Analysis of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck’s novel, “Of Mice And Men”, is a skilfully structurednovel that uses parallels, contrasts, foreshadowing, motifs andsymbols to emphasise the numerous themes the novel is based on.
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The story is set during the American depression and focuses on twomigrant American labourers. George looks after his immensely strongbut stupid friend, Lennie. The two men both dream that one-day theywill own their own land and work only for themselves, but Lennie’slack of understanding of his own strength and the cruel world in whichhe lives brings him unwanted trouble.
Steinbeck is a master of using parallels and foreshadowing. At thebeginning of the book the reader is introduced to an incident in Weed,in which Lennie, not understanding that he was doing wrong, grabbed awoman’s dress. As a result of this Lennie and George are chased out ofWeed. This foreshadows and is in parallel with Lennie accidentallykilling Curley’s wife. The incident in Weed as with the killing ofCurley’s wife was caused by Lennie’s child-like love of softmaterials. In Weed Lennie’s refusal to let go of a woman’s dress wascaused by the woman panicking, which in turn caused him to panic. Thisevent and Lennie accidentally killing his pup (this again was causedby Lennie not knowing his own strength) foreshadow and parallel Lenniekilling Curley’s wife. Lennie again killed accidentally, by breakingher neck when she panicked after he refused to let go of her hair.Parallels are used here to emphasise certain themes such as thepredatory nature of human existence (a frequent strong themethroughout the boo…
…obert Burn’s poem – “To A Mouse” which is based on a similartheme to “Of Mice And Men” in that even the best laid plans will bringnothing but grief and pain:
“But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’mice an’men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief and pain,
For promis’d joy.”
The death of Lennie at the end of the novel awakens George to this aswell as the impossibility of the American dream a common motif, symboland theme throughout the story.
John Steinbeck’s novel, “Of Mice And Men,” is an ingenious piece ofwork in which his simple use of dialogue and skilful use of parallels,contrasts, motifs and symbols emphasise the numerous themes that canbe related to real life so the reader can relate to and understand thestory.
