George and Lennie are migrant workers in California during the 1930s who dream of owning their own farm together. Lennie is large and childlike with a mental disability, while George looks out for him. They find work on a ranch near Soledad. The novel explores the American Dream amid the difficulties of poverty and discrimination faced by migrant workers during the Great Depression era. It depicts the characters' aspirations for a better future while highlighting the social and economic challenges that prevented many from achieving independence.

1. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men
By JohnBy John
SteinbeckSteinbeck

3. Of Miceand MenOf Miceand Men
 The novel deals with theThe novel deals with the
issues deartoissues dearto
Steinbeck’s heart -Steinbeck’s heart -
poverty, homelessness,poverty, homelessness,
the exploitation ofthe exploitation of
itinerant workers, theitinerant workers, the
failure of the Dream,failure of the Dream,
America’s general moralAmerica’s general moral
decline.decline.

4. Main Characters: Lennie & GeorgeMain Characters: Lennie & George

5. LennieSmall
 Lennieisalarge, lumbering, childlikeLennieisalarge, lumbering, childlike
migrant worker. Dueto hismildmigrant worker. Dueto hismild
mental disability, Lenniecompletelymental disability, Lenniecompletely
dependsupon George, hisfriend anddependsupon George, hisfriend and
traveling companion, for guidancetraveling companion, for guidance
and protection. Thetwo men shareaand protection. Thetwo men sharea
vision of afarm that they will ownvision of afarm that they will own
together, avision that Lenniebelievestogether, avision that Lenniebelieves
in wholeheartedly. Gentleand kind,in wholeheartedly. Gentleand kind,
LennieneverthelessdoesnotLennieneverthelessdoesnot
understand hisown strength. Hisloveunderstand hisown strength. Hislove
of petting soft things, such assmallof petting soft things, such assmall
animals, dresses, and people’shair,animals, dresses, and people’shair,
leadsto disaster.leadsto disaster.

6. GeorgeMiltonGeorgeMilton
 Georgeisasmall, wiry, quick-Georgeisasmall, wiry, quick-
witted man who travelswith, andwitted man who travelswith, and
caresfor, Lennie. Although hecaresfor, Lennie. Although he
frequently speaksof how muchfrequently speaksof how much
better hislifewould bewithoutbetter hislifewould bewithout
hiscaretaking responsibilities,hiscaretaking responsibilities,
Georgeisobviously devoted toGeorgeisobviously devoted to
Lennie. George’sbehavior isLennie. George’sbehavior is
motivated by thedesireto protectmotivated by thedesireto protect
Lennieand, eventually, deliverLennieand, eventually, deliver
them both to thefarm of theirthem both to thefarm of their
dreams. Though Georgeisthedreams. Though Georgeisthe
sourcefor theoften-told story ofsourcefor theoften-told story of
lifeon their futurefarm, it islifeon their futurefarm, it is
Lennie’schildlikefaith thatLennie’schildlikefaith that
enablesGeorgeto actually believeenablesGeorgeto actually believe
hisaccount of their future.hisaccount of their future.

7. George and Lennie go to a ranch near Salinas, California, to
work. George is Lennie’s keeper, and Lennie imitates
everything that George does. Lennie previously had been
kicked out of a town for grabbing a girl’s dress. He simply
liked to touch soft items. That is also the reason that he has
a dead mouse in his pocket: Lennie petted him too hardly.
George promises Lennie that some day they will have their
own farm and raise rabbits as well as other animals.

8. The setting inThe setting in OfOf Mice and MenMice and Men
 The novel is set in theThe novel is set in the
farmland of the Salinasfarmland of the Salinas
valley, where Johnvalley, where John
Steinbeck was born.Steinbeck was born.
 The ranch in the novel isThe ranch in the novel is
near Soledad, which isnear Soledad, which is
south-east of Salinas onsouth-east of Salinas on
the Salinas river.the Salinas river.
 The countrysideThe countryside
described at thedescribed at the
beginning of the novel,beginning of the novel,
and the ranch itself isand the ranch itself is
based on Steinbeck’s ownbased on Steinbeck’s own
experiences.experiences.

