Of Mice & Men
By: John Steinback
Novel Summary
Of Mice and Men takes place in northern California and is about Lennie and George getting their own farm. They both work at a ranch near Soledad, California , and the co-workers consist of Crooks, Curley and his wife, and Candy. Slim is a wise farmer in the town, that tells Candy to shoot his old dog because it is smelly. Carlson is the one that ends up doing the job. When Curley's wife walked in the barn she said that he could use her hair as a petting object, and Lennie panicked and snapped her neck and killed her. When George found out from Candy and he knows that it is Lennie's handiwork. Then Slim and George wanted a nobler death for their friend, so Lennie told George to meet him at the river side and George started to talk about the dream farm and that is when George got shot in the head by Lennie. Then the rumor was that Lennie tried to grab the gun from him and he shot him own self.
Theme Analysis
One major theme in John Steinback's novel Of Mice of Men would be.. the power of having strengths and being weak. As you can tell Slim has strength and that is why he has so much power and respect. Also as you can see Candy is one of the weaker people at the ranch, and he doesn't have much say in anything they do because no listens because he is weak.
Quote
"A guy needs somebody-to be near him.' He whined, 'A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody." (Steinback pg: 72)
About the Characters
Slim
Slim has the most dignity and majesty out of everyone. Everyone has a lot of respect for him, and he thinks of himself as the prince of farming. Also he is the guy who settles everyone down when there is a problem.
Candy
Candy is an aging ranch handyman that only has one hand because of a farming accident. His favorite dog was shot by Carlson because he was to old and smelly. He offered his whole life savings to help with George and Lennie's farm.
Crooks
Crooks is a lively, sharp witted black stable-hand. He is very lonely since he isn't allowed in anybody house because he is black. Also Crooks asked Lennie and George if he can come to the farm to hoe their garden.
John Steinback Bio.
Steinback was born in 1902 and passed away in 1968. He grew up with 3 sisters and had a happy childhood, and he was a shy but very smart kid. He dropped out of college to go and work. He decided that he wanted to be a writer at the age of 14. He served as as a war correspondent during World War 2 and he received the Noble Prize for literature in 1962. Steinback passed away in his home in New York. He died from heart disease.
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