of mice and men english 1 essay

John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men contain an affluence of symbols which work together to produce a deeper meaning. Of Mice and Men have various examples of symbolism such as, the mouse in Lennie’s pocket, Lennie’s puppy, George and Lennie’s farm, Candy’s dog, Lennie’s death, and the rabbits Lennie always dream about . Symbolism plays a very important part in this novel, so therefore I will be discussing what each symbol represents. In the novel Of Mice and Men an example of symbolism is the mouse Lennie pets in his pocket. The mouse that Lennie pets in his pocket can be illustrated as Lennie himself. A mouse is usually at the bottom of the food chain therefore lacking significance. Mice are usually unwanted so destroying them generally lacks concern. Much is the same about Lennie among the human population. Unlike the others Lennie finds much value of the mouse he carries in his pocket just as George values Lennie while not many others do. Just like Lennie feels it is important to keep the mouse George feels the same way about Lennie. Another example is Lennie’s puppy. Lennie’s puppy is one of many symbols that represents the triumph of the strong over the weak. Lennie has killed mice accidentally by not knowing his own strength just as he kills his own puppy, by virtue of his failure to recognize his own strength. Although no other character in this novel can even come close to meeting Lennie’s physical strength, the colossal Lennie will soon come face to face with a future similar to the small puppy. Like an innocent animal, Lennie is unaware of the corrupt, predatory powers that surround him. This is a very important symbol in this novel because it shows that Lennie was not aware of the harm he was causing to the people and animals around him. The farm that George keeps describing to Lennie —those few acres of land on which they will grow their own food and tend to their own livestock—is one of the most powerful symbols in this novel. The farm that George and Lennie dream about symbolizes their desire (and the human desire) for a life full of independence and freedom. The idea of Lennie and George getting a farm of their own seduces not only the other characters, but the reader as well. The reader, who, like the men want to believe that it is possible to live this free, idyllic lifestyle that George and Lennie have created in their minds, as you are reading this novel you start to gain hope that they may actually get a farm and you start to think their dreams may actually come true. Lennie and George’s dream soon grabs Candy’s and the unsociable Crook’s attention as well. They start dreaming along with them hoping George and Lennie will let them go along with them. After a while I feel that they actually started to believe it was really going to happen. The farm they described was basically a paradise for men who want to be their own masters and be in control of their own fate. The farm symbolizes the possibility of freedom, self-rule, and offers protection from the cruel world. In the world described in Of Mice and Men Candy’s dog symbolizes the destiny that is waiting for anyone who has outlived his or her main purpose in their life. For example, Candy’s dog was once one of the finest and helpful sheepdogs on the ranch, but weakened by his old age meets a very tragic end. Candy had a very sentimental attachment to his dog which meant nothing to the other workers on the ranch. Candy basically begged Carlson to let the dog live saying he had him since he was a puppy and although he was a mutt he made one of the best sheepdogs on the ranch. Even though Carlson swore he would kill the dog painlessly, the demand that the old dog must die supports a sinister natural law that strong will get rid of the weak. Candy is fearful that in his older age he will no longer be able to perform his duties at the ranch as good as he was capable of in his early age. That leaves Candy fearing that he will no longer be useful on the ranch therefore no longer being welcome. Lennie’s death represents a number of different things. The death of Lennie represents George and Lennie’s dreams and the realization that this could never turn into a reality. The bullet itself which claimed the life of Lennie symbolizes the harshness of society in which Lennie lives and the absence of general understand which people at those times lacked. George had no other choice but to murder Lennie himself and save him from the brutal death that was awaiting him from Curly and his men. The gunshot could also represent George’s true love for Lennie although he does not want Lennie to die, however he feels he should be the only person who should be allowed to harm Lennie, as he is the only one who truly understands him. Although George killing Lennie was tragic at least Lennie died with pleasant thoughts about their dream farm and the rabbits in his head. Lennie’s death lastly represents the power and responsibility George has over Lennie, this only goes to show how the strong conquer the weak. The last symbol that I connected to was the rabbits Lennie always dreamed about. The rabbits are a symbol of a dream that many of the characters have. Lennie, George, Candy, Crooks, and Curly’s wife all dream of something better in their lives. For Lennie his dream is “tending the rabbits”. The rabbits represent independence for him and offer him a chance at a quiet and gentle life. Lennie is excited about the rabbits because they'll be furry and nice to pet, but we also know that Lennie tends to hurt whatever he pets. This doesn't abide well for him and he knows it, hence the large, scary rabbit at the end of the story. At the end of the story Lennie starts imagining a giant rabbit that announces to him that he isn't” fit to lick the boots of a rabbit”, but the bunny that comes from Lennie's own mind suggests that he knows deep down he'll never have his dream. I truly enjoyed reading this novel not only because it was amazing but because there was just so many hidden meanings behind everything. I cannot picture how this book would have been without symbolism. Symbolism played a very significant part in Of Mice and Men. And to me symbolism was what made this novel so amazing.