What is the Basic Plot of Mice and Men?

Of Mice and Men is a book written by John Steinbeck. He was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. Steinbeck published this novel in 1937. It is about two men and their brawl to reach their dreams of owning their own ranch. This story takes place at a farming ranch in Soledad, a town southeast of Salinas. It was written during the time of the Great Depression in the 1930r's. Animals are shown by symbolism throughout the story. They play an important role. They also allow us to discover important characters and their traits. The first mouse that is discovered in the novel is the dead on Lennie kept in his pocket to pet. It shows how Lennie doesnt care much about death as long as he feels delighted. The mouse is a source of comfort for Lennie, because he is unable to pet rabbits. When he kills it, Lennier's problem is noticeable, killing what he loves. The mouse if weak and impotent, like Lennie would be helpless if he didnt have George. The book Of Mice and Men is written is third person omniscient along with being in present tense. The whole entire book is written in third person omniscient. One of John Steinbeckr's achievements for writing in third person was that he always knows what is going on with every character through the entire book. Along with this, another achievement of his was that he can write in this point of view without telling us what the characters thoughts are. Having written Of Mice and Men in third person helped make the book what it has become. If John Steinbeck would had written the book in any other point of view it would had completely changed the book. In Of Mice and Men there are several main characters with the first being George. George is a scrawny guy in his late thirties, early forties that is a caretaker for Lennie. George is a good guy that is always there for Lennie no matter what. George is a mature guy that likes to talk about what his life would be like if he didnt have to deal with Lennie, but George doesnt really mean what he says about Lennie. George has a pretty dull personality most of the time, although, he does like to cut up a little bit when he drinks. When George says, Hell no. He just scared her. I'd be scared too, if he grabbed me. But he never hurt her. He jus wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them puppies all the time." (page 42) This quote shows that George cares for and is protecting Lennie so that he doesnt get in trouble. Along with George, is his sidekick, Lennie. Lennie is built like a lumberjack. He is tall, stout and very strong, but can be too strong at times. Lennie has a great imagination, which he uses to describe what his and Georger's farm is going to look like when they get enough money to buy one. Lennie is a soft guy that likes to take care of animals and people, but his strength can be to much and he ends up hurting them. "If you don't want me I can go off in the hills an' find a cave. I can go away any time." (page 104) George had gotten mad at Lennie and said something that made Lennier's delicate mind think that he wasnt wanted. Another main character is Curley. Curley is the bosses son. Curley is a small man that thinks he is bigger than what he actually is. Most of the field workers wear flat soled boots, where as, Curley wears high-heeled boots so that he is distinguished. Curley is hot headed and has an aggressive attitude. He also has a pretty, flirtatious wife that he gets jealous of when she is around other men. "You the new guys the old man was waitin for?" When Curley says this it makes him seem like he thinks he runs the show around the farm, which shows that he thinks he is better than what he really is. Then you have Candy which has been working on the farm for numerous years. Candy is getting old and doesnt know what the future is going to lead to with him being so old. Candy is an innocent man who extremely caring for his best-friend, his dog, that smells awful. He wants to join George and Lennie with their farm. Candy says that he will put his life savings into as long as he can stay. Candy is a good man that doesnt have a real future. "I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain't got no relatives or nothing ". This shows that Candy is really dedicated to George and Lennier's farm. One of the most perceptible themes in the novel is dreams. It provides the characters with meaning and motive, specifically, George and Lennie, and eventually Candy. They once dreamed that one day they will buy their own land where Lennie can tend to rabbits, George can live peacefully, and they can also live independently off of the land. Candy, unlike Crooks and Curleyr's wife, believes their dream can become true and see hope arise from this forlorn character. Through this, it becomes evident that the dreams form the foundation of a worth-living life. Candy, once thought to be as old and as hopeless as his dog. This reveals excitement and passion. Dreams can be a beautiful thing, but for Curleyr's wife, it led her to a life of misery. Sometimes having certain dreams allows you to be too na??ve and this is what occurred in her case. She was so desperate to escape her old life and achieve her dreams that she became gullible and found herself caught in a tactic. The significance of the title comes from the mouse and the people in the story. No matter what you do in life, everything comes to an end. With this being said the thoughts and actions that you make in life ought to be well thought out so life doesnt come to an end quicker than it has to. There wasnt much the mouse could had really done to prevent from dying, but humans can do a lot more.

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