This is the post where you should comment if you would like to participate in our discussion regarding the first section of Of Mice and Men. I will be adding the first comment and then I invite you all to add something. If you have not yet read the previous post which lists the guidelines for our discussions, please do so now. Thank you for your participation!
Remember, our next discussion will start on Sunday, so please say everything you'd like to say before then.
Sincerely,
Elysia
5 comments:
Let's get this started! The first thing that I noticed in reading the first section of this novel was the use of imagery. Both settings that appear in this first section were described very vividly. The settings were also quite different. First we see this beautiful, natural place and then we are taken to a dirty place where neither man wants to stay. I think this demonstrates how fleeting this ideal world is for the men and how their lives are already changing to a less ideal state. This also puts into perspective their dream of living in a beautiful farm house. In this first setting, we get this picture of the beautiful lives they are planning to have and then we are shown their reality. We see that this perfect world does not actually exist, but is instead tainted by the cruelty and poor living conditions we see later in this section. The happy, carefree moments in these mens' lives are fleeting. I think this also sets the stage for a bigger crash when the inevitable problems arise because they have painted such a pretty image for their futures but I am sure they will instead suffer. It is quite clear that Lennie will get into trouble with Curley and his wife sometime soon in the novel. I think for me the mystery is simply what exactly will happen to him and George afterwards. I also wanted to point out the mice that Lennie adores (it's all in the title after all). It seems like the mice are there to illustrate Lennie in some way. The mice are fragile creatures who trust Lennie to take care of them in some way. They allow themselves to be taken everywhere with him. For Lennie, it is George who has this responsibility. Even though Lennie is described as a big, strong-looking man, it is clear that he is simple and not at all aggressive. Like the mice, it is due to another being that they are 'crushed'. Literally for the mice and I believe eventually metaphorically for Lennie. This section mentions mice quite a lot and I noticed that it also briefly mentions rabbits. George paints a picture of the rabbits as being hostile and we even note that they scramble away from the first scene as the men approach them. This can also be a reminder of the fleeting moments of beauty and perfection and that cruelty and suffering is always lurking just around the corner.
I agree with what Elysia said about the imagery in the opening setting in this novel. There is a lot of contrast between the natural environment and the two men and their unfortunate situation. This contrast is also visible with their "dream of living in a beautiful farm house" as Elysia said. I think this dream is a reference to the 'American Dream' where people are encouraged to work hard because it will ultimately help you achieve success. Unfortunately, we can see that this dream is not being realized from their last job. I think it's important to note that this novel was first published in 1937, right around the time of the Great Depression and this could be Steinbeck's way of criticizing the 'American Dream' as a sort of false promise.
I really like the comparison Elysia drew between Lennie and the mice. I would like to add that I thought it was interesting how Lennie drew a comparison between the softness of the girl from Weed's dress and the mice he likes to pet. On the other hand, I also find it interesting how there is such a sharp contrast between Lennie's soft character and his ability to be strong in the sense of physical strength.
Another thing that struck me in this novel was the social inequality which is shown by the man who works in the stable being openly referred to as the "stable buck" (40) or "the nigger," (41) both derogatory terms referring to the colour of the man's skin.
Just by looking at the way this novel is set up, I think there will be a tragic ending, but I am still curious as to how we will get there and what we will encounter along the way.
I agree with you Joyce that we should mention the racial issues brought up in this book. I'm still unsure of this man's role in the story. Maybe he's just another example of broken dreams and the cruelty of humanity or maybe he just appears to set the tone and describe even further the kind of environments George and Lennie live in. What do you think?
first of all i think you have to look at the relationship between george and lennie. i think george uses lennie as company although lennie causes george a lot of trouble. george needs him and lennie depends on george. you wonder how far george will go to protect lennie considering he already covered up one major mishap in weed. "I would like to add that I thought it was interesting how Lennie drew a comparison between the softness of the girl from Weed's dress and the mice he likes to pet." you mentioned this but i still fail to see the importance of this comparison thus far. can you elaborate on this point? in regards to the topic of racism i think it was the times and therefore not a factor in this story. although it may eventually show george and lennie's acceptance of race.
I agree with what Jasmine said about the racism in this novel and how it is used to set the historical time frame. I also agree with what Jasmine said about George and Lennie's relationship. In the beginning of the novel, I thought George was annoyed with Lennie and I wasn't sure they would stay together, but when George was talking to Slim and told him that "it's a lot nicer to go around with a guy you know," (57) it became a little more clear why George stays with Lennie. As for the comparison between the girls dress and the mouse, I think this is a little hint from Steinbeck and might be some sort of foreshadowing of a problem yet to come. I think it also shows how Lennie's obsession with soft things, such as the mice, can cause many other problems for him.
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