What is the main message in Of Mice and Men?

The three main themes in Of Mice and Men are: dreams . loneliness . companionship .

What is the main point about the story Of Mice and Men?

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a parable about what it means to be human . Steinbeck's story of George and Lennie's ambition of owning their own ranch, and the obstacles that stand in the way of that ambition, reveal the nature of dreams, dignity, loneliness, and sacrifice.

What is the central idea of the book Of Mice and Men?

The story follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, who begin working at a new ranch during the Great Depression and dream of owning a farm of their own. The main idea of Steinbeck's work is a statement of humanity as he investigates the meaning of humanity during the times of the Great Depression .

What is the deeper meaning of Of Mice and Men?

Like many of Steinbeck's works, Of Mice and Men is a story about the nature of poverty, the death of the American Dream, and the lack of control that individuals have over their own lives .

What is Lennie's mental illness?

Of Mice and Men is a story about an intellectually disabled man. Lennie's disability is central to the plot; if he were not intellectually disabled, the story would simply not work. It has also been suggested (Loftis, 2015, 2016) that Lennie exhibits characteristics of autism .

What is the irony in Of Mice and Men?

One example of situational irony is that George and Lennie dream of having their own home but must constantly move from place to place, as they are homeless . Another example is how close they get to having their dream come true near the story's end.

Is Of Mice and Men Based on a true story?

The main characters, George Milton and Lennie Small, do not get the ending the reader anticipates. Set in California during the Great Depression, this novella paints very real circ*mstances for realism, but these characters are not real people and the events in the story are not true, making it a fictional piece .

What does the rabbit symbolize in mice and men?

Lennie is also associated with rabbits, which are part of his dream (he will get to tend them on the farm) and because they are soft things he likes to pet. Rabbits also symbolize his realization that he is in trouble; if Lennie does "a bad thing," George will not let him tend the rabbits.

Why did George shoot Lennie?

Answer and Explanation: The reason George shoots Lennie at the end of Of Mice and Men is because Lennie killed Curley's wife . If George did not shoot Lennie, the large man would either be shot in the stomach by Curley, a slow and painful death, or locked up in an institution.

What is the climax Of Mice and Men?

The novella's climax arrives in Section 5, when Lennie accidently kills Curley's wife while stroking her soft hair . Neither character is to blame. Rather, the atmosphere of isolation and fear on the ranch brings about the death of Curley's wife.

Sotos syndrome would account for Lennie's physical appearance as well as his intellectual deficit. It is reasonable to suggest that an autistic spectrum disorder is also part of his condition.

What is the message at the end Of Mice and Men?

Essays What Does the Ending Mean? Lennie's death conclusively demonstrates one of the novella's central ideas: according to the rules of the American economy, the weak and vulnerable cannot survive .

What is a major theme of this excerpt from Of Mice and Men?

In Of Mice and Men, loneliness is a significant theme that is presented to the readers. Many of the characters are lonely and seek out true connections. Each character's loneliness teaches the readers about the importance of friendship and connections. George, Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife all experience loneliness.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - Book Analysis (2024)

Written by Victor Onuorah

Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Key Facts about Of Mice and Men

Title: Of Mice and Men.
Author: John Steinbeck
Language: English
Inspiration: The Great Depression of 1929 to 1940. The Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
Publisher: Covici Friede.
Publication Date: February 6th, 1937.
Literary Period: Post Modernism.
Genre: Tragic fiction.
Pagination: The standard book has 107 pages in all.
Settings: At a ranch in Soledad, California.
Climax: Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife and covers part of her body with hay before fleeing to the rendezvous point.

John Steinbeck and Of Mice and Men

The writing of the book ‘Of Mice and Men‘ came off inspiration from the event of the Great Depression and the famous Dust Bowl, both of which crippled the economy of The United States of America between 1929 and 1940.

Books Related To Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s book ‘Of Mice and Men‘ is written off the backdrop of the Great Depression nearly a century ago and has given new generations a peep into the nature of life after the historically tumultuous event, with Steinbeck accounting from the perspective of the peasant American population to which he represented and belonged.

Although Steinbeck’s book serves as a good reference to this event for leisurely or scholarly readers alike, there are other similar books that take inspiration from the same or even different noteworthy events that have gone down in history. Some of such books include – Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451‘ and Miguel de Cervantes’ ‘Don Quixote.’

Of Mice and MenLasting Impact

The short novella ‘Of Mice and Men‘ is a book considered one of John Steinbeck’s best works, and its reputation still reaches well into today’s society following its 1937 official publication.

The book performed considerably well in the market and had even managed to sell more than 115,000 copies prior to its official date of publication, a feat which immediately saw it make the best-seller lists in record time. The book was also ushered in as a selection for the book of the month club.

Part of the major characteristics that led to the book excelling was its relatability to the pains and struggles and the general sociopolitical and socioeconomic zeitgeist of the times during the Great Depression. Steinbeck was intentional in capturing this reality on all fronts; the lingual, the culture, the whole state of affairs.

Although ‘Of Mice and Men‘ is a fictitious realism, Steinbeck captured the people’s hearts not only for the fact that he was an excellent storyteller but also for the reason that he himself lived through those hard times and wore the same old shoes as those penurious migrant workers who traveled aimlessly from place to place searching for a better life themselves and their loved ones.

Reviews of ‘Of Mice and Men’ were good as readers, and contemporary critics agreed the book met the standards and quality which were characteristic of Steinbeck’s previous works.

Of Mice and Men Review ⭐

‘Of Mice and Men’ combines storytelling, commentary, and dialogue to document the struggles, pains, and oppression lived by society’s most vulnerable individuals post Great Depression.

Of Mice and Men Quotes 💬

‘Of Mice and Men’ is a short novella that retells the struggles of ordinary American citizens during the Great Depression. Its quotes and dialogues are deep in the same sense as the characters are in themselves.

Of Mice and Men Historical Context 📖

‘Of Mice and Men’ is one of the leading books that recapture the impact of the Great Depression on the lives of working-class Americans.

Of Mice and Men Character List 📖

John Steinbeck’s book, ‘Of Mice and Men’, is replete with daring characters majority of which struggle to achieve the elusive American dream.

Of Mice and Men Themes and Analysis 📖

‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck is an illustrious tale tied around the ordeals of the working class. The book brings to life themes that become even more vivid and powerful as the story progresses.

Of Mice and Men Summary 📖

‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck follows the story of George and Lennie, two ranch workers and best friends, as they begin working near a place called Soledad, California.