Symbolism In The Chrysanthemums, And Of Mice And Men

John Steinbeck once stated, “A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.” This quote is much like the short stories and novels that he has written in his lifetime, they are a journey his readers endure and no two of them are alike. The short story that spoke the most to me that I have read would have to be “The Chrysanthemums” along with the novel “Of Mice and Men.” Each of these stories have their own unique use of literary devices; as well each and all of the little details that Steinbeck uses to make these stories what they are. In Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums” he uses the literary devices; symbolism, metaphor, and theme to make his stories stand out and be the best that they can be. Symbolism is defined as the use of symbols to signify qualities and ideas by giving them meanings that are different from their literal …show more content…
A theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work which may be stated directly or indirectly. The novel communicates most intensely a theme of unconventional morality (Levant 138). Lennie ends up killing Curly’s wife, not intentionally of course, but he does not feel any guilt because he has no idea of what the crime is that he just committed. Lennie is not a cruel or evil person, he is a slow, giant, yet very gentle man, but when he isn’t realizing it he is extremely powerful like when he ended up snapping the puppy’s neck as well. Heavilin introduces the idea that Steinbeck wrote "lovingly and carefully" about some characters that society might consider "grotesques in their midst" (47). (Gladstein). It seems as though Gladstein is referring to the fact that many people do see Lennie as a grotesque person simply because he is slower than most people