9. Soledad, CaliforniaSoledad, California

10. Californiain the1930sCaliforniain the1930s

11. Why Migrant Workers?Why Migrant Workers?
 Before technology createdBefore technology created
farm machinery, humansfarm machinery, humans
had to do a lot of the farmhad to do a lot of the farm
work by hand.work by hand.
 Between the 1880s andBetween the 1880s and
the 1930s, thousands ofthe 1930s, thousands of
men would travel themen would travel the
countryside in search ofcountryside in search of
work.work.
 Such work included theSuch work included the
harvesting of wheat andharvesting of wheat and
barley.barley.

12. Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers
 These workers would earn $2.50These workers would earn $2.50
or $3.00 a day, plus food andor $3.00 a day, plus food and
shelter.shelter.
 During the 1930s, theDuring the 1930s, the
unemployment rate was high inunemployment rate was high in
the U.S., and with so many menthe U.S., and with so many men
searching for work, agenciessearching for work, agencies
were set up to send farmwere set up to send farm
workers to where they wereworkers to where they were
needed.needed.
 In the novel, George and LennieIn the novel, George and Lennie
(the two main characters) were(the two main characters) were
given work cards from Murraygiven work cards from Murray
and Ready’s, which was one ofand Ready’s, which was one of
the farm work agencies.the farm work agencies.

13. Chasing theAmerican DreamChasing theAmerican Dream
 ““Give me yourtired, yourpoor,Give me yourtired, yourpoor,
yourhuddled masses yearningyourhuddled masses yearning
to breathe free, the wretchedto breathe free, the wretched
refuse of yourteeming shore.refuse of yourteeming shore.
Send these, the homeless,Send these, the homeless,
tempest tost to me,tempest tost to me,
Ilift my lamp beside theIlift my lamp beside the
golden door.”golden door.”
(( EmmaLazarus)EmmaLazarus)
Written on the base of the StatueWritten on the base of the Statue
of Libertyof Liberty

14. The American DreamThe American Dream
 You can be successful if you workYou can be successful if you work
hard and live morally.hard and live morally.
 America is the land of opportunity.America is the land of opportunity.
 Freedom to work hard and beFreedom to work hard and be
happy is enshrined in thehappy is enshrined in the
Constitution.Constitution.
 The Dream assumes equality ofThe Dream assumes equality of
opportunity, no discrimination,opportunity, no discrimination,
freedom to follow goals andfreedom to follow goals and
freedom from victimization.freedom from victimization.

15. The American DreamThe American Dream
 From the 17From the 17thth
CenturyCentury
onwards, immigrantsonwards, immigrants
have dreamed of a betterhave dreamed of a better
life in America.life in America.
 Many people immigratedMany people immigrated
to America in search of ato America in search of a
new life for themselves ornew life for themselves or
their families.their families.
 Many others immigratedMany others immigrated
to escape persecution orto escape persecution or
poverty in theirpoverty in their
homeland.homeland.

16.  Immigrants dreamed ofImmigrants dreamed of
making their fortunes inmaking their fortunes in
America.America.
 For many this dream ofFor many this dream of
riches became ariches became a
nightmare.nightmare.
– there were horrors ofthere were horrors of
slavery,slavery,
– there were horrors of thethere were horrors of the
American Civil War,American Civil War,
– there was a growingthere was a growing
number of slums that werenumber of slums that were
just as bad as those injust as bad as those in
Europe,Europe,
– there was also greatthere was also great
corruption in the Americancorruption in the American
political system which ledpolitical system which led
to many shattered hopes.to many shattered hopes.

