Of Mice and Men is a novella written by author John Steinbeck, published in 1937. It tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States.
The general topic of this story is Friendship. One Reasons that the tragic end of George and Lennie’s friendship has such a deep impact is that one senses what friends have. By the end of the novella, they lose a dream larger than themselves.
Candy and Crooks are characters that help develop the theme of the story. Candy is an old ranch worker (“swamper”) who has lost one of his hands due to a farm accident. He spent the best years of his life working
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He has become one of the close friends that George and Lennie have. Candy is also part of the dream farm that both, George and Lennie have. Crooks was almost part of the dream but realized that would never work out because of what Curley’s wife said. “Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.” (5.81) During Chapter 3, George and Lennie talk about the dream farm, because they forget about Candy. Candy offers George to give him $300 dollars if he lets them live with them on the farm. “...S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in...” …show more content…
They got no family. They don't belong any place. They come to a ranch an' work up a stake and then they go into town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they're poundin' their tail on some other ranch. They ain't got nothing to look ahead to." (1. 15) George and Lennie’s friendship is mostly similar to Candy and his dog’s friendship. The death of George had such a big impact to the story because George lost not just Lennie, but also the dreams they had together. Candy, Lennie, and George play a big role to the stories meaning because back then, when people use to work in ranches they never traveled with their families, or they didn't have friends or someone to really care about, which made it different when George and Lennie arrive. The events that happen in the story had a meaning to the story as well because they explain the story and the theme that Steinbeck was trying to make. Many people see this different because many people see the topic of racism, friendship, hopes, dreams, euthanizing, or capitalism. The events that had the more impact on me, were when George shoots Lennie and when they killed Candy’s dog. Many people would travel alone and would die alone. They would also be a press by higher powers. Friendship is really important to everyone now in modern society. We can see this through the singer Selena Gomez and actress Francia Raísa. Francia Raisa donated a kidney to
Within the beginning of the story, the dynamic of George and Lennie’s relationship is introduced, one that is uncommon and presents a fatherly vibe. The readers are thrown into the novel at the height of the great depression, an economic catastrophe that shook the world. Within these dark time, an unlikely friendship is in full blossom and we are meet by Lennie and George setting up camp for the night by a riverbed. After the duo’s personalities are expressed, they begin to set up the idea of a commonly shared dream which exists according to Lennie “Because... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie is seen as a quite simple minded and extremely dim-witted character from just the first
The one-handed, weary, and subservient Candy is a very important character in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, because he represents what happens to everyone who gets old in American society. He also foreshadows the decision of George to kill Lennie himself at the end of the book. Candy also demonstrates how believing in a dream can bring you to your “happy place” and motivate someone through tough times.
Yet what most fail to see is that Of Mice and Men portrays both aspects of human life through the mutual friendship of two uncommon men, George and Lennie, the dream they both share, and the sudden calamity that befalls them. Relationships are an important part of life. Humans need relationships because we are dependent on each other to survive. Babies need their mothers to feed and nurse them, and friends need each other to support, comfort, sympathize, and understand them. The friendship between George and Lennie outlined the core of Of Mice and Men, and although it’s sometimes idealized and exaggerated throughout the novel, there is no question of its sincerity.
Whether or not the men have a stable friendship with others determines some of their actions. George and Lennie’s friendship is very strong, so they base off their actions on the other persons. The have been staying together for many years. The two moving around and living together is great for Lennie, because due to
These two drastically different characters rely so much on one another that it becomes difficult to function alone in a “normal” society. Their friendship is pushed to the breaking point when Lennie’s actions lead to the death of a another human. George must then decide what is best for Lennie. He proceeds to take Lennie’s life himself rather than condemn him to an uncertain fate if handed over to the authorities or, worse yet, to Curley (Steinbeck 103-116). This recurring theme of friendship lasts throughout the entirety of the book through George and Lennie’s undeniable bond, how they face society's narrow minded view of their relationship, and through their
He is described as a tall, stoop- shouldered old man. He tends to normally wear blue jeans and carries a broom in his first scene, with his ‘bristly, white whiskers.’ Candy is the person who offers to help out with George and Lennie’s dream. He found likeliness in their dream when, one of the other ranch hands, Carlson, shot CandyÂ’s only companion his ‘bitch’ dog. Furthermore, with Candy’s dog being shot it shows us that he is infact very lonely , hid dog is his company and his equivalent of a friend, ‘I had im since he was a pup.’
