Opening Chapter of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck displays contrast between Leonie, is a giant of a man ‘a huge man’, ponderous in his walk and has the mind of a young child. Therefore, is dramatically effective as it leaves the reader uncertain about the situation as we think what do these different characters have In common, why are they together, are they up to something? The reader soon discovers that they have a very close bond. This Is because they both share the same dream of owning their own ranch, after many hard working years, moving from ranch o ranch, living in complete poverty and working for next to nothing they finally try to achieve this life long dream.
At the end of the beginning chapter Leonie pleads with George to tell him over and over again about their dream ranch, when Lenis main task will be the rabbits. Again Steinbeck shows how immature Leonie is, I think George and Leonie have a bond which represent father and son. George being the father not very patient always telling Leonie off and Leonie very childlike keeps rebelling. Steinbeck emphasis his writing skills by revealing a Blvd description of the place and atmosphere ‘A few miles south, On the sandy bank under the trees, shade climbed up the hills towards the top’.
This type of writing method is effective because it’s so detailed that it becomes vivid and lifelike in our imagination, so that we feel like we have become involved in story, we the reader feel connected to the novel. In the opening chapter, Steinbeck immediately introduces the idea of isolation and loneliness and the idea of the men living temporary worker lives, with no real direction. Steinbeck cleverly uses the setting to convey these ideas. The path George and Leonie are walking on is described as ‘A path beaten hard by boys’. Beaten hard by tramps who came wearily down from the highway In the evening to Jungle, up near water’ and ‘an ash pile made by many fires’. Not only do these quotes describe the setting, they also give us a detailed description of the men’s tragic, Isolated lives as well. I en mall themes touting ten story Is loneliness, tons Is an Inevitable Tact AT Tie that not even the strongest can avoid. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck illustrates the loneliness of California ranch life in the early sass’s.
Throughout the story, the reader discovers the many sources of solitude, primarily being discrimination and prejudice, resulting in loneliness and isolation. One of the most important things that are really needed is a friend. Without friends, people would suffer from loneliness and solitude. The characters in this novel are intrigued yet envious of the special friendship shared by George and Leonie because they do not have that in their life. However the theme in chapter 1 is about animal imagery. Tending the rabbits represents all the ideology of the free and happy spirit to Leonie.
He doesn’t consciously understand the totality of his dream, because by wanting to tend the rabbits he is really expressing his want to make something of himself and live simply, ‘off the fatty the Ian’. If asked, George would go on and on about settling down with a wife and raising a family on his own little farm, Leonie would simply say he wanted to tend the rabbits. This is dramatic effective because the reader assume that its going to be very difficult for George as he has to stay with Leonie, but also makes the reader wait in excitement for the next chapter to see how the main characters will survive.
If the reader were to analyses the story in a more detailed way they would soon discover that the rabbit is the symbol of all that he desires, and the particular characteristic, which is endemic to rabbits, is their softness of fur. When Leonie touches something soft he is that much closer to discovering his dream. So, he is reluctant to halt any act, which allows him to caress something soft. Any force that comes between him and his ‘dream’ is at great risk, cause Leonie is dangerous when angry ‘don’t get to tend the rabbits! ‘ Suddenly his anger arose. ‘God damn you,’ he cried.
Unknown to Leonie, the mice may have had a dream Just like him. Though most mice probably would not have dreamt about owning their own land, a dream may have still existed. Maybe the mice would have wanted to live some place safe from people. Dreaming of a place in which a mouse could eat all the time not having to search for food, Leonie may have killed them. This harsh reality is exactly the same as what had happened to Leonie. It is unable to be disproved that what George had done to Leonie in his time of weakness was not the same as what Leonie had done to the mice in their time of helplessness.
Possibly, that was how the mice wanted to die though, happy picturing their dreams in their heads. On the other hand, one is not to be sure that these mice did not die in excruciating pain, paralyzed by the touch of this enormous creature. However these poor creatures died, they were unable to live the rest of their lives. Overall , ten TLS chanter Is aromatic as It concentrates more on ten ascription AT ten atmosphere, this creates uncertainty for the reader as we do not know what is going to happen.
I believe the author has displayed little information on each particular character so the reader believes that the novel is ambiguous. The reader’s imagination starts to take over and consider what and who are George and Leonie. Already the audiences have become Judgmental about the main characters this highlights the writers skills towards the physical appearance of the George and Leonie, which may persuade the audience to have a specific view on the characters.
