The novel Of Mice and Men is set during the ‘Great Depression’ in 1930s America. It follows the journey of George and Lennie, two close friends who travel together in search of employment. The bond between George and Lennie is uncommon and unfamiliar to those around them. During this period, having a genuine friend was a rarity as men were preoccupied with their work and financial obligations.
The story’s uniqueness lies in the friendship between George and Lennie, a theme emphasized by Steinbeck through their comparisons and contrasts with other characters. In chapter 3, George and Slim discuss their friendship, with Slim remarking, “Funny how you an’ him string along together.” This comment highlights the rarity of male companionship and shared journeys in a world filled with solitude. George, reacting defensively, questions Slim’s meaning, to which Slim replies, “Oh I dunno, hardly none of the guys ever travel together.” Thus, George stands out from Slim as someone who has a companion while Slim is alone.
In this chapter, several significant events occur. Firstly, Candy’s dog is shot by Carlson, who suggests that Candy should get rid of the dog due to its unpleasant smell and deteriorating health. Carlson describes the dog as having rheumatism and being toothless, explaining to Candy the exact location for shooting the dog and assuring him that the dog will not experience any pain.
This passage highlights the uniqueness of Carlson in comparison to George and Lennie’s relationship. It portrays Carlson as someone who fails to comprehend the emotional connection that can be formed between individuals and other living beings. In contrast, George and Lennie are depicted as being profoundly close, to the extent that they would never intentionally harm one another. Candy later discusses his own bond with his dog, expressing his deep affection for it and his reluctance to let go. As Candy remarks, “I’m so used to him” and “I had him since he was a pup,” it becomes evident that he and his dog have shared a long-standing connection similar to that of George and Lennie’s.
Chapter 4 of the book focuses on several key events. One of these events is when Lennie and Crooks have a conversation, which later includes Curley’s wife and Candy. The scene takes place in Crooks’ bunkhouse, where he is going about his own business. When Lennie comes to join him, Crooks initially expresses his discontent with the intrusion. He asserts that the bunkhouse is his own space, and no one is allowed to enter, similar to how white people treat him. In a forceful manner, Crooks declares, “Well, I have the right to have a light. You should leave and get out of my room.”
Both George and Lennie differ from Crooks. While Crooks has become fierce and spiteful due to his perpetual loneliness, George and Lennie, who have each other, are kind and affectionate. However, when Crooks tries to persuade Lennie by suggesting that George may never return, Lennie becomes apprehensive and enraged. He adamantly defends George, expressing concern for him and highlighting his deep care for his friend. Steinbeck skillfully intensifies the tension in the scene, effectively portraying Lennie’s distress and anger.
Later on, Curley’s wife enters the scene on her own. She begins with her usual excuses about wandering around and asks the boys if they have seen her husband, Curley, even though it is evident that she doesn’t truly care about his whereabouts. She expresses her frustration about how no one wants to have a conversation with her and wonders why she would intentionally create problems. Steinbeck consistently portrays this situation to highlight the stark contrast between the loneliness experienced by Curley’s wife and the companionship shared by George and Lennie.
Curley’s wife sarcastically remarks that she has a husband, whom everyone has supposedly seen, and mocks him as a swell guy. This lack of love and compassion in Curley and his wife’s relationship is in stark contrast to the strong bond between George and Lennie. When George and Lennie talk about each other, they take pride in their friendship and never speak ill of one another. In contrast, Curley’s wife becomes furious because nobody will engage with her properly or give her the attention she craves. She vents about her dream, expressing that she could have pursued a career in show business and that a man once offered her the opportunity to be in movies.
Steinbeck demonstrates Curley’s wife’s constant anger and feeling of being trapped by posing incessant and intrusive questions. Furthermore, another instance in the chapter highlights how George and Lennie’s relationship stands out from others on the ranch – when Curley’s wife inquiries about the source of Lennie’s facial bruises.
Steinbeck demonstrates Lennie’s allegiance to George and his unwavering trust in George’s words, as Lennie responds with “He got his han’ caught in a machine.” This incident takes place in chapter 5, where Lennie unintentionally kills Curley’s Wife, prompting Curley to seek vengeance by pursuing and murdering Lennie. Lennie finds himself inside the barn when Curley’s wife approaches, seeking conversation. Continuously expressing her feelings of loneliness, she questions why Lennie cannot engage in conversation with her.
Lennie, in obedience to George, responds by saying “George says I am not allowed to have any interaction with you – talking to you or anything.” Whenever Curley’s wife attempts to converse with Lennie, he always remains loyal to George, and due to his lack of tact, he often utters the precise words that George instructs him, even when he shouldn’t. She laments about her inability to engage in conversation with anyone else, stating “You can talk to people, but I am restricted to speaking only with Curley.”
Else he becomes angry. Would you enjoy not speaking to anyone? In this statement, she clarifies that if she converses with anyone, her sole person to converse with will become irritated and furious. On the other hand, Lennie is permitted to converse with anyone, except for Curley’s wife, and George is completely fine with it, and Lennie doesn’t mind that George is outside playing horseshoe with the other men on the ranch. Therefore, this demonstrates that despite their strong bond, George and Lennie also have independence from each other and trust one another.
On the other hand, Curley and his wife have a tumultuous relationship. They do not have affection for one another and rarely communicate. However, if his wife speaks to anyone else, Curley becomes jealous and is willing to fight. There is no trust or love between them. According to Steinbeck, when describing Curley’s wife, he states that “her words tumbled out in a passion of communication,” as she was about to share her dream.
Curley’s wife had a dream of becoming an actress. She talked about how she met a guy who promised to put her in the movies, and he would write her a letter once he returned to Hollywood. Similarly, George and Lennie also had their own dreams. Curley’s wife longed to escape from a world where she felt ignored and craved attention, hoping to be noticed and appreciated. George and Lennie, on the other hand, wanted to escape the tough and laborious life on the ranch and live off their own land. Although their dreams differed, they all shared the desire to leave behind their current reality and enter a new world. Personally, I admire the relationship between George and Lennie.
The abandoned ranch becomes a glimmer of hope amidst a time when many people suffer from depression. The close bond between two men, George and Lennie, represents George’s kindness in taking care of Lennie. Without George’s support, it would have been challenging for Lennie to survive on his own, particularly considering his disability. The book’s ending is skillfully written and cleverly concludes the story.
I am happy that George took the action he did because it would have been unkind to leave Lennie to wander alone if he was not caught and became lost. However, if he was caught, it would have resulted in Lennie’s unhappiness and a tragic demise. Therefore, by George shooting him, his dear friend with whom he finds joy, and by discussing their shared dream, which is Lennie’s true passion, it provided a beautiful way for Lennie to pass away while being content.
