Of Mice and Men Blubberin Like a Baby

Lennie is the character I've heard the most about, probably because he's the most memorable: the seeds of his eventual downfall are expertly planted in his first appearance—he's helplessly easy to scare and far besides strong to handle the soft things he loves to touch more than annihilation:

"You crazy fool.  Don't yous remember I could see your feet was wet where you went acrost the river to get it?"  He heard Lennie' wimpering weep and wheeled almost.  "Blubberin' similar a baby!  A big guy like yous.    (10)

Lady, huh?  Don't you even retrieve who that lady was.  That was your ain Aunt Clara.  An' she stopped given' 'em (mice) to ya.  You ever killed 'em.   (eleven)

But I'm far more interested in George'southward graphic symbol.  He'southward the center of the novel: all of Lennie's actions revolve around him and all the things he says or does in ane mode or some other.  Fifty-fifty though Lennie commits the accidental murder that climaxes the novel, it's due to George's warnings that he gets scared plenty to panic and cause the death.  George even motivates Lennie's fantasies with his stories virtually the farm they're going to buy—though it starts as a pleasant fantasy about Lennie being able to care for rabbits, Georgie himself starts to believe it as more than the mere carrot he uses to keep Lennie going.

I think I knowed from the very first.  I think I knowed nosotros'd never practice her.  He usta like to hear almost information technology so much I got to thinking perhaps nosotros would.    (92)

Why exactly George stays with Lennie isn't really explained; undoubtedly he doesn't really know himself.  The version he tells Slim when Lennie'south petting the pup Slim gives to him on George's request certainly reflects some uncertainty in George's reasoning:

Him and me was both born in Auburn.  I knowed his Aunt Clara.  She took him when he was a baby and raised him upward.  When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin'.  Got kinda used to each other after a while.    (39)

There are two implicit reasons that George takes Lennie effectually with him: one is that George is just a practiced person—Steinbeck's foil for Curley and almost of the other ranchers.  Even when George gets frustrated with all that he does for Lennie, all that he gives upwardly for Lennie's sake, George quickly regains his sophistication and recognizes that Lennie can't help information technology:

"I wisht I could put y'all in a cage with almost a million mice an' let you have fun."  His anger left him suddenly.  He looked across the fire at Lennie'southward anguished face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames.    (13)

It'due south appropriate that George should walk off at the end of the novel with Slim: they're basically in the aforementioned position, and Slim clearly recongizes and respects the things George has washed for Lennie.  We can run into this the first time that we run across Slim: he remarks that Lennie is a great worker and George agrees, waxing effusive about Lennie'due south strength and will to work, and "Slimm looked approvingly at George for having given the compliment" (34).  Both George and Slim look out for those around them less capable of looking out for themselves and those who are less-empowered than they; it's only that George has a permanent resident in his life, while Slim doesn't (at least not during the novel's plot).  This sort of relationship is strange to the other ranchers: Carlson remarks every bit they walk off at the end, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?" (105); and Curley makes the only implication with the slightest flake of queer imagery in an effort to understand George's relationship with Lennie:

"We travel together," said George coldly.
"Oh, so it'south that way."
George was tense and motionless.  "Yes, information technology'southward that way."    (26)

The other explanation—a bit less heartwarming—is that for George and Lennie, having the other nearby brings a sense of comfort from normalcy in a harsh world.  Every bit Slim says, "Perchance ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other," (34).  This is reflected in the idiom that George has evidently come up with to condolement start Lennie and then probably himself:

"Guys similar u.s.a., that piece of work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. … They own't got nothing to expect alee to."
Lennie was delighted.  "That's it—that's it.  At present tell how it is with us."
George went on.  "With united states it own't like that.  We got a future.  We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about u.s.a..…"
Lennie broke in. "Just not u.s.!  An' why?  Because … because I got you to expect after me, and you got me to look subsequently you, and that'due south why."  He laughed delightfully.    (15)

This is paraphrasically repeated far more tragically at the end of the novel, every bit George prepares to shoot Lennie so he is non made to suffer.  George does indeed come through with his promise: he ensures that Lennie is not made to suffer at the easily of cruel people who don't care for him when his situation is far likewise hopeless fifty-fifty for George to help.  Lenny has George looking out for him fifty-fifty as he pulls the trigger to kill him.

Even with a kindred spirit like Slim by his side, this interpretation of the reason for Lennie and George's continued friendship doesn't bode well for George, deprived of the other half of his looking-afterward partnership.  This thought has to exist going through his caput as they walk away.

The character Crooks, for the relatively pocket-sized advent he makes in the novel, leaves a very strong impression.  Even his proper noun is significant to his grapheme: as the only black man on the ranch he would undoubtedly have been typecast as something of a crook or criminal, and he is likewise afflicted with a kleptomaniacal spine.

Crooks separates himself from the others on the ranch, due to his race and deformity: "He kept his altitude and demanded that other people continue theirs," (66).  He also enjoys the carrion comfort of being something of an underclass of one even below the drifting working men, denying compliments nigh his comparatively private and permanent living accommodations:

"Must be nice to have a room all to yourself this way."
"Sure," said Crooks.  "And a manure pile right under the window.  Certain, information technology'due south nifty."    (73)

When Lennie comes to join him, oblivious (or seeming to be) about Crooks differences, Crooks lets him in—literally and figuratively—nothing first the difference between himself and someone like George and and so musing on what Lennie's fate would be George were not around to look out for him:

This is but a nigger talkin' and a busted-back nigger.  So information technology don't mean zip, see?  Y'all couldn't remember information technology anyways.  I seen it over an' over—a guy talkin' to another guy and it don't make non divergence if he don't hear or sympathise.  The thing is, they're talkin', or they're settin' even so not talkin'.  It don't make no difference, no divergence. … George can tell yous screwy things, and information technology don't matter.  Information technology'due south just the talking.  Information technology's just bein' with another guy.  That's all.    (69)

Want me ta tell ya what'll happen?  They'll take ya to the booby hatch.  They'll tie ya up with a neckband, like a dog.    (70)

The implication afterwards these few pages of musing is that Crooks is not much dissimilar from Lennie.  And when his beau cripple Processed shows up, he derives even more than satisfaction from the visitor: "It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasance with anger," (72).

