Of Mice and Men – Mans Pursuit of Happiness Can Bring Destruction
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Mans Pursuit of Happiness Can Bring Destruction
.The novel Of Mice and Men was written by John Steinbeck. In Soledad, California during the Great Depression in the 1930s two men of the one named George and the other named Lennie were men who travel around working at ranches. George is the small, quick-witted one, and Lennie is the big, slow, dumb and extremely strong one. They have a dream, to have a little place all to themselves, without anyone bothering them. Their dreams are shattered though, when Lennie, who doesnt know his own strength, gets in trouble. In the pursuit of love, happiness and the American dream, man becomes a victim of his own circumstances and discovers that the good life becomes impossible for humanity to obtain and contains many flaws. Lennie and George represents Cain and Able a biblical story who were two brothers searching for their elusive dream. In the story of Cane and Abel ,Cane was to take care of Able .Both brothers were to prepare and offering to God to receive His blessing. When God came to look upon that offering God asked Cane were is Abel .In curiosity and furiousness Cane asked God” Am I my brothers keeper?” Just like in the story of Cane and Abel ,George is Lennies keeper ,George is consistently watching over Lennie no matter where they go .In the story of Cane and Abel,Cane was furious with God because God had asked of his brother .Cane prepared his offering just for the fact of the knowledge that he was to receive blessings in return.Those who are more able should take care of those who are not able to complete tasks in life.But in order in being capabable of doing that one must have patience and faith in that matters and struggles that a person has to go throught with one other.In similarity George was at guidance for Lennie at the main fact because he had a pitty upon Lennie and a guilty conscious . He stayed by Lennies side and expectations which was to live the normal “American Lifew”Having their own piece of land would defy the odds that they would make it in the society that they lived in. Lennie and George cared for each other in contrast to the other lonely men that they found themselves around. Both friends are in pursuit of love and happiness which is an included in their specific American dream .Lennie dreamed of living off the fat off his own land and endures in his own hardship and work for no one but himself.
In Steinbecks story, George and Lennies dream of living in the Promised Land, they were willing to over look each others character flaws, resulting in one taking advantage of the other. Also their dream to Lennie is huge matter and is at the mercy if Georges ego.Lennie is a child like although he has a huge frame. He had lots of compassion in him he even fell in love with the dead mouse that George so callously threw away.
Lennie displays more of an animal instinct when he threw himself down and drank confidently from the green pool of water.” His huge companion dropped his blankets his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool, drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse.”(Of Mice and Men 11). In the story Steinbeck creates Lennie as the more absent minded person doing actions without thinking and having a hard time to comprehend with things .Which leads George to be Lennies complete guidance ,even though they have had a friendship built in ,George is constantly annoyed with Lennies accounts in actions which annoys him very quickly .In the beginning of the story Lenny finds a dead mouse and keeps it as momentum to keep him happy on their far journey to their destination to find work. George quickly gets a temper and disposes of Lenny s pocket collection as it is said.”Lennie s closed hand slowly obeyed .George took the mouse and threw it across the pool to the other side among the brush.” What you want a dead mouse for anyways”? Lenny “I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along said Lennie.”Well you aint petting no mice with me. You remember where we going now? “Lennie looked startled and then in embarrassment hid his face between his knees .”I forgot again.” “Jesus Christ ,” George said resignedly ” (Steinbeck 15) .Despite that they are both good friends there is great contrast between Lennie and George .Lennie is continuously being scolded by George, George frets that Lennie will always disrupt a dream or goal that he has pertained to himself and believes that Lennie will never really be capable of acting out of his own actions .George feels that he is always burdened always because of Lennie, constantly reminding him of things that they should do and places that they need to go. In physical matters Lennie is huge man in shape, but in state of mind he acts like a small child.