Context and background

John Steinbeck published Of Mice and Men in 1937, during a challenging period in American history. The novella reflects the struggles of ordinary people in the 1930s, a time marked by economic hardship and social inequality.

Historical context

• The Great Depression - After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, millions of Americans lost their jobs, homes, and savings. Many became migrant workers, travelling to find work on farms.
• The Dust Bowl - Severe droughts and poor farming practices in the Midwest led to dust storms, forcing farmers off their land. Many headed to California hoping for a better life.
• Migrant workers - These workers, often men travelling alone, faced low wages, poor living conditions, and job insecurity. They moved from ranch to ranch, rarely settling in one place.
• Social inequality - Racism, sexism, and discrimination against disabled people were widespread. Marginalised groups faced extra barriers to survival during this era.

Steinbeck's intentions

Steinbeck wanted to highlight the harsh realities of life for migrant workers and the importance of human connection in difficult times. He based the story on his own observations while working on ranches in California, aiming to give a voice to those often ignored by society.

Plot overview

Of Mice and Men is a short novella divided into six sections, each corresponding to a specific time and place over a few days. The story follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, as they seek work during the Great Depression.

Plot by section

• Section 1 - George and Lennie, two migrant workers, arrive at a clearing by the Salinas River in California. They are on their way to a new job at a ranch after fleeing trouble in Weed, where Lennie caused a misunderstanding. They discuss their dream of owning their own land.
• Section 2 - At the ranch, George and Lennie meet the boss, other workers like Candy (an old, one-handed man), and Curley (the boss's aggressive son). They also meet Curley's wife, who is lonely and flirts with the workers. Tension builds as Curley takes a dislike to Lennie.
• Section 3 - In the bunkhouse, George talks about their dream farm with Candy, who offers to contribute money to join them. Lennie accidentally kills a puppy he was given to care for, showing his inability to control his strength. Curley attacks Lennie, and Lennie crushes Curley's hand in self-defence.
• Section 4 - Lennie visits Crooks, the isolated Black stable hand, in his room. Crooks is bitter about his loneliness and taunts Lennie about George leaving him. Candy joins them, and Curley's wife appears, causing discomfort with her presence and words.
• Section 5 - In the barn, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife while stroking her hair too roughly. Realising the danger, he flees to the river clearing. The other workers discover her body and form a posse to hunt Lennie down.
• Section 6 - George finds Lennie at the clearing before the posse arrives. Knowing Lennie faces a brutal death if caught, George recounts their dream one last time before shooting Lennie in the back of the head as an act of mercy. The posse arrives, and George walks away alone.

Character analysis

George Milton

George is a small, quick-witted migrant worker who looks after Lennie. He dreams of a better life but is burdened by responsibility.

Character traits and development:

George often appears frustrated with Lennie, snapping at him with phrases like "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail" (Section 1). Yet, his care is evident; he protects Lennie from danger and keeps their shared dream alive. His final act of shooting Lennie shows both love and despair, as he chooses a quick death over a violent one by the posse.

Function in the narrative:

George represents the harsh reality of migrant life, where dreams are hard to achieve. His bond with Lennie contrasts with the loneliness of other characters, highlighting the value of friendship.

Lennie Small

Lennie is a large, physically strong man with a mental disability, unaware of his own strength. He depends on George for guidance.

Character traits and development:

Lennie is childlike, obsessed with soft things like mice and rabbits. His innocence is clear in his plea, "I didn't mean no harm, George" (Section 3), after killing the puppy. His strength leads to tragedy, as seen when he accidentally kills Curley's wife. He remains unchanged, unable to learn from his actions.

Function in the narrative:

Lennie symbolises innocence and vulnerability in a harsh world. His disability makes him a target, reflecting the prejudice of the time. His death underscores the impossibility of their dream.

Candy

Candy is an ageing, one-handed ranch worker who fears being discarded due to his disability.

Character traits and development:

Candy is lonely and desperate to avoid being "canned" (fired). He latches onto George and Lennie's dream, offering his savings with hope: "I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guys" (Section 3). His dog's death foreshadows Lennie's, showing how the weak are disposed of in this world.

Function in the narrative:

Candy represents the fear of obsolescence during the Depression. His disability and age highlight society's lack of care for the vulnerable.

Curley's Wife

Curley's wife, unnamed in the novella, is the only female character. She is lonely and misunderstood by the men on the ranch.

Character traits and development:

She seeks attention, often described as a "tart" by the men, but reveals her loneliness to Lennie: "I get awful lonely" (Section 5). Her dream of being a movie star shows her longing for escape. Her death, caused by Lennie, is the climax of the tragedy.

