Of Mice and Men Literary Criticism Essay - 1941 Words

At the mention of the name, John Steinbeck, many associations can be made to the classic works produced by the man. However, he did not begin his life as a successful writer. Growing up in Salinas, California, Steinbeck lived the life of a common man, working to survive in the Land of Promise. He began to develop a taste for writing; however, he studied marine biology while he attended Stanford University. Without graduating with a degree, Steinbeck began working as a laborer and reporter for the American in New York City. After realizing that he was not meeting his goals, or at least coming close to them, Steinbeck moved back to California where he continued to work in various odd jobs while he pursuing his career as a professional†¦show more content†¦When Candy thinks back on his dog, he becomes sad and says to George, I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldnt ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog (61). Candy thinks that the right thing to have done would have been to kill his dog himself. Later in the story, George is faced with a similar situation. While Lennie is being hunted by the angry group, George decides that it would have been better to kill Lennie himself because Lennie was Georges companion, his best friend, his pet, and his responsibility. Candy continues to search for companionship by trying to get in on the dream to own land, which was originally shared by Lennie and George. Candy tries to contribute money to the dream but in the end, the dream is shattered when Lennie dies. This is Steinbecks way of saying that men are destined to be alone in the end. Even though Candy and George were still around, they both realized that there was no hope for getting out of the horrible hand they were dealt. This relationship between George and Lennie contrasts the loneliness that surrounds their everyday life. Every person around them is lonely in one way or another. Theres Candy, whose only companion was an old dog, Crooks, the isolated black man, Curleys wife, who is trapped and subjected to Curley in their marriage, and Curley, who doesnt even trust his wife. When GeorgeShow MoreRelatedEssay The Futility of Dreams in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men1915 Words   |  8 PagesThe Futility of Dreams in Of Mice and Men    Everyone has a dream they hope to achieve, but dreams are not always possible to attain. In John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men, two ranch hands, George and Lennie, find work in Salinas Valley. Lennie, constantly getting into trouble, inadvertently causes the two of them to be run out of town and thus have to find new work regularly. George and Lennies search for work in the hope of accomplishing their dream of a small farm of their own displaysRead MoreEssay on Theme of Loneliness in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men1136 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theme of Loneliness in Of Mice and Men      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel, Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck used George and Lennies relationship and the theme of hope to point out the loneliness in the novel. The novel starts off and is set in Soledad which means lonely. At the beginning they get a job working on a farm together. Lennie is a little retarded and has great physical strength that isnt too controllable. As they work from ranch to ranch, Lennie relies on George for guidance and help. RatherRead MoreHandicaps, Hardships, and Friendships in Of Mice and Men1362 Words   |  6 Pagesopportunity’s to achieve the dream that you conceptualize to be right by you. 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Scott Fitzgeralds book The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald utilized Daisy Buchana n, an ignorant, materialistic and intolerantRead Morebibliography2066 Words   |  9 PagesBibliography of the Criticisms of John Steinbeck’s â€Å" Of Mice Men†. â€Å"John (Ernest) Steinbeck,† â€Å" An overview Of Mice and Men,† â€Å" Steinbeck, Johnson, and the Master/Slave Relationship, â€Å" Reduced to Nothing: Race, Lynching, and Erasure in the Theater Revision of Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men, â€Å" â€Å" Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men (1937). â€Å" Research Abstract: John Steinbeck is best known for The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. Kevin Attell writes criticisms of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and details howRead MoreSteinbeck’s Quest for Friendship, Dreams, and Personality in Of Mice and Men1742 Words   |  7 PagesCurly and Lennie, two men that traveled together everywhere they went. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck describes friendship, dreams, and personality to describe Lennie and Curly adventures. 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TheRead MoreJohn Steinbecks use of Realism, Characterization, and Dreams in The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men2450 Words   |  10 PagesSteinbecks works is not only effective in informing the reader of circumstances that should be changed, but this nineteenth century literary style also creates great feelings of empathy toward the characters and their dreams. Steinbeck used realism to convey his points for a purpose, and his main purpose was that he wanted something to be made known to the public. Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath both tell of the hardships people went through and also the harsh conditions of their situations. TheRead MoreBiblical Allusions to The Grapes of Wrath Essay example1457 Words   |  6 Pagesand then traveled east on a freighter through the Panama Canal. Steinbeck went to New York to work as a newspaper reporter but soon returned to California and held a variety of jobs while he wrote. Steinbeck published Tortilla Flat in 1935, Of Mice and Me n in 1937, and The Red Pony in 1937, which established his reputation as a forceful writer. In 1939 he wrote The Grapes of Wrath, which summoned up the despair and hardship of the early 1930s. John Steinbeck died in 1968. The Grapes of Wrath is