Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a historical fiction novel about two ranch workers, Lennie and George, who are trying to build a stable life during the Great Depression. Steinbeck portrays Lennie as someone with a cognitive disability whose strength and innocence often get him in trouble. They find a new job at a ranch and seem to be doing well until Lennie accidentally does something that puts his life in danger.

I think I say this for every book I review, but I read this because it’s a classic, which I love :)

One of my favorite parts of this book was the dream that Lennie and George share of having their own property someday. Lennie often asks George to tell him their dream, like a story of their future, where they will tend to animals and “live off the fat of the land”. I liked this aspect because their dream gives them hope, and for a while, it even seems possible when another ranch worker offers to help contribute to the property. However, when Lennie accidentally does something really awful and his life is on the line, their dream is shattered. Things take an even darker turn at the end, but I don’t want to spoil what happens, so you’ll have to read it for yourself.

One aspect that I found very thought-provoking was the role of the ending and the moral ambiguity that arises from it. Steinbeck blurs the lines between kindness and cruelty, and in the end, it’s left to the reader to decide what to think. The ending shows how complicated human decision-making can become when stuck in an unjust situation.

Another aspect that I found interesting was how the dream evolves with the plot. The dream shifts from a fairy tale to a shared comfort to something that briefly feels attainable. But after Lennie’s terrible accident, it shatters as George struggles with what to do and Lennie goes into hiding.

Similarly to this theme of shattered dreams, the title of this book, Of Mice and Men, apparently comes from a poem about shattered dreams ((I searched this up) here is the spot in the poem):

“The best laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang aft a-gley [often go astray],
And lea'v us nought but grief and pain,
For promised joy”

This is from Robert Burns, "To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up in Her Nest with a Plow”, written in 1785. These lines fit perfectly with the plot since their dream, which promises joy/hope, goes astray, and in its place is left grief and pain.

On another note, the entire novel is essentially critiquing the impossibility of finding a better life in a world of injustice. The novel shows the harsh reality of the American Dream and how systemic injustices make it impossible.

I found this novel very interesting, even if the plot is a little slow at times. If you are interested in social injustice, life in the Great Depression, or thought-provoking plots, you’ll like this book. Overall, this book leaves you thinking about what it means to dream in a world that doesn’t reward it. This may be a short read, but it sticks with you after you close it.

-Ana