Function in the narrative:

She represents the marginalisation of women in 1930s America. Her lack of a name reflects her lack of identity in a male-dominated world, and her death shows how dreams can lead to destruction.

Crooks

Crooks is the Black stable hand, segregated from the other workers due to racism.

Character traits and development:

Crooks is intelligent but bitter, isolated in his own room. He taunts Lennie out of resentment: "S'pose George don't come back no more" (Section 4). Despite this, he briefly joins the dream of the farm, showing a flicker of hope before returning to cynicism.

Function in the narrative:

Crooks embodies the racial prejudice of the era. His isolation mirrors the broader theme of loneliness, showing how discrimination adds to personal suffering.

Curley

Curley is the boss's son, aggressive and insecure, often picking fights to prove himself.

Character traits and development:

Curley is described as "handy" (good at fighting) and immediately targets Lennie due to his size. His anger after Lennie crushes his hand ("I'm gonna get him" in Section 3) shows his vengeful nature. He leads the posse to kill Lennie.

Function in the narrative:

Curley represents the abuse of power and toxic masculinity. His aggression fuels conflict, contributing to the tragic outcome.

Theme analysis

Friendship

Friendship, rare in the world of migrant workers, is central to George and Lennie's relationship. It offers comfort but also vulnerability.

How the theme develops:

• George and Lennie's bond is unique; George says, "We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us" (Section 1), contrasting with others' isolation.
• Their friendship sustains their dream but also burdens George, who must protect Lennie.
• Lennie's death ends their companionship, leaving George alone, showing friendship's fragility in this harsh world.

Dreams

Dreams of a better life give characters hope, but they are often unattainable in the context of the Great Depression.

How the theme develops:

• George and Lennie dream of owning land, with Lennie fixated on tending rabbits: "An' live off the fatta the lan'" (Section 1).
• Candy and Crooks briefly share this dream, showing its universal appeal.
• Curley's wife dreams of stardom, revealing her unfulfilled aspirations.
• The dream's collapse with Lennie's death shows how economic and social barriers crush hope.

Loneliness

Loneliness affects nearly every character, reflecting the isolation of migrant life and societal divisions.

How the theme develops:

• George fears loneliness without Lennie, despite his frustrations.
• Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife all express deep isolation due to age, race, and gender.
• Crooks states, "A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody" (Section 4), underlining the human need for connection.
• The bunkhouse setting, where men come and go, reinforces transient, lonely lives.

Prejudice

Prejudice based on race, gender, disability, and age shapes characters' experiences, limiting their opportunities and relationships.

How the theme develops:

• Crooks faces racial segregation and hostility, isolated from others.
• Curley's wife is dismissed as a "tart" and not even given a name, showing gender discrimination.
• Lennie's mental disability makes him a target, misunderstood by most.
• Candy's age and disability make him fear being cast out, reflecting society's disregard for the weak.

Steinbeck's methods

Narrative structure

The novella's structure is tight, spanning just a few days with each section set in a specific location, creating a sense of inevitability.

Structural effects:

• The cyclical nature (beginning and ending at the river clearing) suggests no escape from their fate.
• Each section builds tension, moving from hope to tragedy.
• Foreshadowing, like Candy's dog's death, prepares readers for Lennie's fate.
• The short time frame intensifies the speed of events, mirroring the precariousness of migrant life.

Setting

The settings reflect the characters' struggles and the broader context of 1930s America.

Key settings:

• Salinas River clearing - A place of temporary peace and dreams, but also where the story ends tragically.
• Bunkhouse - Represents the harsh, impersonal life of migrant workers, with no privacy or permanence.
• Crooks's room - Highlights racial segregation and isolation.
• Barn - The setting for Curley's wife's death, a confined space symbolising trapped lives.

Language and dialogue

Steinbeck uses realistic dialogue to reveal character and context, often reflecting the workers' backgrounds.

Language effects:

• The use of slang and dialect ("bindle" for a worker's bundle, "canned" for fired) grounds the story in 1930s ranch life.
• Lennie's simple, repetitive speech ("I like beans with ketchup") shows his childlike mind.
• Curley's wife's flirtatious tone contrasts with her lonely confessions, adding depth.
• George's sharp, practical tone contrasts with his protective actions, showing complex emotions.

Symbolism

Steinbeck employs symbols to deepen themes and foreshadow events.

Key symbols:

• The dream farm - Represents unattainable hope, a contrast to their harsh reality.
• Lennie's mice and puppy - Symbolise his innocence and destructive strength, foreshadowing Curley's wife's death.
• Candy's dog - Represents society's dismissal of the weak; its death parallels Lennie's.
• The river clearing - A place of refuge but also finality, as it frames both dream and tragedy.

Key quotations summary