Of Mice and Men

Background

“Of Mice and Men” is a novella by American author John Steinbeck in 1937. Steinbeck based the novella on his own experiences working alongside migrant farm workers as a teenager in the 1910s, before the arrival of the Okies, the migrants of Oklahoma.

The classic tale explores the struggles and dreams of two central characters, George Milton and Lennie Small. Lennie and George are unemployed migrant farm workers who move from place to place in California during the Great Depression, looking for new jobs.

The novella explores the fragility of dreams and the resilience of the human spirit, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. It captures workers’ struggles during a challenging economic period and sheds light on social injustice and inequality.

Summary

In the Great Depression in California, two field workers who were migrants- George Milton, an intelligent but uneducated man, and Lennie Small, a hefty and strong but mentally disabled man – are both on their journey from Soledad to another region of California. They dream of one day getting the goal of setting on their land. Lennie’s dream is simply to take care of and cuddle rabbits at the farm since he enjoys touching soft animals, even though he always accidentally kills them when he tries to touch the animals too hard. This dream is among Lennie’s favorite stories, and George often tells it. They fled from Weed after Lennie took a young woman’s skirt, thinking it was gorgeous, and refused to let go due to his tendency to grip the skirt more tightly when he’s stressed. This led to an allegation of sexual assault. It becomes apparent that Lennie is dependent on George since he’s unable to operate independently.

After being employed at a farm, the two encounters Curley, the boss’s aggressive son with a Napoleon complex: the one who dislikes bigger men. Curley begins to pursue Lennie. Curley’s flirtatious and provocative wife, to whom Lennie is instantly attracted, is also a cause of problems. The pair also meet Candy, an old ranch handyman with one hand and faithful dog, and Slim, a clever and gentle jerk line-skinner whose dog has recently had puppies. Slim provides a puppy to Lennie and Candy, whose loyal, skilled sheepdog was killed by a ranch hand who was a friend of Carlson.

Despite difficulties, their goal is realized when Candy invites them to contribute $350 to George and Lennie to purchase a farm by the end of the month in exchange for their permission to stay with the two. The three are thrilled; however, their joy is eclipsed when Curley attacks Lennie, who defends himself by smashing Curley’s fist.

However, George is more relaxed, so he leaves Lennie on the ranch as the former goes to town with the other ranch hand. Lennie enters the stable and talks with Crooks, the bitter but well-educated stable buck who is separated from other employees due to being black. Candy finds them, and they discuss the farm’s goals. Crooks can’t resist asking if he could cultivate the garden at the property, although he denies the possibility of a farm occurring. Curley’s wife is also seen and is flirting with the guys, particularly Lennie. However, her spiteful side is shown when she belittles them and threatens to have Crooks lynched. They will then hear the ranch hands returning, prompting her to leave.

On the following day, Lennie accidentally kills his puppy as he strokes it. Curley’s wife comes to the farm and tries to talk to Lennie. She tells him she’s lonely, and her hopes of becoming a famous actor are shattered. When she learns about Lennie’s behavior, she agrees to allow him to stroke her hair, but she panics and begins screaming as she senses his force. Lennie gets scared and accidentally breaks her neck. Then, he flees away. When the other ranchers come across the body and discover the corpse, they form a lynch mob to murder him. George is also directed to join the mob so that Curley is assured that George has no role in the murder. George quickly realizes their fantasy is coming to an end and rushes to locate Lennie across the river.

George encounters Lennie, sitting at the river’s bank, hoping that George is not mad at him. The two meet and sit in a circle while George tells Lennie the fantasy of having their place where they would pet pigs, chickens, and rabbits, knowing it’s something that can never take place. When he hears the mob lynch nearby, George picks up the gun and shoots Lennie in the back of his head, believing it to be the most merciful death at the hands of the mob. Curley, Slim, and Carlson arrive quickly and cannot understand how George could kill his friend. Only Slim consoles George and takes him to the other side. Curley appreciates George for taking his wife’s revenge.

Important Quotes

Quote 1

“Lennie held out his hands pleadingly. “Give ‘um to me, George.
I’ll take ‘um back. I didn’t mean no harm, George. Honest I didn’t.
I jus’ wanted to pet ‘um a little.”

In this passage, Lennie, a character deeply fond of petting rabbits, pleads with his friend George to allow him to keep them despite a tragic accident. Lennie, known for his gentle nature but lack of control, insists that his intentions were harmless and that he only wanted to pet the animals gently. His earnest plea reflects his genuine affection and his struggle to understand his actions’ consequences.

Quote 2

“‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play
because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you
stink to me.”

In John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” Crooks, the black stable hand, tells Lennie about racial segregation and discrimination on the ranch. When Lennie tries to enter Crooks’ room, Crooks reveals the harsh reality of racial prejudice he faces. Despite being a part of the ranch’s community, he is excluded from the activities and spaces enjoyed by the other men simply because of his race. He bitterly remarks that while they may refuse to let him join their card games or social interactions, he perceives their exclusionary attitudes as equally offensive. It highlights the deep-seated racism and isolation faced by Crooks, shedding light on the broader issues of racial injustice and social inequality prevalent during the time.

Quote 3

 ” Lennie’s lip quivered and tears started in his eyes. “Aw, Lennie!” George put his hand on Lennie’s shoulder. “I ain’t takin’ it away jus’ for ‘ meanness. That mouse ain’t fresh, Lennie; and besides, you’ve broke it pettin’ it. You get another mouse that’s fresh and I’ll let you keep it a little while.”

In this passage from Of Mice and Men, Lennie, who loves to pet soft things, picks up a dead mouse despite George’s disapproval. Lennie becomes emotional when George takes the mouse away, but George gently explains that it’s not out of cruelty. He tells Lennie the mouse is old and broken from being handled too much. George even reassures him that if he finds a fresh mouse, he might let him keep it for a short time. This moment highlights their friendship’s tender yet protective nature, as George cares deeply for Lennie’s well-being.

Quote 4

“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.”

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, George explains to Lennie the harsh reality of life for ranch workers like them. He highlights the loneliness and instability that come with their lifestyle. These men, who move from ranch to ranch, lack family ties and a sense of belonging. They work hard to save money, only to spend it all in town, leaving them with nothing. George’s words emphasize the bleakness of their future, where they have nothing to look forward to and are stuck in a cycle of moving from one ranch to another, never truly finding a place to call home. This passage underscores the deep isolation and hopelessness experienced by such workers during the Great Depression.

Quote 5

“Yes sir. Jesus, we had fun. They let the nigger come in that
night. Little skinner name of Smithy took after the nigger. Done
pretty good, too. The guys wouldn’t let him use his feet, so the
nigger got him. If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda
killed the nigger”.

The old man at the ranch tells George about a Christmas party organized by their boss, highlighting how it was a rare occasion where everyone, including a black man, was allowed to join the party. He mentions that a small skinner, Smithy, confronted the black man during the party. Despite being restrained from using his feet, Smithy claimed that he could have seriously harmed or killed the black man if allowed. The old man’s story reveals the underlying racial tensions and the harsh realities of the time.