Ever since its publication, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men has been an acclaimed novella, relating its story of two migrant men trying to find their place in both social and economical America during the Great Depression. These two men, along with the other individuals they meet on their journey – laboring wage workers and a disabled black man – are troubled with isolation and loneliness. The lack of interaction and brotherhood among these people cause them to lash out at possible friends and take advantage of others’ weaknesses, falling into the primal stages of human interaction. Steinbeck’s unique range of characters and their condescending tones toward one another portray human nature as manipulative, desiring to dominate yet longing
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In addition to fellowship and companionship, the desire for control and power also plays a role in human nature. The character of George Milton clearly displays this. Throughout the novella, George serves as Lennie’s friend and protector, keeping Lennie out of trouble and taking care of him. George does this out of the goodness in his heart, not because he is obligated to do so. When he tells Lennie, “‘I could get along so easy and so nice if didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl,’” his tone is reminiscent, thinking back to how his life could have been if he had chosen to abandon Lennie (Steinbeck 7). By doing this, he is emphasizing that he would rather be with Lennie than live his own life and have his own family. But it is not only his pity for Lennie or Lennie’s company that keeps George around. In fact, on many occasions, George displays his innate dominance over Lennie: “Slowly, like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand” (Steinbeck 9). George’s actions towards Lennie convey that he does not quite see Lennie as a human, but rather an animal. Lennie rarely disobeys him, thus, George is easily able to take advantage over him. Although it is true to a certain extent that George stays with Lennie because he truly wants to take care of …show more content…
His position on the farm as a black stable-hand deemed him as inferior to the other white men. However, this does not stop him from wanting the option of being in a domineering position. As he talks to Lennie in his room, Crooks slowly unleashes his power over Lennie, saying to him, “s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more…Nobody can’t tell what a guy’ll do… Le’s say he wants to come back but can’t. S’pose he gets killed or hurt so he can’t come back… Want me to tell ya what’ll happen? They’ll take ya to the booby hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck
In addition to fellowship and companionship, the desire for control and power also plays a role in human nature. The character of George Milton clearly displays this. Throughout the novella, George serves as Lennie’s friend and protector, keeping Lennie out of trouble and taking care of him. George does this out of the goodness in his heart, not because he is obligated to do so. When he tells Lennie, “‘I could get along so easy and so nice if didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl,’” his tone is reminiscent, thinking back to how his life could have been if he had chosen to abandon Lennie (Steinbeck 7). By doing this, he is emphasizing that he would rather be with Lennie than live his own life and have his own family. But it is not only his pity for Lennie or Lennie’s company that keeps George around. In fact, on many occasions, George displays his innate dominance over Lennie: “Slowly, like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand” (Steinbeck 9). George’s actions towards Lennie convey that he does not quite see Lennie as a human, but rather an animal. Lennie rarely disobeys him, thus, George is easily able to take advantage over him. Although it is true to a certain extent that George stays with Lennie because he truly wants to take care of …show more content…
His position on the farm as a black stable-hand deemed him as inferior to the other white men. However, this does not stop him from wanting the option of being in a domineering position. As he talks to Lennie in his room, Crooks slowly unleashes his power over Lennie, saying to him, “s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more…Nobody can’t tell what a guy’ll do… Le’s say he wants to come back but can’t. S’pose he gets killed or hurt so he can’t come back… Want me to tell ya what’ll happen? They’ll take ya to the booby hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck