Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The novel Of Mice and Men is based off on the poem "To a Mouse", almost exactly. The poem is from the author's POV, apologizing to a mouse for accidentally ruining its house while farming. From the novel, the mouse can be surprisingly seen as Lennie, who is a giant and may seem to be the human.  The farmer, on the other hand, would be society itself and the greedy, selfish mankind that ruins others while only thinking of themselves.


The novel set in the time of the Dustbowl  is about two immigrant workers: Lennie, a simple and gentle giant with fearful strength that loves to pet soft things, and George, Lennie's best friend as well as his caretaker as the brighter and more sensible of the two. The two has a simple American dream, to have their own little farm, a place the can live peacefully without worries for money. The two ends up working at a large farm, often tormented by the owner's son Curtis who has an inferior complex, and Curtis's wife who often flirts with the workers to stir up trouble. The pair almost reaches their dream when an old man with land gives out a deal, when tragedy strikes. Curtis's wife tries to seduce Lennie, opens up to him, and lets Lennie stroke her hair. However, panicking when she realizes how mighty Lennie's strength is, she freaks out, causing Lennie to panic and accidentally break her neck. George, knowing the villagers were going to bring Lennie a brutal, painful death chooses to end things himself and shoots Lennie.


It might seem cruel of George to kill his own best friend. But the truth is, George, knowing the painful path that awaited him shoots Lennie out of love. George knew Lennie would die happier talking about their dreams and killed quickly. And thus, their friendship and American dream ends.


Throughout the novel, forewarnings are scattered everywhere. Lennie's love for soft things kills small animals before, such as the mouse, preluding to Curtis's wife's death. Also, Lennie's death is forewarned when the old farmer's dog has to be shot so it doesn't have to be in pain anymore.


Overall, yes this was a depressing novella. But I liked the realism of  the novel and the choice George makes to shoot Lennie out of love.