OMAM
1. Loneliness
• Nearly all characters, including George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife, admit to being lonely.
- George tells Lennie that the life of a ranch-hand is among the loneliest of lives
- Curley’s wife admits to Candy, Crooks, and Lennie that she is unhappily married,
- Crooks tells Lennie that life is no good without a companion to turn to in times of need.
• Each are so desperate that they talk about their loneliness to a stranger
• Marriage is no solution, men turn to brothels
• Solitaire is George’s card game – a solo game
• Candy doesn’t want to lose his dog
• Itinerant workers looking for work – created by 1930s Depression
• George and Lennie break loneliness. When Lennie says he will leave, George says. “.. I want you to stay with me."
2. The predatory nature of humans
• The characters seek to destroy those who are even weaker than they.
- Eg Crooks criticizes Lennie’s dream of the farm and his dependence on George.
• Steinbeck shows that oppression does not come only from the hands of the strong or the powerful.
- Crooks seems at his strongest when he has nearly reduced Lennie to tears
- Curley’s wife feels most powerful when she threatens to have Crooks lynched
• Book suggests that the strength used to oppress others is itself born of weakness.
3. Fraternity and the idealized male friendship
• Shows that men who are different can come together – opening para : one man behind another but dressed equally
• Lennie imitates George – the way he sits, the way his hat is
• The men want to come together in a way that would allow them to be like brothers to one another - protecting each other
- The farm on which George and Lennie plan to live has a magnetic quality, that keeps them together
- Crooks has witnessed countless men fall under the same silly spell, and still he cannot help but ask Lennie if he can join
• Boss doesn’t get it " I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy."
• Book shows that ultimately, the world doesn’t allow such relationships
o Lennie and George, who come closest to a brotherhood, are forced to separate tragically.
o The tragic end to the friendship signals they have lost a dream larger than themselves.
• The rest of the world is represented by Curley and Carlson, who dont acknowledge the loss of the friendship at the end
4. Women
The portrayal of women is limited and unflattering.
• Women have no names - suggesting lower status
• Curley’s wife can’t escape marriage – suggesting no power
• Curley’s wife had foolish dreams – suggesting she is naive
• Women shown to be source of problems
5. The corrupting power of women - Women are a problem
• Lennie and George on the run due to trouble when a woman accused Lennie of rape for touching her dress.
o George is convinced that women are always the cause of such trouble.
• Men steer away from Curley’s wife
• Women are sexual objects - visit to the “flophouse” (brothel) is enough of women for George
• Curley’s wife constantly looking for excitement or trouble.
• Curley’s wife shown to pick on the oppressed - threatens to have the black stable-hand lynched
• Curley’s wife flirts with Lennie and seals her unfortunate fate
• Women have no place in the author’s idealized vision of a world structured around the brotherly bonds of men.
6. Concealment and honesty
• Whole book is based on a lie that dreams could come true.
• There is Physical hiding - G+L hiding in ditch, Lennie hiding mouse, L hiding puppy
• Hiding the truth – C wife
• Concealment as a form of kindness - G faces L away from him so can shoot him
, 7. Power, strength and weakness
• Steinbeck explores different types of strength and weakness
• The Ranch is a metaphor for USA in Depression – suffering, strife, strength, weakness and helplessness
• Helplessness
o loneliness
o economic vulnerability – Depression,
• Physical strength – Lennie’s physical strength gives him economic power ….but it is a problem too - he cannot help killing
• Power of Authority - Curley, as a symbol of authority on the ranch, uses position to intimidate the men and his wife….
o but it is not enough – he doesn’t get respect
o shows that physical and authority power can be contested…the only, strong form of power is:
• The predatory nature of humans - physical strength is not the only force that oppresses the men - it is the:
- Put downs – threat to get Crooks lynched
- Power of discrimination
• People get power in unexpected ways – dreams, Candy bringing money to farm plan, Curley’s wife entertaining the ranch,
women using power of sexuality but limited –whores. Power of family (Aunt Clara)
• Man and animals are disposable. Candy’s dog, Lennie
• George’s power over Lennie – dreams/stories, shoots him – and Lennie’s over George – gives him something to care for.
Power of companionship
8. Dreams/ The impossibility of the American dream
• Dreams give comfort and hope – motivate to escape. “Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden”
• Most of the characters in Of Mice and Men admit, at one point or another, to dreaming of a different life.
- Curley’s wife confesses her desire to be a movie star and has resigned herself to an unfulfilling marriage.
- Crooks wants to hoe a patch of garden on Lennie’s farm
- Candy wants to join in
- G + L have farm dream
• Dream used by Lennie as a comforter – “rhythmically” like a mantra
• Dream gives freedom, escapism …making them typically American - about happiness and freedom
- George and Lennie’s dream of owning a farm – giving earnings and protection - represents the American ideal.
• Dream used by the most unfortunate
• Dreams most valuable when shared – G does it for L
• The bitter Crooks is right: such paradises of freedom and safety are not to be found in this world
9. Prejudice and discrimination
Racism:
• Crooks kept in dark shed and never visited
• Lennie and George immediately don’t associate with Crooks
• Crooks treated badly by people with no power, e.g. Curley’s wife
• Racism makes Crooks defensive and used to disappointment (as dream will never happen)
• "Why ain’t you wanted?" Lennie asked.. "’Cause I’m black…" (4.10-11) Lennie cant understand racism.
• There is some advantage in it: Crooks makes an excuse. "This is just a nigger talkin',….it don't mean nothing, see?" (
Gender:
• Women depicted as sexual objects, problems, etc
• Prejudice when Lennie and George first hear about her and immediately stay away
Mental Disability
• Lennie being discriminated against because of his mental disability
• George calling him a “crazy bastard”
Ageism
• Candy is called “lousy ol sheep”. He doesn’t work
• Not seen as part of ranchers (didn’t go on Saturday night)
• Used for his weakness to get rid of his dog
10. Religion
• L+G dream is their heaven
• Humans playing God - George sending Lennie to heaven, Slim kills puppies, Carlson shoots dog
• Curley’s wife – red like the devil
• Snake (in the Garden of Eden in the Bible) is eaten by the heron – signalling the end of religion
