Author: John Steinbeck
Number of pages: 107
Type of story
John Steinbeck is the writer of short stories. Of mice and men is a short story and it’s also a
novel. It’s a realistic novel. It’s describes a period of economic devastation in the United
States and shows the devastating effects on the ordinary working people.
There is a big contrast between the real world and the dream world. The real world with
poverty, restricted resources, intolerance, and violence. A world of freedom, wealth,
friendship, and loyalty is the dream world; The American Dream.
It is also tragic in the book because there is no happy ending. At the end of the story George
shoots his friend Lenny in the back of his head. And some tragic events happen during the
story like the accidental death of the puppy and Curley’s wife.
Summary:
Two men, at a stream near the Salinas River, talk about their dream to have a farm of their
own. The retarded Lennie and his friend George. Lennie, looking like a giant, likes to pet soft
things but this gave them some problems at other ranches. They travel from ranch to ranch
to work. The next day they start their job. On the ranch, Old Candy introduces them to some
people like the boss and his son Curley (who is quite rude) and Curley’s wife (a flirtatious
woman). George warns Lennie to behave his best around them and suggest that if
something happens, they should meet by river.
While working on the ranch, George and Lennie continue to dream about their own land and
make plans. Some of the men like to join them like Candy and Crook.
Further down the story Lennie sits in the barn petting his dead pup which he accidentally
killed by handling it too hard. Lennie is very sad about it. Then Curley’s wife walks into the
barn. She starts talking with Lennie and asks him to strike her hair. But when she feels
Lennie’s strong hands, she panics and starts to yell. Lennie covers her mouth and kills her, by
accident. He runs away knowing he has done something bad. When the body is discovered,
they all know Lennie did it and Curley plans to murder him.
George guesses where Lennie is. At the riverside. To save Lennie, George kills his friend. The
other men consider George as a hero. Only Slim understands the intention of George.
Characters:
Lennie Small (one of the main characters)
He looks like a giant. Lennie has a mild mental disability, which influences his actions and
makes him completely dependent on George. He always follows George’s direction and likes
to pet soft things. Lennie believes in the dream of the farm with George but gets into trouble
easily because of his impulsive nature
George Milton (one of the main characters)