Of mice and men 3
Of mice and men 3In John Steinbeck's classic novel "Of mice and men" the testament of true friendship is the main theme. Steinbeck uses two migrant workers, Lennie and George, to illustrate the main themes of the novel. The novel is set during the Great Depression, approximately 1937 in California. The status of Lennie and George at the time is Steinbeck's way of illustrating the time period.
Lennie Small is an oxymoron. Lennie is a huge, strong, half-witted man that has the heart of a child but has the strength of an ox. Lennie loves rabbits or small and fuzzy lovable creatures, such as mice. The irony of the title is that Lennie is a huge creature and as big a man as you will ever see but its not the size of one that makes a man, it's the heart and mind of a one. In a way Lennie is the mouse because of his innocence and George is a man because of the burden he carries with him.
By giving George the last name of Milton, Steinbeck seems to be showing that he is an example of fallen man, someone who is doomed to loneliness and who wants to return to the Garden of Eden. Perhaps this is why George is always talking about having his own place and living "off the fat of the land," as Adam and Eve did before their fall.
In a way, Lennie is always described in an animal sense. In the beginning of the novel he is referred to as having paws or he snorts like a horse. Every single minute someone is taking care of Lennie. First Aunt Clara has the responsibility then George.
Lennie always wants puppies or talks about rabbits that he will tend on their future farm. All these fury little creatures are symbols of Lennie's personality. "He has no meanness in him" George describes to one...
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