Of Mice and Men notes:
There are four different themes inside the book mice and men:
• The impossibility of the American Dream
• Freedom vs Captivity
• Fraternity and the idealized Male friendship
• The predatory nature of human existence
Overview of symbolism:
The rabbits symbolize a safe and happy place for Lennie, more importantly it symbolizes his innocence
and abundance. The pool at the beginning was a calm and still water bed, but once Lennie and George
walk in it shows how they will walk into the ranch and cause trouble just as they had done to the pool of
water. The two are about to bring chaos to the storm, like the water had been calm before the ripples
disturbed it. When Lennie and George talk about the farm that they are going to own it talks about the
impossibility of the American Dream.
The impossibility of the American Dream:
We see that Lennie and George want to own a farm that they can own themselves, where Lennie can pet
and touch the rabbits. It is their dream farm that they wish to own, it is impossible because it is so far-
fetched for men like them, who have been kicked out of every farm that they have worked at , to own
their own and for it to be successful. The American Dream back when the Great Depression was
happening was one of financial security and where they could have a family. They speak about this
impossible dream where they will look after the rabbits and will never have to work again. Crooks speaks
on how he has seen multiple men come along with the exact same dream as Lennie and George. He says
that they all want this farm and they never get it because of the fact that they spend all the money that
they get paid on beer and woman in bars. They just want financial stability.
Freedom vs Captivity:
She didn’t touch base on it and I'm too tired to analyze, but I would assume it has to do with the fact that
money was scarce so they had wanted it to bad. The freedom is having money while the captivity was the
reality of them, they did not have it.
Fraternity and the idealized male friendship:
We see George and his love for Lennie and the way that he still stays with Lennie despite Lennie being
artistic and not knowing what is going on in life. George is afraid to be lonely and so he sticks with Lennie.
"I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you". Slim later talks about how he has never
seen any of the men stick together the way that Lennie and George do, as it is very uncommon for it to
happen, they usually just split up. George and Lennie look after each other. George lets Lennie come
along because he is scared to be lonely and Lennie is just yeah.
The predatory of the human existence:
It speaks about the loneliness of the ranch workers. They get their money, work and spend it all on beer.
They have no families and no friends. They are lonely.
Lennie and George:
Lennie looks up to George in a big brother way. The two men rely on each other for comfort. Lennie is a
bit artistic so he sticks with Lennie for a big brother feeling. Lennie is protected by George. George looks
out for Lennie the way a big brother does and they stick together. The two are always seen together and
they are besties. George has stuck with Lennie for nearly his whole life. Even when Lennie gets them fired
repeatedly he still loves Lennie. He is hard on him but at the same time soft exactly the way a brotherly
relationship works. We see the love for Lennie when George has to shoot him. He shoots Lennie but lets
him die calmly and happy, unlike the way that the other men would have. He lets Lennie think about the
farm that they were going to have and shoots him. He thinks of Lennie as hi only family. George is the
smart one while Lennie is artistic. Lennie is like a child and is innocent and we can see this with the
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There are four different themes inside the book mice and men:
• The impossibility of the American Dream
• Freedom vs Captivity
• Fraternity and the idealized Male friendship
• The predatory nature of human existence
Overview of symbolism:
The rabbits symbolize a safe and happy place for Lennie, more importantly it symbolizes his innocence
and abundance. The pool at the beginning was a calm and still water bed, but once Lennie and George
walk in it shows how they will walk into the ranch and cause trouble just as they had done to the pool of
water. The two are about to bring chaos to the storm, like the water had been calm before the ripples
disturbed it. When Lennie and George talk about the farm that they are going to own it talks about the
impossibility of the American Dream.
The impossibility of the American Dream:
We see that Lennie and George want to own a farm that they can own themselves, where Lennie can pet
and touch the rabbits. It is their dream farm that they wish to own, it is impossible because it is so far-
fetched for men like them, who have been kicked out of every farm that they have worked at , to own
their own and for it to be successful. The American Dream back when the Great Depression was
happening was one of financial security and where they could have a family. They speak about this
impossible dream where they will look after the rabbits and will never have to work again. Crooks speaks
on how he has seen multiple men come along with the exact same dream as Lennie and George. He says
that they all want this farm and they never get it because of the fact that they spend all the money that
they get paid on beer and woman in bars. They just want financial stability.
Freedom vs Captivity:
She didn’t touch base on it and I'm too tired to analyze, but I would assume it has to do with the fact that
money was scarce so they had wanted it to bad. The freedom is having money while the captivity was the
reality of them, they did not have it.
Fraternity and the idealized male friendship:
We see George and his love for Lennie and the way that he still stays with Lennie despite Lennie being
artistic and not knowing what is going on in life. George is afraid to be lonely and so he sticks with Lennie.
"I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you". Slim later talks about how he has never
seen any of the men stick together the way that Lennie and George do, as it is very uncommon for it to
happen, they usually just split up. George and Lennie look after each other. George lets Lennie come
along because he is scared to be lonely and Lennie is just yeah.
The predatory of the human existence:
It speaks about the loneliness of the ranch workers. They get their money, work and spend it all on beer.
They have no families and no friends. They are lonely.
Lennie and George:
Lennie looks up to George in a big brother way. The two men rely on each other for comfort. Lennie is a
bit artistic so he sticks with Lennie for a big brother feeling. Lennie is protected by George. George looks
out for Lennie the way a big brother does and they stick together. The two are always seen together and
they are besties. George has stuck with Lennie for nearly his whole life. Even when Lennie gets them fired
repeatedly he still loves Lennie. He is hard on him but at the same time soft exactly the way a brotherly
relationship works. We see the love for Lennie when George has to shoot him. He shoots Lennie but lets
him die calmly and happy, unlike the way that the other men would have. He lets Lennie think about the
farm that they were going to have and shoots him. He thinks of Lennie as hi only family. George is the
smart one while Lennie is artistic. Lennie is like a child and is innocent and we can see this with the
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