What are the major themes in of mice and men?

Question

for Lit class

Answer 1

There are several themes in Of Mice of Men, but a few of the major ones would be loneliness, friendship, and dreams. George and Lennie are the biggest representation of friendship, but this can also be seen through the relationship that is developed with Candy, George and Lennie. George, Lennie, Crooks, and Curley's wife all represent loneliness in the book. Each of these character's experiences some degree of isolation. The theme of dreams is represented mainly by George and Lennie's dream of getting their own ranch, as well as Candy's dream to be a part of this. Curley's wife also represents this with her dream of being a famous actress. This is just a brief overview of some of the major themes.

Answer 2

First things first I love this book. Of Mice and Men explores themes that are as real today as they were in the 1930s — friendship, dreams, loneliness, power, and the struggle to belong. At its heart, it’s about two best friends, George and Lennie, holding onto a dream of owning a small farm where they can finally be free. That dream becomes a symbol of hope in a world that doesn’t play fair.

Steinbeck also shines a light on how loneliness eats away at people — from ranch workers drifting place to place, to Curley’s wife craving attention, to even Crooks, isolated because of racism. Everyone wants connection, but life keeps them apart. The story reminds us that dreams can give us strength, even when they don’t come true. It’s tragic, funny in moments, and deeply human — like life itself.

Answer 3

As miserable as Samuel Beckett, "Waiting for Godot," and as dead of life as an existential play, Steinbeck's view of fate is agony. The view point of post-world war of the 1950s is the dashing of American Dreams, and Lenny's sole hope is to own a farm and live life simply in the pastoral bliss and succor of the farm. But the mob is the evil force of wrath, the blind furies of the Greeks that devour Lenny's hope of a life time. He must kill his friend to save their dignity.

Answer 4

I found that the themes of loyalty, obligation and love were paramount. George would not allow the mob to slaughter Lennie, even as Candy's "right" to put down his own dog was usurped. George's love for Lennie obliged him to ensure that Lennie died humanely, in the place where his memory of the dream farm was considered. Steinbeck often intertwines social hierarchy with the sense of irrevocable "fate;" man's choices within a setting of limited free will/destiny. Archetypal stereotypes of goodness and evil are prevalent themes in his and other writers of the time period, and are always relevant, because such traits are present in all of us regardless of time period.

Answer 5

-the role of social responsibility within a
communal group setting vs. within family
(i.e. their brotherhood)
(think of the the death of the dog and the death of Lennie)

-dreams as a use of hope, distraction, survival

- physical vs mental ability
within Lennie,
how do both serve and hinder him?
(especially regarding soft things)

 

Answer 6

I found the major theme is that sometimes people in their unconditional love for others often smother their loved ones with out knowing it till it is too late. (Lenny squishing all the mice, the puppy, and Curley's wife.) The passive of this is George's love for Lenny being over protective and sheltering of Lenny because this allows Lenny  to remain ignorant of the world and his own strength. Also, some people do not belong in this world because they are just mean and rotten (Curley). 

There are many other possible themes; I'd love to hear what you think

Answer 7

There are mice,

there are men,

and East is East

and West is West,

and (n)ever the twain shall meet!