Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men is the story of two men who set forth working from ranch to ranch in hopes to earn enough money to fulfill their dream of owning their own land. The story takes place in the spring months during the depression era in California on open hillsides full of trees and brush along with flowing water which you could look across into the distance and imagine what that land would be like. George and Lennie, although very different from each other have traveled together their entire lives in hopes to "live off the fat of the land', Unfortunately the two of them have frequently been interrupted by some obstacles throughout their journey, and eventually George is left with a decision he has to make which would forever overcome all of these obstacles.

George was "small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose" Steinbeck p2. Lennie was the complete opposite of George. "Lennie was a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws" Steinbeck p2. George and Lennie also differed in other ways. George was the smart one of the couple, always leading the way on their journey and doing all of the talking, sharp minded. Lennie on the other hand wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he would tend to forget a lot, even forgetting who his own Aunt was. Lennie wasn't much of a talker, George usually did most of the talking for him. Lennie mind was of a young child, but, stuck in a big mans body.

George and Lennies journey began traveling from Weed, a ranch which they were working on, but the were ran out Weed because Lennie had gotten into trouble. Lennie has a thing for touching and petting things such as mice, rabbits, anything with a soft touch. While in Weed Lennie saw a girl wearing a velvet dress which he couldn't help but to touch. Upon touching the dress the girl began to panic. Not meaning any harm, Lennie held on to her dress with his giant hands as she tried to get away in panic. The people of Weed geared up and went hunting for Lennie in thoughts that he may have raped her. Off to Soledad George and Lennie went.

Soledad was up north in the Salinas Valley, the two got work passes and traveled there. Dropped off miles away, "George and Lennie traveled along a path next to the Salinas river, which drops in close to the hillside bank and runs. deep and green" Steinbeck p1. George told Lennie once they get to the ranch not to say a word, because if Lennie spoke the boss would have thought he was slow, George insisted he do all the talking. Lennie was a hell of a worker so the two would be good as long as Lennie kept his mouth shut upon arriving at the ranch with the work passes.

As the day became night George and Lennie decided to rest before heading to the ranch Lennie asked George to tell him the story about the Rabbits. The story about the rabbits was one that George always told Lennie and he would become excited just as a child would. This story was about the only thing Lennie could remember. Lennie would ask George to tell him it even though he knew every word, it was a story about them having their own ranch "An live off the fatta the lan'" Steinbeck 14 And the rabbits Lennie would say, due to his excitement he gets by touching soft things. George told Lennie he could tend the rabbits if he remembered not to say anything upon arriving to the ranch. George told Lennie "Look , Lennie. I want you to look around here. You can remember this place, can't you? The ranch is about a quarter mile up that way. Just follow the river?" "Sure, said Lennie. "I can remember this. Di'n't I remember about not gonna say a word?" "'Course you did. Well' look. Lennie-if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush till I come for you."

George and Lennie arrived on the ranch ready to work and earn some money.At the ranch they meet a bunch of people including, Curley