The First Chapter of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

The First Chapter of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

'Of Mice and men' was written by John Steinbeck, and was set during

the 1930's, in Salinas, California (The Golden State). Salinas is the

place where Steinbeck himself grew up, and he has focused the entire

novel on the landscape around Salinas.

In 1929, the Wall Street stock market crashed, and in 1932 it fell to

the lowest point in American history. This economic disaster, combined

with a severe drought in Middle America, and the commencement of World

War 2 precipitated the start of the Great Depression in America, which

lasted for over a decade, and affected everyone.

Steinbeck's choosing of the title 'Of Mice and Men' was derived from a

poem called 'To a Mouse' by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burn's

poem proposes that grief and pain, instead of elation, affect all

creatures in the natural world, not just humanity. At the core of the

poem is the notion that we are free to make our plans and lay our

schemes, but far less free or probable to accomplish them. This

concept is clearly illustrated through 'Of Mice and Men'; George and

Lennie's best-laid scheme for a little farm does go wrong, and leaves

misery and sorrow where there should have been happiness.

I also feel that Jean-Paul Sartre, a well known writer and philosopher

also may have inspired Steinbeck. Sartre's thoughts and ideas revolved

around the notion of humans having to accept responsibility for their

actions.

George and Lennie are examples of the 'itinerant' farm workers who

fuelled and made possible the intensive farming economy. These men

would trek huge distances, seeking work. They usually travelle...

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...ves the characters in his book idioms; their own personal

way of speaking, which is a combination of slang, regional and

colloquial words. This adds realism to the book.

I feel that fate and destiny play a large part of the novel. Lennie's

fate seems inevitable from the outset. Steinbeck hints towards

Lennie's fate. The hints include: Lennie's killing of mice, what

happened between Lennie and the girl in Weed, the killing of Curly's

dog, the fight with Curley, the killing of the puppy, the emphasis on

Lennie's strength, the girl's interest in Lennie, and George's

oft-repeated assertions that the girl will bring nothing but trouble.

Overall, I feel that the first chapter prepares the reader very well

for the rest of the novel. Steinbeck clearly gives the reader a

powerful impression of the setting, Lenny and George.