Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, have been let off...

Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, have been let off of a bus a ways away from the California ranch where they are due to start work. George is a small, dark man with â€Å"sharp, strong features.† Lennie, his companion, is his opposite, a massive man with a â€Å"shapeless† face. To slake their thirst, the two stop in a clearing by a pool and decide to stay for the night. As the two talk, it becomes clear that Lennie is deeply devoted to George and reliant upon him for protection and guidance. George finds that Lennie, who loves feeling soft things but often accidentally murders them, has been carrying and stroking a dead mouse. George complains noisily that his life would be better without having to care for Lennie. He and Lennie share a†¦show more content†¦He tells how Lennie has frequently gotten them into trouble. For instance, they were forced to run away from their last job because Lennie tried to touch a woman’s outfit and was accused of r ape. Slim consents to give Lennie one of his puppies, and the other ranchers continue trying to convince Candy to kill his old dog. When Slim agrees with them, saying that death would be a welcome release to the miserable animal, Candy gives in. One of the ranchers swears that it will be done painlessly. Slim goes to the barn to tend to the horses, and Curley, who is frenziedly searching for his wife, heads to the barn to waylay Slim. Candy overhears George and Lennie talking about their plans to purchase land, and offers his life’s savings if they will let him come with them. The three make a agreement to let no one else know of their plan. Slim arrives back at the bunkhouse, scolding Curley for his suspicions. Curley, looking for an easy conduit for his anger, finds Lennie and decides to fight him. Lennie crushes Curley’s hand in the brawl. Slim cautions Curley that if he tries to get George and Lennie fired, he will be the butt of all the jokes on the farm. The next night, most of the men go to the nearby brothel. Lennie is left with Crooks, the lonesome, black stable-hand, and Candy. Curley’s wife flirts with them, deciding not to leave until the others get back. She sees the scratches on Lennie’s face and suspects that he, and not a machine as Curley claimed, is toShow MoreRelatedOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck1358 Words   |  6 Pagesviews. It takes place in the year 1937, a period associated with the Great Depression, and illustrates the hardships of the time, and more so those that laborers such as George and Lennie experience. Life proves to be full of disappointments for both men who are victims of harsh circumstances in more ways than one. The two have a dream to own a farm of their own but circumstance and fate robs them of their dream for a better life. This is a depiction of the lost American Dream during the Great DepressionRead MoreThe American Dream in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men Essay2971 Words   |  12 Pages happiness and security were truly possible. During colonial time there were two main parts of America, the east and west that was inhabited. The west coat was colonised by the Spanish during the early 17th century giving birth to a vast labour market around the Californian area. However the east coast was settled by the English during the 17th century, this caused a major impact on migration from Europeto the Americas, and this left the whole centre of America completelyRead MoreThe Theme of Loneliness in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men Essay examples1765 Words   |  8 Pagesranch, which is near the town of Soledad, California. Steinbeck got the name for his novel from a poem by Robert Burns called To a mouse, on turning her up in her nest with the plough. At the time this novel was written America was in the period of the Great Depression. This meant people could not find many permanent jobs and so had to travel around the country looking for work. This meant that the workers were sometimes away from their families for a long time and had toRead More Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay example9610 Words   |  39 PagesOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck John Steinbeck was born on 27 Feb 1902 in Salinas, California, not far from the area where Of Mice and Men is set. He attended Stanford University, but never settled to one area of study and left without obtaining a degree. In his twenties, he pursued a varied working life, including that of an itinerant ranch worker, similar to the characters portrayed in the novel. His early writings had some success, and established him as an author interested in