“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why”
“A guy needs somebody-to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guys is, long he’s with you.”
Somehow, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck was able to conceal its meager 100 pages on my bookshelf since I bought it my freshman year. I finally got around to reading it…and all I can say is my heart is broken.
I adore character driven books, so this novella perfectly accommodates that interest. You have George who is intelligent, restless, and oftentimes short-tempered. And you have Lennie with his childlike vulnerability and innocence combined with sheer physical strength. The two make an unlikely pair. But this fact alone makes their friendship that much stronger. George protects Lennie from the world… and the world from Lennie. And George is comforted by the presence of a friend by his side in the ranch world of self-reliance and instability. The pair emanate a sense of hope- offering solace and support in a harsh world.
This bond between George and Lennie makes the ending that much more tragic. There is a certain power to Steinbeck’s writing in that he has no need for twists or suspense. Without retorting to these conventional plot devices, Steinbeck delivers a gut-wrenching conclusion that left a lasting impression on me. This is not a story of villains and heroes. Everyone is a victim to the unforgiving world the character’s inhabit. You feel for the fate Lennie meets, the acts George has to commit, and the men who had stories and dreams that were never to be fulfilled.
I can’t write an accurate review without failing to mention Steinbeck’s beautiful portrayal of the American dream. George and Lennie talk again and again about owning their own land where they can raise rabbits and grow alfalfa. They yearn for independence and self-sufficiency. Ultimately however, societal barriers undermine their pursuit of this dream. It’s an eerie reminder that systematic inequalities can thwart even the most fervent hopes for a brighter future.
“Of Mice and Men” goes to show that good books don’t have to be long. Here you have breathtaking prose, touching characters, and a heartbreaking ending all wrapped up into a sweet 100 pages.