Literary Analysis #3

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

1. George and Lennie(friends) tried to find work as they traveled farm to farm. Unfortunately Lennie has a type of mental disorder and so George has to care for her. Finally they discovered a farm in California. Once hired they met Candy,  an old-time employee with an even older dog. Then there was Curley, the boss's mean son, who is also  married to a girl who just happens to be scandalous and often upsets her husband. George warns Lennie to stay away from the woman and if he gets into any mishap to run off to their secret hideaway. George and Lennie eventually meet Slim, a respected mule-driver, and Carlson, a ranch hand. It is later mentioned how  George and Lennie got chased away from their last job. It just so happens that Lennie was accused of rape after constantly stroking a woman's dress. Moreover, Carlson keeps pressuring Candy to put her dog down, sadly she eventually gave in and let Carson shoot him. Although they tried very hard to keep their "secret land" a secret, Candy soon found out and wanted it for himself. They didn't decided right away, however they did decided to let Candy in on their dream. Lennie gets caught in the middle of Curley's relationship which leads Curley to take his frustration out on him rather than his wife. George demands Lennie to fend for himself and so he did. Lennie crushed Curley's hand. Lennie then meets Crooks, an African American employee. the two immediately became friends. Curley's wife then stirred up more trouble for Lennie as she went to him to complain about her married life. She gave Lennie the OK to touch her hair and show sympathy for her until he panicked and broke her neck which killed her. Before anyone found out about the murder of Curley's wife, Lennie flew to the secret hideaway. When George finds Lennie he becomes distraught because their dreams may be going down the drain. Expectantly he shoots Lennie in the back of the head. George is speechless; the other men don't understand why he feels so horrible and leave him lonely and confused
2. The main theme of the novel is the  bond of two men(life friends) and how essential a friendship
is in one's life. This relates to the men growing up with a dream. A dream to own a farm together. A dream that their entire friendship was based upon. Eventually, George realized their dream wasn't a reality, together anyways. The fact that Lennie had a mental disorder would continue to hold George back from living his life long dream. Though Lennie was dead, George still felt the connection of their brotherhood and wished to proceed for him.
3. The tone of the novel is  sentimental and  tragic. The mood it portrayed gives a feeling of compassion for these two essentially different dreamers who lack a sense of reality. 
-"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place....With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us."
-"'I don't know why. Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.'"
-"Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land." 
4.

Diction

-"We could live offa the fatta the lan'."

Simile

-"At about ten o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars."

Foreshadowing

-"I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog." 

Imagery

"Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. on the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones."

Symbolism

-"'Well,' said George, 'we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof...'" 

Characterization:

1. An example of direct characterization "Curly was quick and mean." We cannot infer anything about Curly because the author has already stated his traits. Indirect characterization is when Curly shows us how insecure he is when he is threatened by Lennie and his size. We are indirectly "shown" by the author through the characters thoughts, feelings, and actions and left to make our own conclusions.

2. Diction is informal because characters lack an educated background. 

diction:

"We could live offa the fatta the lan'."

The tone is set by what the characters say and how they day it syntax: 

"Lennie almost shouted, " 'bout the rabbits.'

"You're nuts," said Crooks. "You're crazy as a wedge. What rabbit are you talking about?"

"The rabbits we're gonna get, and I get to tend 'em, cut grass an' give 'em water, an' like that."

"Jus' nuts," said Crooks. "I dont blame the guy you travel with for keepin' you outa sight."

3. Lennie is a dynamic character. He appears to be a huge man however is not mentally there, therefore he lacks that maturity. Though he is often troubled with women, we can see how sympathetic he is by the way he reacts to animals and cares for them.4. I feel as if I met an actual person. Lennie was not like much characters. He had a defect. A defect that most people don't have to live with. Though it did not stop him mentally from going for his dreams it eventually caught up to him and costed him his life.