Of Mice and Men
Set against the dusty backdrop of the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men tells the story of George, a sharp-witted drifter, and Lennie, a gentle giant with a dangerous fondness for soft things. Chasing the dream of freedom, their journey explores friendship, hope, and the heartbreaking fragility of human aspirations.
John Steinbeck
1937
Main Characters
George Milton
A small, wiry man with sharp features, George is both caretaker and companion to Lennie. His quick thinking and protective nature mask a deep-seated weariness from the burdens he carries.
Lennie Small
Contrary to his surname, Lennie is a towering figure with immense strength. His childlike innocence and fascination with soft things often lead him into unintended trouble, highlighting the novel's themes of vulnerability and unintended consequences.
Candy
An aging ranch hand missing a hand, Candy clings to the hope of a better future. His attachment to his old dog mirrors his own fears of obsolescence and loneliness.
Synopsis
Amid the dusty fields of 1930s California, George and Lennie, two unlikely companions, wander from job to job, bound by friendship and a dream that keeps them going. George, small and sharp-tongued, is the brains of the operation. Lennie, towering and childlike, is all brawn but struggles with a mind as innocent as it is unpredictable. Together, they imagine a brighter future—owning a little farm, living off “the fatta the lan’,” and, most importantly to Lennie, raising rabbits he can pet as much as he likes.
Their dream is a beacon of hope in a world crushed under the weight of the Great Depression. Arriving at a new ranch, the duo encounters a medley of characters, each revealing the loneliness and longing that permeates their world. There’s Candy, an ageing ranch hand clinging to George and Lennie’s dream like it’s his last chance for purpose. Crooks, the ostracised stable-hand, reveals the pain of isolation. And then there’s Curley’s wife, a woman unnamed and full of unrealised dreams, searching for connection but finding only suspicion and disdain.
But the ranch is no sanctuary. Curley, the boss’s hot-headed son, constantly spoils for a fight, and Lennie’s innocent strength often causes more harm than good. As tensions simmer, it becomes clear that the world is no place for men like George and Lennie, who dream of a life free from hardship and cruelty.
Steinbeck masterfully crafts a tale of hope and heartbreak, weaving humour and tenderness into a story that ultimately exposes the fragility of human dreams. Beneath the surface of George and Lennie’s bond lies the question of whether hope can survive in a world that thrives on breaking it.
Of Mice and Men is not just about two drifters; it’s about the human need for connection, the power of friendship, and the cost of dreams in a world that too often dashes them. It’s a story as raw as it is timeless, leaving readers to grapple with the delicate balance between hope and reality.
Quotes
"Tell me about the rabbits, George."
"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world."
"A guy needs somebody—to be near him."
Fun Fact
John Steinbeck originally conceived "Of Mice and Men" as a play-novelette, intending it to be both a novel and a script for a play. This unique structure is evident in the book's dialogue-driven narrative and its division into scenes, rather than chapters.