Of Mice and Men | John Steinbeck | Cliff Note Books

Of Mice and Men is a novella by John Steinbeck, published in 1937. The story takes place during the Great Depression in California and follows two migrant farm workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, who are traveling together in search of work.

The story begins with George and Lennie arriving at a new ranch where they hope to find employment. Lennie, who has a mental disability, is obsessed with petting soft things, such as mice, rabbits, and puppies. George, who serves as Lennie’s protector and caretaker, warns him to stay away from trouble.

At the ranch, the men meet various other workers, including Candy, an old swamper with a missing hand, and Curley, the boss’s aggressive and jealous son. Curley’s wife, who is never named in the novel, is also introduced as a lonely and flirtatious woman who seeks attention from the men on the ranch.

George and Lennie soon become involved in the lives of the other ranch workers, but their dreams of owning their own farm and “living off the fatta the lan'” remain at the forefront of their minds. However, their dream is ultimately shattered when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife while trying to pet her hair. George realizes that Lennie is no longer safe and must be protected from the consequences of his actions, so he decides to shoot Lennie before Curley can get to him.

Of Mice and Men explores themes of loneliness, isolation, the American Dream, and the cruelty of human nature. The relationship between George and Lennie, and the tragedy that befalls them, serves as a powerful commentary on the human condition and the difficulties of achieving one’s dreams in a harsh and unforgiving world.

AUTHOR

John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was an American writer and Nobel laureate in literature. He was born in Salinas, California and grew up in a middle-class family. Steinbeck attended Stanford University but left without earning a degree.

In the 1930s, Steinbeck began writing novels that explored the lives of working-class people and migrants, particularly during the Great Depression. His early novels, such as “Of Mice and Men” and “The Grapes of Wrath,” became instant classics and helped establish Steinbeck as one of the most important American writers of his time.

During World War II, Steinbeck served as a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune, covering the war in Europe and North Africa. He later wrote several novels about the war, including “The Moon is Down” and “Cannery Row.”

After the war, Steinbeck continued to write novels and nonfiction, often focusing on social issues and the lives of ordinary people. Some of his most famous works from this period include “East of Eden,” “The Winter of Our Discontent,” and “Travels with Charley,” a travelogue about a road trip he took across America with his dog.

Throughout his career, Steinbeck was a controversial figure, and his work was often criticized for its perceived political and social agenda. However, his influence on American literature and culture cannot be overstated, and his legacy continues to be celebrated and studied today.

Steinbeck received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. He died in New York City in 1968.

CHARACTERS

1. George Milton – A small, wiry, quick-witted man who travels with and cares for Lennie.
2. Lennie Small – A large, physically strong but mentally disabled man who travels with George and has a love of soft things.
3. Candy – An old, one-handed ranch hand who becomes friends with George and Lennie.
4. Curley – The boss’s aggressive and short-tempered son, who is constantly looking for a fight.
5. Curley’s Wife – A lonely and flirtatious woman who is never named in the novel, and who seeks attention from the men on the ranch.
6. Slim – A skilled mule driver who becomes friends with George and who understands the bond between him and Lennie.
7. Carlson – A ranch hand who is obsessed with his gun and encourages Candy to put his old dog out of its misery.
8. The Boss – The owner of the ranch where George and Lennie find work.
9. Crooks – The African-American stable hand who is isolated from the other workers on the ranch.
10. Whit – A young ranch hand who invites George and Lennie to a brothel.

THEMES

1. Loneliness and Isolation: Many of the characters in the book are lonely and isolated, and struggle to connect with others in meaningful ways. This theme is embodied in characters like Curley’s wife, who is stuck on the ranch with no one to talk to, and Crooks, who is isolated from the other workers because of his race.
2. Dreams and Disillusionment: Several characters in the book have dreams of a better life, such as owning a farm or becoming a movie star. However, these dreams are often shattered by the harsh realities of the world, as is the case with George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm.
3. The American Dream: The idea of the American Dream – that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work – is explored in the book through characters like George and Lennie. However, the book also suggests that this dream may be unattainable for many people, especially during the Great Depression.
4. The Fragility of Life: The book explores the fragility of life and the ease with which it can be destroyed, as demonstrated by the tragic ending of the novel.
5. The Cycle of Violence: The book portrays a world in which violence begets more violence, as characters like Curley seek revenge for perceived slights or insults. This cycle of violence ultimately leads to tragedy for many of the characters in the book.

SYMBOLLISM

1. Rabbits – Lennie’s love of soft things, particularly rabbits, represents his innocent and childlike nature. However, this love also foreshadows the tragedy that occurs later in the book, when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife while trying to pet her hair.
2. The Dream Farm – George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm represents the American Dream, and the desire for a better life. However, the dream is ultimately shattered by the harsh realities of the world, and serves as a commentary on the difficulty of achieving success and prosperity.
3. Candy’s Dog – Candy’s dog, which is old and sickly, represents the fragility of life and the ease with which it can be destroyed. The dog is ultimately put out of its misery by Carlson, who represents the cycle of violence and aggression that pervades the world of the book.
4. Curley’s Glove – Curley’s glove, which is filled with Vaseline, represents his need to prove his masculinity and dominance over the other men on the ranch. The glove is also a symbol of the violence and aggression that pervades the world of the book.
5. The Salinas River – The Salinas River, which runs through the book, represents a sense of freedom and escape from the harsh realities of the world. However, the river is also a dangerous and unpredictable force, and foreshadows the tragedy that occurs at the end of the book.

QUOTES

1. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.” – This line, taken from the poem “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns, serves as the inspiration for the title of the book and suggests that even the best-laid plans can go awry.
2. “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads . . . every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it.” – This quote, spoken by ranch hand Crooks, reflects the disillusionment and frustration of many of the characters in the book who dream of a better life.
3. “But you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.” – This quote, spoken by George, suggests the complexity of his relationship with Lennie, and the way in which their friendship is both a source of comfort and a burden.
4. “A guy needs somebody—to be near him.” – This quote, spoken by George, reflects the loneliness and isolation that many of the characters in the book feel, and suggests the importance of human connection.
5. “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” – This quote, spoken by Lennie, sums up the deep bond between George and Lennie, and the way in which they rely on each other for survival and support.

SUMMARIES

Chapter 1: The story begins with George Milton and Lennie Small arriving at a ranch in California where they have been hired to work as laborers. We learn that Lennie has a mental disability and that George serves as his protector and caretaker.

Chapter 2: George and Lennie meet the other workers on the ranch, including Candy, an old swamper with a missing hand, and Curley, the boss’s aggressive and jealous son. Curley’s wife is also introduced as a lonely and flirtatious woman who seeks attention from the men on the ranch.

Chapter 3: George and Lennie discuss their dream of owning their own farm, and Candy offers to contribute money towards the purchase of the farm. Curley gets into a fight with Lennie, but Lennie does not fight back.

Chapter 4: Lennie befriends Crooks, the African-American stable hand who is isolated from the other workers because of his race. Curley’s wife also visits the barn and talks to Lennie, which makes George nervous.

Chapter 5: Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife while trying to pet her hair. George realizes that Lennie is no longer safe and must be protected from the consequences of his actions.

Chapter 6: George finds Lennie and decides to shoot him before Curley can get to him. The other workers on the ranch find out what has happened and are shocked and saddened by the news.

Overall, “Of Mice and Men” is a powerful and tragic exploration of the human condition, and the chapters of the book build towards the tragic ending in a way that emphasizes the fragility of life and the cruelty of the world.