17.  The idea of an American Dream forThe idea of an American Dream for
many was broken when in 1929, themany was broken when in 1929, the
Wall Street crashed, marking theWall Street crashed, marking the
beginning of the Great Depression.beginning of the Great Depression.
 This era affected the whole worldThis era affected the whole world
during the 1930s, but even in the midstduring the 1930s, but even in the midst
of hardship, some people’s dreamsof hardship, some people’s dreams
survived.survived.
 Thousands of people made their wayThousands of people made their way
west towards California to escape fromwest towards California to escape from
their farmlands in the Midwest thattheir farmlands in the Midwest that
were failing due to drought.were failing due to drought.
 The characters of George and LennieThe characters of George and Lennie
dreamt of having a “little house and adreamt of having a “little house and a
couple of acres” which was their owncouple of acres” which was their own
dream.dream.

18. IstheAmerican dream possiblein thehistoricalIstheAmerican dream possiblein thehistorical
context of thenovel?context of thenovel?

19. DreamsDreams
 Georgeand Lenniehaveadream,Georgeand Lenniehaveadream,
even beforethey arriveat their neweven beforethey arriveat their new
job on theranch, to makeenoughjob on theranch, to makeenough
money to live"off thefat of theland"money to live"off thefat of theland"
and be their own bosses. Lenniewilland be their own bosses. Lenniewill
bepermitted, then, to tend therabbits.bepermitted, then, to tend therabbits.

20. DreamsDreams
 When Georgegoesinto afull description of theWhen Georgegoesinto afull description of the
dream farm, itsEden-likequalitiesbecomedream farm, itsEden-likequalitiesbecome
even moreapparent. All thefood they want willeven moreapparent. All thefood they want will
beright there, with minimal effort. AsLennieberight there, with minimal effort. AsLennie
says:says:
– " We co uld live o ffa the fatta the lan'."" We co uld live o ffa the fatta the lan'."
 When Georgetalksabout their farm, hetwiceWhen Georgetalksabout their farm, hetwice
describesit in termsof thingsheloved indescribesit in termsof thingsheloved in
childhood:childhood:
– " Ico uld build a smo ke ho use like the o ne" Ico uld build a smo ke ho use like the o ne
gran'pa had..."gran'pa had..."
 Georgeyearnsfor hisfutureto reflect theGeorgeyearnsfor hisfutureto reflect the
beauty of hischildhood.beauty of hischildhood.
– " An' we'd keep a few pigeo ns to go flyin' aro und" An' we'd keep a few pigeo ns to go flyin' aro und
the win'mill like they do ne when Iwas a kid."the win'mill like they do ne when Iwas a kid."

21. Meet the Other CharactersMeet the Other Characters
 CandyCandy
 CurleyCurley
 Curley’s WifeCurley’s Wife
 CrooksCrooks
 SlimSlim
 CarlsonCarlson

22. CandyCandy
 Candy isan aging ranch handyman,Candy isan aging ranch handyman,
Candy lost hishand in an accidentCandy lost hishand in an accident
and worriesabout hisfutureon theand worriesabout hisfutureon the
ranch. Fearing that hisageismakingranch. Fearing that hisageismaking
him useless, heseizeson George’shim useless, heseizeson George’s
description of thefarm heand Lenniedescription of thefarm heand Lennie
will have, offering hislife’ssavingsifwill have, offering hislife’ssavingsif
hecan join Georgeand Lennieinhecan join Georgeand Lenniein
owning theland. Thefateof Candy’sowning theland. Thefateof Candy’s
ancient dog, which Carlson shootsinancient dog, which Carlson shootsin
theback of thehead in an alleged acttheback of thehead in an alleged act
of mercy, foreshadowsthemanner ofof mercy, foreshadowsthemanner of
Lennie’sdeath.Lennie’sdeath.

23. CurleyCurley
 Curley istheboss’sson, CurleyCurley istheboss’sson, Curley
wearshigh-heeled bootstowearshigh-heeled bootsto
distinguish himself from thefielddistinguish himself from thefield
hands. Rumored to beachampionhands. Rumored to beachampion
prizefighter, heisaprizefighter, heisa
confrontational, mean-spirited,confrontational, mean-spirited,
and aggressiveyoung man whoand aggressiveyoung man who
seeksto compensatefor hissmallseeksto compensatefor hissmall
statureby picking fightswithstatureby picking fightswith
larger men. Recently married,larger men. Recently married,
Curley isplagued with jealousCurley isplagued with jealous
suspicionsand isextremelysuspicionsand isextremely
possessiveof hisflirtatiousyoungpossessiveof hisflirtatiousyoung
wife.wife.

