A tragedy of the Great Depression: Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men is one of John Steinbeck’s most famous works. Written in 1937, it is one of the multiple works Steinbeck wrote about the Great Depression. This tragic novella focuses on two displaced migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, and their struggle to find work.

George and Lennie are best friends, but Lennie has a mental disability that has made it difficult for these friends to keep a job. At first glance, this novella seems to be about the struggle of migrant workers during the Great Depression, but actually, this novella delves much deeper into the oppressive nature of humankind. Lennie’s mental shortcomings are a constant source of oppression for both him and George. The nature of humankind is to oppress the weak. Throughout the story, Lennie is constantly faulted for his immature understanding of life. He has a child’s mind in a man’s body, causing him to be misunderstood and mistreated.

Another important theme in Of Mice and Men is the strong bond of fraternity between Geroge and Lennie. George is willing to sacrifice his own success in life for the sake of his friend. George has many dreams to own his own land and farm, the American Dream at the time, but is unable to achieve success with Lennie at his side. Even though George complains about Lennie being a burden to him, he continues to stand by his side and protect him, acting much as an older brother or father figure. In the end of the novel, Lennie accidently breaks Curley’s wife’s neck, killing her. As Curleys lynch mob comes after Lennie, George shoots him in the back of the head, not as an act of harm to his friend but as a way of protecting him from the harm the lynch mob would of caused him.

Of Mice and Men is one of John Steinbeck’s greatest works. The themes follow the common trends amongst most of his works, focusing on the tragic aspects of the Great Depression. This novella follows the style of many writers of the Modernism and Realism literary movements.