Essay of Mice and Men
We are first introduced to the characters George and Lennie in chapter 1 'Of Mice and Men' our first meeting of the characters automatically give away key themes and ideas of what is to come later in the book.
"They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the opening one stayed behind the other." Even early on in the book we see that one follows the other, as even in the open, one leads the way and the other follows. Steinbeck then moves onto tells us of the two character's appearances, again this gives detail of the lives the characters live and the cultural context that the book has, "Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders" This is significant as during the time of the Depression, denim was only worn by men who worked with their hands, so instantly we can detriment that they are workers with hardly any possessions as they carry bindles which suggest that they are traveling to work on a ranch.
“Both were dressed in denim trousers" and "Both wore black shapeless hats" in order to make the contrasts of their personalities and physical appearances even more distinct. To further emphasize their differences Steinbeck juxtaposes his illustration of George "small and quick...sharp strong features" with Lennie's "shapeless face ...with sloping shoulders." The descriptions suggests while George is shrewd and quick Lennie is clumsy. Steinbeck creates animal imagery of Lennie by comparing him to a bear "dragging his feet a little the way a bear drags his paws" Steinbeck uses another animal comparison when he uses a simile to compare Lennie to a horse, Lennie "drank with long gulps, snorting the water like a horse" Lennie seems to be very childlike and constantly needs telling what to do by George. It is clear that Lennie has no sense at all and George has to watch over him constantly. He scolds him for drinking stagnant
"They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the opening one stayed behind the other." Even early on in the book we see that one follows the other, as even in the open, one leads the way and the other follows. Steinbeck then moves onto tells us of the two character's appearances, again this gives detail of the lives the characters live and the cultural context that the book has, "Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders" This is significant as during the time of the Depression, denim was only worn by men who worked with their hands, so instantly we can detriment that they are workers with hardly any possessions as they carry bindles which suggest that they are traveling to work on a ranch.
“Both were dressed in denim trousers" and "Both wore black shapeless hats" in order to make the contrasts of their personalities and physical appearances even more distinct. To further emphasize their differences Steinbeck juxtaposes his illustration of George "small and quick...sharp strong features" with Lennie's "shapeless face ...with sloping shoulders." The descriptions suggests while George is shrewd and quick Lennie is clumsy. Steinbeck creates animal imagery of Lennie by comparing him to a bear "dragging his feet a little the way a bear drags his paws" Steinbeck uses another animal comparison when he uses a simile to compare Lennie to a horse, Lennie "drank with long gulps, snorting the water like a horse" Lennie seems to be very childlike and constantly needs telling what to do by George. It is clear that Lennie has no sense at all and George has to watch over him constantly. He scolds him for drinking stagnant