Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Summary

Of Mice and Men follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, during the Great Depression as they pursue the American Dream of owning land. Their friendship and struggles with loneliness, societal marginalization, and shattered hopes reveal themes of human fragility and the impossibility of idealized futures. The novella uses potent symbols like the dream ranch and animal imagery to critique systemic inequality.

This book appeals to readers exploring themes of friendship, systemic inequality, and the human condition. Students analyzing literary devices like symbolism (e.g., the river setting, animal imagery) or motifs (loneliness, unattainable dreams) will find it essential. Fans of Steinbeck’s social realism or Depression-era literature also benefit.

Yes—it’s a seminal work for its stark portrayal of friendship and societal barriers. Steinbeck’s concise storytelling and layered symbolism (e.g., the dream farm as false hope) offer timeless insights into human vulnerability. Critics praise its exploration of mental health stigma and economic disenfranchisement, making it relevant for modern discussions of equity.

The farm represents economic freedom and an idealized escape from hardship, but ultimately symbolizes unattainable dreams. George and Lennie’s vision seduces others like Candy and Crooks, yet its impossibility underscores Steinbeck’s critique of the flawed American Dream during the Great Depression.

Animal imagery—mice, rabbits, dogs—highlights vulnerability and societal neglect. Lennie’s accidental killing of mice mirrors his own fate, while Candy’s dog symbolizes the disposability of the weak. These motifs question how society treats those with disabilities or diminished utility.

Loneliness pervades characters like Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Candy, reflecting the isolating effects of poverty and prejudice. George’s bond with Lennie defies this norm, yet its tragic end reinforces Steinbeck’s argument that systemic inequality dooms meaningful human connections.

George kills Lennie to spare him from a violent lynching, embodying mercy and tragic responsibility. This act underscores the impossibility of protecting the vulnerable in a harsh world and severs their shared dream, symbolizing the collapse of hope in the face of systemic cruelty.

Lennie’s death represents the destruction of innocence and the inevitability of failure for marginalized individuals. His fate mirrors the euthanized dog and mice, emphasizing society’s brutality toward those deemed “weak” or nonconforming.

The repeated failure of George and Lennie’s farm dream exposes the American Dream as a myth for the working class. Steinbeck illustrates how systemic barriers—economic disparity, racism, ableism—crush individual aspirations, particularly during the Depression.

George and Lennie’s friendship defies the pervasive loneliness of ranch life, offering temporary solace. However, their bond is strained by societal pressures, culminating in George’s tragic choice to kill Lennie—a paradoxical act of love and surrender to systemic hopelessness.

1. “The best-laid plans often go astray”: Highlights the futility of dreams.
2. “Tell me about the rabbits, George”: Symbolizes Lennie’s childlike hope.
3. “A guy needs somebody”: Reveals the universal need for companionship amid isolation.

Steinbeck portrays migrant workers’ instability, poverty, and limited rights. Characters like Candy (disabled) and Crooks (Black) face systemic exclusion, mirroring historical discrimination. The novella critiques unfair labor practices and societal neglect of marginalized groups.

Its themes—systemic inequality, mental health stigma, and the elusive nature of dreams—resonate in modern conversations about equity. The symbolism of “otherness” (e.g., Lennie’s disability) parallels contemporary struggles for inclusion and fair treatment.

Critics argue the novella oversimplifies mental disability through Lennie’s portrayal or romanticizes sacrifice. Others note limited female representation (Curley’s wife is unnamed). However, most praise its unflinching social commentary and symbolic depth.

Like The Grapes of Wrath, it critiques socioeconomic injustice but uses tighter focus and allegory. While less epic in scope, its concentrated symbolism and tragic economy of language make it a staple of American literature.