Of Mice and Men is a novella by John Steinbeck that was published in 1937. The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed character who is referred to as “the ranch hand.” The book follows two migrant workers, Lennie Small and George Milton, as they travel through California in search of work during the Great Depression.
The characters in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, are all trying to find a place for themselves in society. The characters include Lennie Small, George Milton (who takes care of Lennie), Curley’s Wife (who has a crush on Lennie), Candy (an old ranch hand who’s about to lose his job), Crooks (a black stable buck) and Slim (who is the main boss).
The story takes place on a ranch owned by a man named Slim. Slim hires Lennie and George to help him tend his small flock of horses, which he uses to provide transportation for the ranch’s workers. Lennie is mentally disabled, but he has large hands that make him an ideal worker for grooming horses. George tends the ranch’s vegetable garden and does housekeeping chores, including cooking for himself and Lennie.
After several months at Slim’s ranch, Lennie accidentally kills his puppy with a rock while playing with it in the barnyard. He tells George that he did not mean to kill the puppy; however, this event triggers a series of events that leads both men into trouble with local law enforcement officers when they discover that Lennie intends to hide a dead mouse inside his pocket rather than throw it away like instructed by his boss (Slim).
Conclusion
The story “Of Mice and Men” brings out the best in a person’s ability to sympathize with others. It also teaches us to never underestimate anyone based on their appearance. The characters in this story all have distinct personalities, some more noble than others, but none of them are perfect. However, readers still sympathize with them.
