character want to live on the farm like this? "We could live offa the fatta the lan'." – Lennie, Chapter 3, pg. 57

The Dream George and Lennie want independence and something to call their own Workers like Lennie and George have no family, no home, and very little control over their lives. They have to do what the boss tells them and they have little to show for it. They only own what they can carry Candy wants somewhere to live out the rest of his life with independence and dignity Crooks wants to be included and to not be alone

Loneliness The men in Of Mice and Men desire to come together to protect each other, and to know that there is someone in the world dedicated to protecting them. This contrasts the harsh, lonely conditions under which these men live. Many of the characters admit to suffering from profound loneliness.  Crooks is also isolated because of his race, and Lennie would be if he did not have George.

Loneliness Why are each of the following characters lonely? Lennie – George – Candy – Crooks – Curley’s Wife –

Loneliness Lennie – Would be lonely without George, has no other family George – Lonely without Lennie, has no other family; is alone once Lennie is gone Candy – Elderly and disabled, he wants to be included and safe as he ages Crooks – Social outcast due to his race and disability Curley’s Wife – Unhappily married, her husband is controlling and does not treat her well

Power At what points in the novella do different characters possess and use power?

Power Compare how Curley and Slim get power.

Power Curley represents social power. Given Curley’s temperament, he serves as a natural foil—a character whose emotions or actions contrast with those of other characters—for both the gentle Lennie and the self-assured Slim. He is the son of the Boss, and therefore holds a greater amount of power and control over the others

Power: Curley vs. Slim Curley forces people to pay attention to him – even if it is negative attention. He picks on those weaker than himself. Slim gains respect from others, and his power comes from more legitimate reasons – he does not need approval from others like Curley does.

Power What role does physical strength play in the book?

Power: Physical Strength “With great power comes great responsibility” – Uncle Ben, Spiderman Lennie has a great deal of power – physical power – but he lacks in mental power Physical strength is vital to the working men in the book and has a great deal to do with power status and control Candy is elderly and disabled, Crooks is physically disabled

Power Curley’s Wife does not have a lot of power on the ranch since she is a woman, but who does she have power over? Why?

Power: Social Strength Curley’s Wife holds power over Crooks due to his race – her word may also be taken over Candy’s and Lennie’s despite the fact she is a woman

Role of Women What is the role of women in the novel? How is this shown? Use examples that include Curley’s Wife.

The Role of Women: Objects & Dangerous In Of Mice and Men, women are only caretakers of men, and sex objects Curley’s Wife is never given a proper name – just an object Women are also depicted as dangerous – George tells Lennie to stay away from her, she is described as “jail bait”, and the men seem to be more upset about Lennie’s fate after he accidentally kills her than her death itself

Symbols

Animals & Helplessness How are animals depicted in Of Mice and Men? How does Steinbeck use animals in relation to Lennie? Why?

Mice and Slim’s Puppies Mice and Slim’s puppies are innocent and unknowing of their place in the world/society, similar to Lennie. The fate of the puppies demonstrates what happens to the weak on the farm (and in society) – Lennie is dependent on George, like the puppies would be dependent on their mother/the men

Candy’s Dog Candy’s dog represents the fate awaiting anyone who has outlived their purpose – the aged, disabled etc. Pity for dependents/the weak does not exist on the ranch The strong will dispose of the weak – dog eat dog.

The Heron and the Snake  A water snake was at the pond in the beginning of the book, but in the last chapter it is eaten by a heron The heron eats the first snake and waits for another – this is foreshadowing for Lennie’s death… Like the other animals in the book, and like Lennie, the snake is helpless and does not know its death is coming