The Role Of Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ is set during the 1930’s in the United States. The book is centred upon disadvantaged people who have suffered the effects of the catastrophic event: The Great Depression. During this period of time, the people of the United States faced many problems, including unemployment and homelessness. In addition to these problems, certain groups such as women, African Americans, and disabled people suffered from intense discrimination. At the beginning of the novel, we meet two migrant workers travelling to Soledad, Salinas in search for work (Soledad meaning lonely representing how people were during the great depression). The ranch that George and Lennie are working at is a microcosm representing the whole of America at the time where each person represents a different group. For example Lennie Curley’s wife representing women and crooks representing African Americans. George is a small and intelligent character who looks after Lennie. Lennie is not clever but he is physically strong and is a good worker. The novel ends where it starts (by
The mouse that Lennie carries in his pocket can be seen as a representative of Lennie. A mouse is generally seen as insignificant, not important and occupies a low space amongst other animals. It is frequently reviled as being undesirable and destroying it generally causes no concern. Much the same can be said about Lennie among his own species. Unlike the others, however, Lennie values the mouse in his pocket just as George unlike the others finds much in Lennie to value. Later on in the novel, Lennie goes on to killing slims puppy accidently in a similar way that he kills the mouse with his ‘bear paws’. However the puppy’s death is more significant and the reader has more sympathy for the puppy than the mouse. This implicates how Lennie is dangerous to be around and doesn’t know his own