Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for his works of literature one being Of Mice and Men. In the novel Steinbeck exposes the truths about America both the good and the brutally bad. He was awarded this prize for his works and how they exposed all unwanted truths.

These truths would include the harsh living conditions of the poor farm workers, and the treatment they were given. In the novel Lennie and George are forced to flee from the farm that they had previously been working on since Lennie got in trouble with the woman. When George and Lennie show up at their new farm and go to the bunkhouse George notices the pesticide and questions the hygiene. The man says that all is well, just that the man before was paranoid and used the substance and not to worry. The mattresses are made of straw, so you can imagine how comfortable that would be. Lennie is a big fellow and when they meet the boss’s son Curley, you get the feeling that Curley doesn’t like Lennie. It ends up that whenever Curley gets angry he takes his rage out on Lenny. Curley rages on Lennie because he is an easy target, since he won’t fight back, because he doesn’t want to be kicked out again.

When Lennie and George talk by the fire the night before they begin their work at the new farm, and Lennie has George describe the farm that they had been dreaming up for awhile. Now since Lennie isn’t all there, he believes that someday soon they will have saved up the money to purchase their farm where he can have rabbits. George however being the realist knows that there is no way that they are going to be able to afford their own farm, but plays along for Lennie’s sake. I also believe he does this to keep some hope for himself for motivation.