“Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”
About the Author
John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck is a famous American writer born and brought in Salinas Valley, California. His birthplace has influenced his writings in all possible ways because of its immigrant history. The Grapes of Wrath is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel published in 1939. Alongside this, he wrote almost sixteen novels, non-fiction books, and several short stories. His other famous works include Cannery Row, Pearl, East of Eden, etc.
About the Novel
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was published in 1937 and is considered his first notable
achievement as an author. Of Mice and Men focuses on the lives of George Milton and Lennie Small, the
friends who are working towards a shared dream of owning their own piece of land during the Great
Depression. Of Mice and Men explores themes of human interaction, dependence, and the damaging
effects of isolation.
Genre:
Tragedy
Tone:
Sad, Helpless, and Tragic
Type:
Novella
Year of publication:
1937
Major themes of the novels
Isolation and Loneliness
The book Of Mice and Men conveys the reality of human existence. Throughout the book, almost all the
characters feel sad and oppressed.
Fraternity
The novel portrays the theme of strong fraternal relations between the characters George and Lennie.
The men stand together as brothers do. But, their bonds loosen due to the tragic event in the end.
The American Dream
Each character in the novel possesses a dream of achieving something within this life. Their desire for
untainted happiness makes their goals American.
Fall of the characters
The characters in the novel consider their world as fatal and flawed. The opening scene of the novel
opens like the Garden of Eden. The characters experience a fall like Adam. Like him, they surpass their
line of control and suffer.