Steinbeck's novel of mice and men written in 1973 has a very in depth plot that pulls on your heartstrings. It is the story of George and Lennie a couple of vagrant workers in California during the depression, struggling to make their dreams come true while dealing with loneliness and the burden of Lennie’s disability. It ends in tragedy and sorrow, but the way the book was constructed and the rhetorical strategies used by the author easily convince the reader that George’s actions in the end were justified.
One major strategy used by the author to justify George's actions is characterization. He often uses figurative language to compare Lennie to animals. The very first time we meet lennie in the book Lennie’s way of walking is compared to “the way a bear drags his paws”(2). This shows us a lot about Lennie’s appearance and demeanor. Steinbeck also shows us a lot about Lennie through the words of other characters. George often directly states throughout the novel that Lennie is “dumb as hell”(39) and others …show more content…
A big example of this is when Carlson shoots Candy’s dog. Carlson tries to reassure him the dog won’t feel a thing because he’ll shoot him “right back of the head”(45). Even so after it’s done Candy says “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”(61). Candy regrets his decision because it was his dog and his burden and he should have taken care of it himself to make sure it was done humanely. George is then put into the same position and he knew something had to be done just like with the dog, but unlike Candy he knows he has to do it. Lennie was his responsibility and he couldn’t just let someone else do it because they wouldn't do it humanely, especially if it were Curley who found him
One major strategy used by the author to justify George's actions is characterization. He often uses figurative language to compare Lennie to animals. The very first time we meet lennie in the book Lennie’s way of walking is compared to “the way a bear drags his paws”(2). This shows us a lot about Lennie’s appearance and demeanor. Steinbeck also shows us a lot about Lennie through the words of other characters. George often directly states throughout the novel that Lennie is “dumb as hell”(39) and others …show more content…
A big example of this is when Carlson shoots Candy’s dog. Carlson tries to reassure him the dog won’t feel a thing because he’ll shoot him “right back of the head”(45). Even so after it’s done Candy says “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”(61). Candy regrets his decision because it was his dog and his burden and he should have taken care of it himself to make sure it was done humanely. George is then put into the same position and he knew something had to be done just like with the dog, but unlike Candy he knows he has to do it. Lennie was his responsibility and he couldn’t just let someone else do it because they wouldn't do it humanely, especially if it were Curley who found him