It gets to the point that, when Candy has convinced Crooks that he, George, and Lennie are serious most buying their own farm, that Crooks feels enough of an equal to ask to bring together them: "If y'all… guys would desire a hand to work for goose egg—but his proceed, why I'd come an' lend a hand.  I ain't so crippled I can't work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to," (75).  To his credit, Candy isn't patently opposed to the idea.

When Curley'south wife come in, though, the power dynamic shifts.  No loner are they iii powerless workers discussing how they will empower themselves; at present they are joined past a white woman with a somewhat powerful husband.  She puts down each of the men in plow, with her belittling of Crooks past far the near savage:

"Listen Nigger," she said.  "You know what I could do to you lot if you open your trap?"
Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and so he sabbatum down on his bunk and drew into himself.
She closed on him.  "Yous know what I could do?"
Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall.  "Yes, ma'am."
"Well you keep your identify then, Nigger.  I could get yous strung upwardly on a tree so like shooting fish in a barrel it ain't even funny."
Crooks had reduced himself to nothing.  In that location was no personality, no ego—nothing to agitate either like or dislike.  He said, "Yes, ma'am," and his voice was toneless.    (78-79)

Reminded of simply how low in society he is, Crooks effaces himself and, reminded that he is below fifty-fifty Candy and Lennie, he attempts to relieve some face by backing out of their plan with the farm.  "I didn' mean it.  Jus' foolin'.  I wouldn' want to become to no place similar that," (81).  He even blames them for getting his hopes upwardly and teasing him with equality: "You guys comin' in an' settin' made me forget.  What she says is truthful," (fourscore).

(Note also that once he has been reminded of his identify, he drops his Gs and Ts—e.g., "coming" becomes "comin'"—with a greater frequency than when he was talking to Lennie and Processed.)

The two virtually poignant images I would feel remiss not to mention are those of quite and silence and Calrson'south Luger pistol.

Placidity is mentioned at the very beginning and terminate of the novel, to describe nature before George and Lennie walk into frame at the beginning and before Lennie enters at the end.  It also makes very noticeable appearances at two primal moments: when Carlson has gone off to shoot Candy's old dog:

It was silent outside.  Carlson's footsteps died away.  The silence came into the room.  And the silence lasted.    (48)

and just subsequently Lennie leaves Curley'southward wife's trunk lying cached in the hay in the barn:

Information technology was very quiet in the befouled, and the tranquility of the afternoon was on the ranch.  Even the clang of the pitched shoes, even the voices of the men in the game seemed to grow more quiet.  The air in the barn was dusky in accelerate of the exterior day.    (89-90)

At that place are numerous similarities betwixt these two passages, especially how they both slow down the narrative.  The reason is clear: terrible events take been set in motion and we already know the unavoidable conclusion.  All that's left in between is the silence.

The Luger is used for two different mercy killings: Candy'southward domestic dog by Carlson and Lennie by Georgie.  In the confusion before the men leave to find Lennie, the pistol is mentioned and the reader is reminded of its original apply, foreshadowing what volition eventually happen.

This is just one of several examples of one thing leading to another in a logical if disturbing fashion.  I can think of no better use of foreshadowing in anything I've read than in Of Mice and Men.

Likewise of annotation:

• Mice from the title: "It'due south only a mouse, George." (seven)
• "George rolled on his side.  'No reason [to hurry to the ranch] at all for y'all.  I like information technology here.  Tomorra nosotros're gonna go to work.  I seen thrashin' machines on the way downwardly.  That means we'll be bucking grain numberless, bustin' a gut.  Tonight I'm gonna lay correct here and await upward.  I like information technology." (nine)
• BTJ: "And these shelves were loaded with petty articles, lather and talcum pulverization, razors and those Western magazines ranch men love to read and belittle at and secretly believe." (eighteen)
• "Never did seem right to me.  Southward'pose Curley jumps a big guy an licks him.  Always'body says what a game guy similar Curley is.  And due south'pose he does the aforementioned matter and gets licked.  And then ever'trunk says the large guy oughtta pick somebody his own size, and maybe they gang up on the large guy." (27)
• " 'Funny matter,' she said.  'If I grab any 1 man, and he's alone, I become along fine with him.  Simply just allow ii of the guys assemble an' you won't talk.  Jus' nix simply mad.'  She dropped her fingers and put her hands on her hips.  'You're all scared of each other, that's what.  Ever' 1 of you'south scared the residuum is goin' to get something on you.' " (75)
• "'Nother fourth dimension I met a guy, an' he was in pitchers.  Went out to eh Riverside Dance Palace with him.  He says he was gonna put me in the movies.  Said I was a natural.  Soon's he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write me about it." (86)
• "As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than than a moment.  And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment." (ninety)

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Source: https://figurativeink.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/john-steinbeck-of-mice-and-men/

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