Candy and Lennie become two of the most similar characters in the book. Both of them are treated as if they aren’t as important on the ranch. Because of this, Candy finds comfort in spending time with George and Lennie. Like Lennie, Candy ends up finding friendship and purpose with George. As George and Candy’s characters evolve, so does the idea of symbolism in the
This is the piece of speech, when Candy is trying to persuade George to let him in on the ranch their going to get. The language Steinbeck uses here, makes Candy seem overly eager to get in with George and Lennie. Mainly because, he’s dog dies so now he doesn’t have anybody, and he feels he might get canned. So as soon as he hears the opportunity to break away from being lonely, he jumps at it. I feel extremely sorry for Candy because he has nobody to turn to. He really does try to find friendship in people, but sometimes tries to hard.
The turning point of the novel, where for an instant George and Lennie’s dream finally seems attainable, is the introduction of the dream to Candy. It is at this moment, where a dream shared between two men, spreads out to three because of the irresistible offer that Candy makes the two travellers: his money. Candy negotiates with George and Lennie where he says “’S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How’d that be?’” (Steinbeck 67). Candy believed that the dream of owning land was unattainable to him because of the loss of his hand, however, by backing George’s ambition financially begins to reignite hope in the old man. As Lennie gets increasingly more excited at the prospects of finally being able to tend to the rabbits, he shares his plans with Crooks, a black stable-hand. Crooks after being convinced by both Candy and Lennie at its potentiality, suggests his own assistance to the trio when he states: “…If you…guys would want a hand to work for nothing– just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to” (Steinbeck 87). This growing community of workers, combining their personal assets and desires now have
Candy didn't have anything so he wanted grow old on the ranch with George and Lennie (pg59-60) but then Lennie kills Curly's Wife and his dream dies (pg.94). Candy's dreams end in a pessimistic outlook because all he wanted got destroyed leaving him with nothing. Crooks dream was to be respected and not looked at for his color and wanted to live on the ranch with Curly Lennie and George (pg.64). Even though he wanted this he noticed by what Curly's wife said to him that his dream will never be achieved, so he changes his mind (pg.
Steinbeck tries to establish a perfect image of friendship by introducing us to George and Lennie. They are an extraordinary team, with Lennie being of monstrous size with a simple mind, and George being a smart and typical worker. Many times throughout the novel, Lennie threatens to go live in a cave to leave George alone so he won't have to take care of him anymore. However, George always explains to Lennie that he wants him by his side at all times because he knows they need each other: "No! I was just foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me. . ."(13). This expresses that in order for them to have a successful friendship, they must first share their lives together to make every puzzle piece fit together. After the two men arrive at the bunk house, they meet the workers who all seem like they have no one that is willing to spend their life with as lovingly as George and Lennie. Slim, one of the mos...
...deal with them that together, they could “get a big stake” (63) in order to buy a “little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’” (63). Candy says he would “cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (67). However, after Lennie accidently kills Curley’s wife, Candy in “his greatest fear” (107) asks George if they could still “get that little place” (107). But he knew it was no, and right at that moment his American Dream comes to an end. Therefore if Candy would be all by him following his American Dream without depending on George and Lennie, he would have been successful.
In the very beginning of the book it becomes almost immediately apparent that George and Lennie are running from something, and that their style of life is leading up to unfortunate events for the two of them. When the pair are on the run and they stop on their road to the new ranch and they camp out in a setting that becomes a very important aspect of the story. George mentions their plan about owning their own...
Candy dealt with his loneliness by being friendly with George and Lennie and becoming a partner in obtaining the small ranch that was George and Lennie’s dream. Candy kind of an outcast because of his age difference from other ranch hands. “I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some”(Candy 319). Candy attempts to be useful in someone else life. He heard that George and Lennie have this dream to “live off the fat of the land” as soon as they get enough money. Candy wanted to join, he offered as much as he can. He wanted to join the dream but not only did he want to join, he wanted to join the friendship of George and Lennie. “Maybe I can give you guys money”(Candy 325). Candy offered his money that he gets from the government for his disability. An exchange for money Candy gets a friendship out of it. So he is paying George and Lennie to be friends with him really. I think money will never buy a real friendship. Not only was Candy lonely and miserable trying to deal with loneliness, but so was Crooks...
The famed nurses study from Harvard found “Not having a close friend is as detrimental to your health as smoking.” Lennie and George’s friendship is necessary to keep the better for each other. Throughout the story, Lennie and George need each other and look out for one another no matter what. Lennie and George’s friendship and journey throughout the story symbolizes the struggles to achieve the American dream. Steinbeck, in the story Of Mice and Men, combines characterization and symbolism to prove friends do whats best for eachother.