Of Mice and Men Synthesis Page

Margot Supple 1/6/15

Synthesis Page      811

Book: Of Mice and Men           Synthesis Page  Author: John Steinbeck

Critical Thinking Question: Who has the power in the text?

1. Lennie- Lennie is the most vulnerable, simple, and naive character in  Of Mice and Men, therefore making him weaker than the rest. Although he is very strong physically, Lennie has the mind of a child, which ultimately sets him up for destruction at the end of the book.
2. George- George does not have much power in the text. On the ranch, George gets bossed around by Curley (the boss’s son) and has no power over the rest of the ranchers. However, George does have power over Lennie, much like a father son relationship. Everything he is stern about towards Lennie is for his own protection, which continues through to the end of the book.
3. Curley- Curley does have the power in the text. In the ranch he is a higher figure, a boss of all the other farmers.
4. Curley’s Wife- Curley’s Wife also has power in the book, in the same way as Curley. When certain men on the farm disrespect her, she explains her power over them.

Themes

Friendship- Throughout Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck creates a dependent and caring relationship between George and Lennie that lasts throughout the whole text. Unfortunately, at the end of the book the reader learns the world is too cruel to allow a weaker character like Lennie to survive. By taking his friends life, George is still doing what is right for Lennie, who has been dependent on him since the first scene. The friendship between both characters captivates the reader, but ends suddenly to portray how merciless the world around them is.

Symbols

George and Lennie’s Farm- Both George and Lennie dream of moving away from the ranch one day and starting a farm, where they would keep all farm animals, and most importantly, rabbits. To both characters, the farm is seen as some sort of heaven or protection from the harsh world. In the end, when George is about to take Lennie's life, he points him towards the rabbit farm. Ultimately, George shoots Lennie to protect him from the vicious wrath of Curley’s mob, and to send him to a better place with thoughts of the utopian rabbit farm in his head.

Mice- Since it is in the title, readers are given a hint that mice will play a big role in the text symbolically. Although their appearance is subtle, their characteristics make a big impact in the book. Mainly, Mice connect to Lennie in many ways. The size of mice compared to humans make it weak, and Lennie's naive traits and mental disability make him weak. In the end, Lennie was killed like a mouse, because of his weaknesses and innocence.