Of Mice and Men Essay Paper Example For Students

Of Mice and Men Essay Paper Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckAt first glance, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a tale of two best friends traveling the countryside looking for work. This would seem like the norm for lower class people trying to survive in the rat race of society. Yet, the story isnt merely George and Lennies search for jobs. Rather, it is about their all out quest for the American Dream, the dream of owning their own stake of land and ending their subservience to their bosses. In order for this to happen, however, George and Lennie had to remain a team. They had to pool their resources as well as their manpower, something their apparent mutual love for each other seemed to take care of. Yet, an irrevocable rift between them sent the dream crashing down. This caused Georges feelings of love and understanding to change from being existent to non-existent. Since the passing of Lennies aunt, George felt an obligation to take care of Lennie as well as to act as his guardian. George fulfilled thi s role with love and understanding. We first see change in Georges attitude towards Lennie when they moved onto the ranch, their place of work. George immediately feels that he is jeopardizing his relationship with other men in order to defend Lennies actions. George is further discouraged when he realizes, based on Lennies behavior that he can never be left alone- even to go to the bathroom. Lennie cant even be trusted not to kill puppies while petting them. Lennie, in fact, goes so far as to kill the owners daughter-in-law. By this point, George, a nice yet overly ambitious individual, could no longer control this growing contempt towards his once beloved Lennie. Changing ones identity doesnt change their personality. Moving away andstarting a new life can be an attempt to change ones identity. Starting overcan be for the better, but people stay the same more often than not. In the verybeginning of the novel, George and Lennie are in a bar. In the bar Lennie sees alittle girl with a bright, red dress. Lennies attracted to the color, and hehas a tendency to touch what he sees. He therefore approached the girl andstarting feeling her dress. She tried to leave but Lennie anxiously got a quickgrabbing of the dress. This frightened the girl, which therefore lead to herscreaming and yelling rape. While all of this was going on Lennie was so scaredand confused that he just kept a tight grab on the girls dress. Lennie beingthat who he is did not know any better, Well, how the hell did she know youjus wanted to feel her dress? She jerks back and you hold on like it was amouse. She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guyslookin g for us, and we must sneak out in the dark and get outta the country. pg24. The incident that occurred exemplifies Lennies behavior. Lennie is aman of unlimited intelligence who seems unaware of its massive strength. Afterall of this has happened, Lennie and George decide that the best thing would beto change their identity and leave the town as soon as possible. As the novelprogresses Lennies change of identity does not change who he really is. Towards the end of the book after Lennie had just killed a pup:God damn you, he cried. Why do you have to get killed? You arentso little as mice. He picked up the pup and hurled it from him. He turned hisback on it. He sat bent over his knees and he whispered; Now I wont getto tend the rabbits. Now he wont let me. Pg88Once again Lennie doesnt comprehend the affect of his strength on lesserbeings. Lennie could never change. He will never understand his size andstrength in comparison with an average person or animal. Its fatalistic, butLennie is who he is. The Outcast Weaver EssayCrooks has no rights due to his skin colour, so when Lennie intrudes not realising that Crooks room is out of bounds, Crooks instantly becomes defensive and uncivil I aint wanted in the bunk room and you aint wanted in my room. Crooks is an exceptionally cautious person, and since he has so few rights if someone accidentally or purposely crosses one he immediately defends himself and his rights, as Lennie discovers You got no right to come in my room. This heres my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.