Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

1/20/2006<

George and Lenny are traveling farm workers in the 1930's. The two men have a dream to rent their own farm and be their own bosses. Lenny is a gentle giant who is "slow". He loves to pet small furry animals because they are soft. George is often taking dead mice from Lenny. George is clever and is responsible for both of them. They are going to a new job.

The two men arrive late but are still accepted at the new farm. They start work immediately and settle in with their new co-workers. It's not long before Lenny's oddness is noticed. He is extremely strong and is championed by George so is reluctantly accepted. The farm has its own stories. The owner's son is a hothead has married recently. His bride often wanders down to the workers' quarters looking for her husband. One of the workers is missing a hand. The stable "boy" is a negro whose spine has been broken.

Of Mice and Men is a short novel that is packed. Steinbeck was able to pack lifetimes of emotions and meanings into this book. There is the dream theme - most of the characters have a dream and hope of some sort. George dreams of a farm of his own. Lenny dreams of caring for rabbits. The one handed worker dreams of a brighter future. The stable negro dreams of a place where he can feel free. The bride dreams of Hollywood and the movies. The son dreams of being the best of the men, stronger than any of them, above them all.

There is the theme of Lenny's handicap and how the others around him react to him. Most of them have some handicap or other, some of them hidden below the surface. Steinbeck subtly shows how each person deals with his own and with other's handicaps. A broken soul can be as much of a handicap as a missing hand.

I re-read this book with my book club. As we discussed the book, I heard at least ten different ideas and themes. Each of those then sparked more discussion, bringing out more discussion of the characters, Steinbeck's writing, and his ideas.

This book review cannot begin to touch everything that is contained in less than a hundred pages. Each time I read it I find something new. This time I was struck by the beautiful, idyllic beginning paragraphs. The sereness is a contrast to the poignant story that follows. Did you have to read Of Mice and Men in high school and/or in a college course? You discussed it to death, didn't you? Read it again - you'll discover something new you hadn't seen or discussed before.

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