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Of Mice and Men: the plot
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John Steinbeck's 1937 novella follows two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression. It begins and ends at the same peaceful pool by the Salinas River.
The dream
George, small and quick, travels with Lennie, a huge, strong man with a learning disability who loves soft things.
They dream of owning a small farm where Lennie can tend rabbits.
They have fled their last job after Lennie touched a woman's dress and was accused of attacking her.
They dream of owning a small farm where Lennie can tend rabbits.
They have fled their last job after Lennie touched a woman's dress and was accused of attacking her.
The ranch
At the ranch near Soledad, they meet Candy, an old worker whose dog is shot by Carlson; Curley, the boss's aggressive son; Curley's wife, who is lonely; Slim, the respected lead mule driver; and Crooks, the Black stable hand, who is kept apart.
Candy offers his savings and the dream seems possible.
Curley attacks Lennie, and Lennie crushes Curley's hand.
Candy offers his savings and the dream seems possible.
Curley attacks Lennie, and Lennie crushes Curley's hand.
The tragedy
Lennie accidentally kills a puppy, then accidentally kills Curley's wife while stroking her hair.
He runs to the pool, as George told him to.
To save him from Curley's lynch mob, George shoots Lennie while describing their dream farm.
He runs to the pool, as George told him to.
To save him from Curley's lynch mob, George shoots Lennie while describing their dream farm.
Why does Steinbeck begin and end at the same pool?
- The opening pool is peaceful and full of hope.
- At the end, the same place is where the dream dies.
- The circular structure suggests the men are trapped in a cycle they cannot escape.
Answer: The circular structure shows that the hopeful dream returns to where it began and ends in tragedy.
George and Lennie's dream, the ranch characters, Candy joins the dream, Curley's hand crushed, the puppy and Curley's wife killed, and George shoots Lennie at the pool.
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