24. Curley’sWifeCurley’sWife
 Curley’swifeistheonly femaleCurley’swifeistheonly female
character in thenovel, Curley’swifecharacter in thenovel, Curley’swife
isnever given anameand isonlyisnever given anameand isonly
referred to in referenceto herreferred to in referenceto her
husband. Themen on thefarm referhusband. Themen on thefarm refer
to her asa“tramp,” a“tart,” and ato her asa“tramp,” a“tart,” and a
“looloo.” Dressed in fancy, feathered“looloo.” Dressed in fancy, feathered
red shoes, sherepresentsthered shoes, sherepresentsthe
temptation of femalesexuality in atemptation of femalesexuality in a
male-dominated world. Steinbeckmale-dominated world. Steinbeck
depictsCurley’swifenot asavillain,depictsCurley’swifenot asavillain,
but rather asavictim. Liketheranch-but rather asavictim. Liketheranch-
hands, sheisdesperately lonely andhands, sheisdesperately lonely and
hasbroken dreamsof abetter life.hasbroken dreamsof abetter life.

25. CrooksCrooks
 Crooks, theblack stable-hand, getshisnamefrom hiscrooked back. Proud,Crooks, theblack stable-hand, getshisnamefrom hiscrooked back. Proud,
bitter, and caustically funny, heisisolated from theother men becauseof thebitter, and caustically funny, heisisolated from theother men becauseof the
color of hisskin. Despitehimself, Crooksbecomesfond of Lennie, andcolor of hisskin. Despitehimself, Crooksbecomesfond of Lennie, and
though hederisively claimsto haveseen countlessmen following emptythough hederisively claimsto haveseen countlessmen following empty
dreamsof buying their own land, heasksLennieif hecan go with them anddreamsof buying their own land, heasksLennieif hecan go with them and
hoein thegarden.hoein thegarden.

26. SlimSlim
 A highly skilled muledriver and theacknowledged “prince” of theranch, Slim isA highly skilled muledriver and theacknowledged “prince” of theranch, Slim is
theonly character who seemsto beat peacewith himself. Theother characterstheonly character who seemsto beat peacewith himself. Theother characters
often look to Slim for advice. For instance, only after Slim agreesthat Candyoften look to Slim for advice. For instance, only after Slim agreesthat Candy
should put hisdecrepit dog out of itsmisery, doestheold man agreeto letshould put hisdecrepit dog out of itsmisery, doestheold man agreeto let
Carlson shoot it. A quiet, insightful man, Slim aloneunderstandsthenatureof theCarlson shoot it. A quiet, insightful man, Slim aloneunderstandsthenatureof the
bond between Georgeand Lennie, and comfortsGeorgeat thenovel’stragicbond between Georgeand Lennie, and comfortsGeorgeat thenovel’stragic
ending.ending.

27. Other CharactersOther Characters
 CarlsonCarlson - A ranch-hand, Carlson complainsbitterly about Candy’sold, - A ranch-hand, Carlson complainsbitterly about Candy’sold,
smelly dog. HeconvincesCandy to put thedog out of itsmisery. Whensmelly dog. HeconvincesCandy to put thedog out of itsmisery. When
Candy finally agrees, Carlson promisesto executethetask without causingCandy finally agrees, Carlson promisesto executethetask without causing
theanimal any suffering. Later, GeorgeusesCarlson’sgun to shoottheanimal any suffering. Later, GeorgeusesCarlson’sgun to shoot
Lennie.Lennie.
 The BossThe Boss - Thestocky, well-dressed man in chargeof theranch, and - Thestocky, well-dressed man in chargeof theranch, and
Curley’sfather. Heisnever named and appearsonly once, but seemsto beCurley’sfather. Heisnever named and appearsonly once, but seemsto be
afair-minded man. Candy happily reportsthat heoncedelivered agallonafair-minded man. Candy happily reportsthat heoncedelivered agallon
of whiskey to theranch-handson ChristmasDay.of whiskey to theranch-handson ChristmasDay.
 Aunt ClaraAunt Clara - Lennie’saunt, who cared for him until her death, doesnot - Lennie’saunt, who cared for him until her death, doesnot
actually appear in thenovel except in theend, asavision chastising Lennieactually appear in thenovel except in theend, asavision chastising Lennie
for causing troublefor George. By all accounts, shewasakind, patientfor causing troublefor George. By all accounts, shewasakind, patient
woman who took good careof Lennieand gavehim plenty of miceto pet.woman who took good careof Lennieand gavehim plenty of miceto pet.

