How does John Steinbeck use animals in ‘Of Mice And ...

For the duration of Of Rats And Guys, John Steinbeck makes references to animals and dog behaviour in portraying the characteristics of the character types. Not only does this individual do this, but also uses actual pets or animals as a moderate in which to show emotions and symbolisms.

It is this motif which I intend to explore through this short composition. In the name of the book, Steinbeck made a decision to mention rodents, taken from part of a composition by Robbie Burns, who also wrote: ‘The best placed plans of mice and men Company aft aglee and leave us naught Yet grief and pain intended for promised joy’. This is quite apt looking at what happens in the book and it may be said that the book involves the poem.

Steinbeck lets the reader know that the story can contain pet references from the beginning of the publication. On the 1st page, rabbits are stated coming “out of the remember to brush to sit on the crushed stone in the evening. ” Later inside the chapter, Lennie says to George, “I remember regarding the rabbits, George”, that George responds, “The hell with the rabbits. That’s whatever you ever can remember is all of them rabbits. ” It is odd that rabbits are stated both in characteristics and in speak dialogue inside the same section. However , it is not so much the rabbits that Lennie is looking forward to, nevertheless the dream of some thing better, his ideal universe. George takes it upon himself to ground Lennie, bringing him back to reality.

Their relationship is sophisticated and we simply get glimpses of their history together. This system is used by the author so the reader comes up with their own interpretations. Lennie is defined further upon “dragging his feet just a little, the way a bear pulls his paws”, creating images that Lennie is like a bear.

When the majority of people hear the word ‘bear’, they immediately believe ‘vicious’, ‘ferocious’, or even ‘wild’. Steinbeck makes it clear that Lennie is definitely none of those things although is in fact a gentle giant who may be unaware of the impression he makes after others. The imagery of a bear can be contradicted down the road when Lennie is once again described to obtain animal attributes, those of a terrier.

If he is gradually coming toward George, he approaches, draws back, and approaches again. When the match arrive at the ranch, a complete batch of characters will be introduced, which include Candy wonderful dog. This may not be the only dog on the ranch, as Slender also has one, one that is pregnant. Candy’s dog symbolises senior years and the past while Slim’s represents lifestyle and circumstances to come. The moment Candy is usually bullied into having his dog taken due to it’s annoyance of others on the plantation, it is the separating of a connection to the past, a tie that has been severed.

Surrounding the same period, Slim’s dog gives birth and young puppies are released into the community. The getting rid of of Candy’s dog is known as a determined action to begin to erase this and to celebrate for the future. It can be said that this really is reflected in the American Wish that occurred during the 1930s. The characters in Of Mice And Men are typical working towards a goal or aspiration.

George and Lennie realize this when they get to the ranch and they notice that what they have is a new start. An opportunity to clear their particular past and work towards the near future. The theme of life staying reflected in nature is usually not uncommon for the remainder of the publication, and Ruben Steinbeck makes several other sources to fatality and how life continues to go forward despite this, as though fatality is a fundamental element of life, how it is inescapable and should be honoured, not really mourned.

This theme performs an important role in the scene where Curley’s Wife fulfills Lennie inside the barn. Before she actually enters, George has already murdered one of Slim’s puppies simply by stroking it too hard. This can be reinforcing the of him being bear-like, how he doesn’t understand his own strength.

When the na�ve personality of Curley’s Wife starts to ‘flirt’ with him, he says that this individual likes to heart stroke soft things and so starts stroking her hair. When ever she begins to struggle, Lennie gets afraid and doesn’t realize that he breaks her neck. Available, it says that her “body flopped like a fish”.

The reader is currently left with the image of a keep with a flailing fish in it’s paws, not in a malignant approach, but in one that is trying to calm this down. Once Lennie pushes off for the brush in which George told him to cover if anything goes wrong at the start of the book, he can met by two apparitions, one of his aunt Clara, and one of a giant bunny. The rabbit is a connection to the wish that Lennie held at the beginning.

Steinbeck is attempting to convey towards the reader the fact that dream that these people in the Great Depression kept was too unrealistic, what sort of series of unfortunate events contributes to the remain competitive destruction with the dream.