Of Mice and Men: A General Summary

      Of Mice and Men is a story that takes place in Salinas Valley, California, during the harsh period of the Great Depression. It begins with two men, greatly different in size and appearance, who are travelling by foot to the destination of a ranch, where they are to be employed. George Milton and Lennie Small, who has an evident mental disability, proclaim themselves as a team, prepared to chase their goal to "live off the fat of the land," on their dream farm. Now, challenged by the provocations of a protective man and the temptations of an attractive and flirtatious woman, Lennie and George must struggle to work and keep from conflict, to maintain their dream. Will the two achieve their goal, or will their inevitable conflicts throw them off their path of hope?

     The novella Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, was first published in 1937. Dealing with such themes as The American Dream, racism, alienation, idealism and reality, and mental disability, the story revolves around the idea that life presents many challenges and disadvantages to everyone. According to Bloom (2000), the disadvantages presented to these characters results in the revelation of the main idea in the story: as humans, we are all yearning for a sense of belonging, for a home within nature. Bloom expands explaining that: "the story is filled with Steinbeck's careful observations of humanity's place in the natural environment...he conveys his understanding of those who are downtrodden and below the average."

  

Of Mice and Men Official Movie Trailer (1992). Read the book and watch the movie.