Of+MIce+and+Men

=**__Of Mice and Men__**= By John Steinbeck Published in 1937

=**__Plot Summary__**= A classic tale of two friends - George and Lennie - who wander the country during the Depression. Lennie is mentally retarded and doesn't know his own strength causing frequent problems for his companion George. An incident with a young girl leads to a tragic end for this classic American tale.

=**__Characters__**= = Lennie: A large, lumbering, childlike migrant worker. Due to his mild mental disability, Lennie completely depends upon George, his friend and traveling companion, for guidance and protection. Gentle and kind, Lennie nevertheless does not understand his own strength. His love of petting soft things, such as small animals, dresses, and people’s hair, leads to disaster. =



George: A small, wiry, quick-witted man who travels with, and cares for, Lennie. Although he frequently speaks of how much better his life would be without his caretaking responsibilities, George is obviously devoted to Lennie. George’s behavior is motivated by the desire to protect Lennie and, eventually, deliver them both to the farm of their dreams.

=**__Themes__**=

__Dreams, Hopes, and Plans__ Some people think Of Mice and Men is a negative view of the American Dream, and how this view was impacted by the Great Depression.

__Friendship__ In the novel, friendship isn't often discussed. George and Lennie don't talk about how they feel about each other or why they stay loyal, they just stand by each other. For George and Lennie to make it through the Great Depression, they have to depend on each other.

__Innocence__ The novel depends of the notion of innocence and it appears in different ways. When we first realize Lennie has a mental disability, he can be described as having a childlike innocence. His attitude towards the world and others is tempered with a simplistic, juvenile, and often warm view. Innocence also functions as the opposite of guilt. Lennie, perhaps linked to the first notion of "childlike innocence," is presented as a sympathetic character in spite of his constant failings and murdering tendencies. Innocence is something of a godsend and an excuse for bad behavior. It seems to fit in with Steinbeck’s insistence that characters be treated without judgment.

=**__Criticisms__**=