28. Themes inThemes in Of MiceandMenOf MiceandMen
 The Nature of DreamsThe Nature of Dreams
– In essence,In essence, Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men isasmuch astory about thenatureisasmuch astory about thenature
of human dreamsand aspirationsand theforcesthat work againstof human dreamsand aspirationsand theforcesthat work against
them asit isthestory of two men.them asit isthestory of two men.
– Humansgivemeaning to their lives—and to their futures—byHumansgivemeaning to their lives—and to their futures—by
creating dreams. Without dreamsand goals, lifeisan endlesscreating dreams. Without dreamsand goals, lifeisan endless
stream of daysthat havelittleconnection or meaning.stream of daysthat havelittleconnection or meaning.
– Georgeand Lennie’sdream—to own alittlefarm of their own—Georgeand Lennie’sdream—to own alittlefarm of their own—
isso central toisso central to Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men that it appearsin someform inthat it appearsin someform in
fiveof thesix chapters.fiveof thesix chapters.
 LonelinessLoneliness
– In addition to dreams, humanscravecontact with othersto giveIn addition to dreams, humanscravecontact with othersto give
lifemeaning. Lonelinessispresent throughout thisnovel.lifemeaning. Lonelinessispresent throughout thisnovel.

29. Themes inThemes in Of MiceandMenOf MiceandMen
 PowerlessnessPowerlessness
– Steinbeck’scharactersareoften theunderdogs, and heshowscompassionSteinbeck’scharactersareoften theunderdogs, and heshowscompassion
toward them throughout thebody of hiswritings. Powerlessnesstakesmanytoward them throughout thebody of hiswritings. Powerlessnesstakesmany
forms—intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck toucheson them all.forms—intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck toucheson them all.
 FateFate
– Life’sunpredictablenatureisanother subject that definesthehuman condition.Life’sunpredictablenatureisanother subject that definesthehuman condition.
Just when it appearsthat Georgeand Lenniewill get their farm, fatestepsin.Just when it appearsthat Georgeand Lenniewill get their farm, fatestepsin.
 My Brother’s KeeperMy Brother’s Keeper
– Steinbeck makesthereader wonder whetherSteinbeck makesthereader wonder whether mankindmankind should go alonein theshould go alonein the
world or beresponsibleand helpful to otherswho arelessfortunate.world or beresponsibleand helpful to otherswho arelessfortunate.
 NatureNature
– Steinbeck usesnatureimagesto reinforcehisthemesand to set themood.Steinbeck usesnatureimagesto reinforcehisthemesand to set themood.

30. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men – Title’s Origin– Title’s Origin
 The title of the novel comes from a poemThe title of the novel comes from a poem
by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759
-96)-96)
The best laid schemes o’ mice and menThe best laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft agleyGang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong]
And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and pain
For promised joy!For promised joy!
The best laid schemes of mice andThe best laid schemes of mice and
men often go wrong- referring to amen often go wrong- referring to a
little mouse who had so carefullylittle mouse who had so carefully
built her burrow in a field tobuilt her burrow in a field to
protect herself and her little miceprotect herself and her little mice
babies – and the burrow is turnedbabies – and the burrow is turned
over and destroyed by the manover and destroyed by the man
plowing.plowing.

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