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Themes in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
In the 1937 novel “Of Mice and Men”, john Steinbeck includes manyimportant themes. These themes include the need for companionship,working for the American dream, which is unattainable, fearing thatwhich we don’t understand, the need for companionship, the need for agoal or direction and the struggle for identity and worth. Some of thetechniques used include imagery, emotive language and juxtaposition.
Through out the book we are shown how many of the characters needcompanionship. This happens between George and Lennie and the way thatthey travel around together. This is shown when George and Lenniefirst talk about their dream of the farm. “But not usaˆ¦because I gotyou to look after me and you got me to look after youaˆ¦” This alsohappens when George confides in Slim about what had happened in Weed.This theme shows how you will always need a person you can trust andconfide in. Symbolism is used to make this theme a part of the story.The theme is also shown in the way Crooks is bitter and lonely becausehe is different and misunderstood. He says, “Well I got a right tohave a light. You go on get out of my room. I ain’t wanted in thebunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted here.”
Crooks loneliness is also due to the fact that he is different thanthe others on the ranch because he is black. This is part of anothertheme, which is the fact that we fear what is different. This meansthat we find things that aren’t like we are very frightening. Lennieasks Crooks why he isn’t wanted in the bunkhouse and he replies”‘Cause I’m black.” Which is true because he is different to the menin the bunkhouse they fear him and choose to segregate him so thatthey don’t have to face him. It is also reflected in the way Lennie istreated by Curley. He chooses to fight Lennie because he is biggerthan he is however when he realises Lennie’s strength he becomes