Of mice and men summary and analysis. Of Mice and Men Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis 2022-10-28

Of mice and men summary and analysis Rating: 6,6/10 741 reviews

"Of Mice and Men" is a novel written by John Steinbeck, published in 1937. The book is set during the Great Depression and follows the lives of two ranch hands, George and Lennie, as they travel from job to job in search of a better life.

The main characters, George and Lennie, are an unlikely pair. George is a small, wiry man who is practical and level-headed, while Lennie is a large, mentally disabled man who is childlike and naive. Despite their differences, the two men have a deep bond and rely on each other for companionship and support.

The story begins on a ranch in California, where George and Lennie have recently been hired as workers. They have a dream of one day owning their own piece of land, which they believe will allow them to live a life of independence and freedom. However, their plans are continually thwarted by the harsh realities of the world around them.

One of the main themes of the novel is the American Dream, which is the belief that through hard work and determination, anyone can achieve success and happiness. However, the characters in "Of Mice and Men" struggle to attain this dream due to various obstacles, including poverty, discrimination, and their own personal flaws.

Another prominent theme in the novel is loneliness. Many of the characters on the ranch are isolated and longing for human connection, but are unable to form meaningful relationships due to their own insecurities and the barriers that exist between them.

One of the most tragic characters in the novel is Candy, an old swamper who has lost his hand in an accident and is struggling to come to terms with his own mortality. Candy longs for a place in the world and sees George and Lennie's dream as a way to attain it. However, when Lennie accidentally kills Candy's dog, Candy is forced to confront the fact that his own dreams may never be realized.

The novel ends with the death of Lennie, who is accidentally shot by George after Lennie kills Curley's wife in a fit of panic. Lennie's death serves as a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and the limitations of the American Dream.

Overall, "Of Mice and Men" is a poignant and thought-provoking tale about the struggles of the working class and the search for meaning and connection in a harsh and unforgiving world. Its themes of loneliness, the American Dream, and the frailty of life continue to resonate with readers today.

Of Mice and Men Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

He worries that because of the accident with the puppy, George may forbid him to have rabbits when they buy their farm. Candy becomes depressed when he realizes that the dream is over. Steinbeck wisely opens the novella with this idyllic scene, for it creates a background for the idealized friendship between the men and introduces the romanticized dream of farm life that they share. He seems to immediately notice that the bond between George and Lennie is rare and special. He forces George to join the party searching for Lennie. As the two men sit down to eat, Lennie asks for ketchup. When we first encounter Lennie and George, they've stepped off a bus near the California town of Soledad.

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Of Mice and Men Characters: Descriptions, Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

Cite this page as follows: "Of Mice and Men - Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis" eNotes Publishing Ed. George starts heating up their supper of beans. . His dog has recently had puppies, and he offers to give one to Lennie. The first, As they reach a clearing, Lennie stops to drink from the river, and George warns him not to drink too much or he will get sick, as he did the night before.

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Of Mice and Men Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

In the end, he retracts his offer to work for free for Candy, George, and Lennie. George does not want any trouble of the kind they encountered in Weed, the last place they worked. He realizes that their dream of buying a farm together is over, and George admits that perhaps he always knew it was impossible. George tells Lennie to hand over the dead mouse he collected from the brush. Soon, George appears in the doorway, having returned from town. She has a sweet side, demonstrated when she tells Lennie about her childhood dreams of movie stardom, as well as a cruel streak, as evidenced by the racist verbal attack she launches at Crooks.

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Of Mice and Men: Full Book Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

The men ask her to leave, but she refuses and begins to complain of her lonely life and her marriage to Curley. George tosses the mouse into the brush once again and then washes his hands in the pool. Both are also shunned, at least to an extent, by the other men on the ranch. We discover that the two had to flee their last gig up in Weed, California yes, that's a real place because Lennie, in his desire to touch a lady's soft dress, was accused of attempted rape. Curley wears a glove on one of his hands at all times. The clearing into which the two travelers stumble may resemble Eden, but it is, in fact, a world with dangers lurking at every turn.

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Of Mice and Men Part 1 Summary & Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

He is finally receiving the companionship he has previously been denied, if only for a short while. Their vision becomes so powerful that it will eventually attract other men, who will beg to be a part of it. Candy goes to tell the news to the other men, who rush into the barn. This suggests that George and Lennie are up against the forces of nature both within themselves and around them, and will have a reckoning with these forces sooner rather than later. George is sharp-witted, if not formally educated, and not particularly impressive in stature, while Lennie is big and strong, but mentally challenged. Though they earn a living working together on other people's farms, they share a dream of one day 'owning land together,' and I bet you won't be at all surprised at this point to know that Lennie hopes this farm of theirs will also include many rabbits.

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Of Mice and Men: Summary & Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

After Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife, Curley leads the other workers on a murderous hunt for the newcomer. When he holds on too tight, she asks him to let go, and Lennie freezes with panic. Lennie considers lying to George and telling him he found the puppy dead, but he realizes that George would see through the lie. George complains that they have had to walk over four miles in the heat after their bus driver let them off on the highway in the wrong place. The second is the date of publication online or last modification online. The Best Laid Plans As you might expect, Lennie accidentally kills this puppy by over-petting it.

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Of Mice and Men: Summary and Analysis of Steinbeck's Style

of mice and men summary and analysis

He is a classic gentle giant, never seeking to cause harm, but his physical power unintentionally leads to destruction. Because of his race, Crooks is disallowed from living in the barn with the other workers. He then mentions his plan to buy a piece of land with George and Lennie. When George is forced to kill Lennie before the search party can find him, it is not just Lennie who is destroyed, but also the unique friendship the two men have shared. As a result of both his disability and his age, Candy worries about his future on the farm. The scene is almost peaceful, until the reader realizes that Lennie has just accidentally killed one of the puppies. Any duo with one smart guy and one kind of big, slow guy is likely to have been influenced by Of Mice and Men.

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Of Mice and Men Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

of mice and men summary and analysis

George takes it away from him. At that, Crooks insists that Lennie, Candy, and George leave. This piece of land represents a world in which the two men can live together just as they are, without dangers and without apologies. George tells Lennie that when they arrive at the ranch, Lennie is to keep his mouth shut when the two of them meet with the boss. While Lennie remains ignorant of his impending fate, George knows that this is the last time he will recount this shared dream, and his hope of a financially stable life elsewhere will soon be vanquished. Analysis The clearing into which Lennie and George wander evokes Eden in its serenity and beauty. Okay, so are you crying yet or what? Though the book doesn't say it explicitly, it doesn't seem like George will ever buy that land he dreams of, and life without his best friend is likely to be pretty lonely.

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