John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is considered a must-read, yet it is also a banned book. Published in 1937, the novel tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, their dream of having their own farm and the journey they take to make the dream true. The novel reflects the struggle of the working class to survive in the 1930s. During that time, the Great Depression was devouring the United States economy; unemployment soared alarmingly to more than 15 million (McElvaine 2008).
The contribution of the novel to American literature is its subtle way of commenting on the realities of society, issues that are considered taboo. It presents the struggle of the working class towards a better life and the magnetic power of the American dream. The novel shows the inconvenient truth that sometimes, even the best laid plans fail due to circumstances that are beyond man’s control.
Also, it touches the issue of racism—how blacks were considered as dregs of society. Feminism is also touched in the novel.
The Struggle for Survival
The struggle for survival is shown in the efforts of George Milton and Lennie Small in finding a job. What kept them going—something that urged them to work hard—is their vision of a free life: having their own farm and home, where they enjoy all the fruits of their labor. This vision of an ideal world is what the other workers in the ranch hold on to.
The workers in the ranch dream of a family, which they make real through the bond they establish among themselves. They look out for each other and are happy to know that someone has their back. This kind of idyllic life is what George believes in as he continues to tell and retell to Lennie the story of how they will live their lives on the farm.
This vision of the pleasant life, however, is crushed when George realizes that the world is a battleground for the weak and the strong; that the strong prey on the weak. It is revealed in one conversation with Slim that George abused Lennie for fun. George learned the truth that it is wrong to take advantage of the weak. He made it his mission to protect Lennie who, even with great strength, is very vulnerable. Lennie’s vulnerability is shown when Curley attacks him and he refuses to fight back even if he is already wounded.
This shows that the American dream—idyllic life—has a very strong magnet among the people. The story proves this when Candy offers to give his savings to George—so that they could get the farmhouse—as long as George would let him come with them.
The victory of strength over weakness is also shown in Lennie’s character. He kills everything he has in his hands—rabbits, puppies and even Curley’s wife. He loves to pet soft things. His petting is too strong for the animal (or woman), but he also fails to recognize that his strength is killing the one he is petting. He does not know when to stop petting. When Curley’s wife screamed at him to stop, Lennie panicked and accidentally broke the woman’s bone. In a way, Lennie’s greatest strength is also his weakness.
Curley, the boss’s son, is a small man. He compensates his size by bullying bigger guys who are weak-willed, like Lennie. Skilled with his fists, he uses larger men as a punching bag. He also considers other men as threats, especially when they are looking at his wife.
As the boss’s son, Curley thinks he has the right to do whatever he wants to the workers. He treats the workers as inferiors who should be thankful of having a job at the ranch, therefore should not complain if they are being abused.
In this manner, Curley gains power.
Aside from surviving physically, another form of struggle is shown: the struggle of acceptance. This is shown by both Crooks and Curley’s wife.
Racism and How Blacks Survive
Crooks is the black worker at the ranch, separated from the rest because of his skin color. He bullies Lennie, telling him that George has left the ranch for good. Lennie doesn’t believe what Crooks says—and counters that he knows George enough to be assured his friend will return—but Crooks pushes it and insists George is really gone. By preying on Lennie’s weakness, he gains power and respect for himself, knowing that he is superior to someone else. He clearly relishes this moment. He works in a racist ranch; most of the time he is treated as a nobody because he is black. He compensates his isolation by being arrogant and imposing a “no Whites allowed” rule in his room.
Feminism
Curley’s wife gains power when she successfully controls Crooks, by telling him to mind his manners or he could get fired. She uses her status as the boss’s daughter-in-law to have power. Like Crooks, Curley’s wife loves this moment. The portrayal of women as threats in the novel is parallel to the nature of the sirens in the Greek epic Odyssey. The sirens sing a song that lure sailors to their doom.
All the time, the workers consider Curley’s wife as a threat to their jobs. She flirts with them; the men fear losing their jobs whenever she is near them, since Curley is a jealous husband.
Mercy Killing
Another issue tackled in the novel is mercy killing. It is first shown by Carlson shooting Candy’s old dog because the animal is useless and it stinks. Though Candy refuses at first to let the dog be killed, he gives in anyway after Slim talks him into it. Carlson then shoots the old dog.
This event foreshadows Lennie’s fate. George knew that Curley would make death painful for Lennie. George’s decision to kill Lennie himself was reinforced by Candy’s regret that he hadn’t shot the dog himself. George then decides to give his friend a quick and painless death, rather than turn him over to Curley for a slow and painful end. This way, he was sure that his friend had indeed died painlessly, and he didn’t have the pain of regrets that Candy had with his dog dying in someone else’s hand.
Animal Imagery
Animal imagery is one contribution of the novel. Lennie’s characteristics are described through the use of animals: his strength compared to a bull, his hands to paws, and his size to a horse.
The comparison shows that even humans sometimes behave like animals. The behavior could be “in a good way,” like the strength. (But it could also mean that the attitude is close to savagery, depending on the animal used as point of comparison).
Conclusion
The novel’s Marxist ideas are shown clearly in the characters and events. These are not made up, but the reality that society has. One contribution of Of Mice and Men is that it did not comment directly on the issues of society. John Steinbeck put forth his comment subtly by painting a picture of what is happening. The subtle manner of commentary is the absence of it. Steinbeck hasn’t uttered a single comment. He left the reader to decide for himself. However, the truths are well-established and the comment is put into the mind of the reader.
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