Of Mice and Men

Gr 10 Up–In the ruthless and rootless world of Depression-era migrant farming, George and Lennie share something unusual: companionship. George protects Lennie, a large and powerful but mentally disabled man, from the harassment and cruel teasing of those who are too ignorant to know better. Their dream is to find a place of their own, where they can live in peace and dignity, but this dream is shattered by Lennie’s innocent violence. The story ends with George having to kill Lennie to save him from an ignoble death at the hands of a lynch mob led by the husband of a woman Lennie killed unintentionally. This short, sparsely narrated novel overlays 1930s social history with a portrait of the human condition. Steinbeck offers readers a colorful rendering of a bleak period in U.S. history, when migrant laborers struggled to survive. The book also presents a story of love and tragedy realistic to any era. The novel is often taught as an example of Naturalism, literature which presents life and mankind as they exist. Steinbeck does refrain from commentary and explanation, and the novel evolves primarily through dialogue. The author immerses readers in the lives of his characters, who are often lonely, misunderstood and deeply flawed. This classic does not shy away from the pain of life. While its representation of an unnamed mental disability can be problematic, itself a depiction of a particular mentality and era, conversations and discussions should be scaffolded accordingly.