Summary
"Of Mice and Men," penned by John Steinbeck, is a poignant novella set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in California. The story revolves around George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced ranch workers who dream of owning a piece of land. George, the sharp-witted and pragmatic caretaker, is burdened with the responsibility of looking after Lennie, a gentle giant with a childlike innocence and a dangerous lack of awareness of his own immense strength.
Their journey begins south of Soledad, near the Salinas River, where they seek work on a ranch. George constantly reminds Lennie of their shared dream: a small farm where they can live off the "fatta the lan'," with Lennie tending to rabbits. This dream becomes a symbol of hope and stability in their otherwise transient and uncertain lives. However, Lennie's mental disability and his uncontrollable urge to pet soft things, often leading to unintentional harm, constantly jeopardizes their plans and forces them to flee from town to town.
At the ranch, they encounter a cast of characters, each with their own struggles and loneliness. Candy, an aging swamper, sees in their dream a chance to escape his own impending obsolescence. Crooks, the black stable buck, initially skeptical, is drawn to the idea of belonging and acceptance. However, their hopes are soon overshadowed by the oppressive atmosphere of the ranch, the prejudice against Crooks, and the volatile presence of Curley, the boss's son, a pugnacious and insecure man who is quick to anger.
Curley's wife, a lonely and restless woman, becomes a catalyst for tragedy. Desperate for attention and connection, she seeks solace in conversations with the ranch hands, despite Curley's possessiveness and jealousy. Her interactions with Lennie ultimately lead to a devastating climax when, in a moment of panic, Lennie accidentally kills her in the barn. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lennie flees back to the Salinas River, the pre-arranged meeting point with George in case of trouble.
The novella concludes with George finding Lennie at their special place by the river. Knowing that Lennie will inevitably be hunted down and likely suffer a brutal death at the hands of Curley and the other men, George makes the heart-wrenching decision to end Lennie's life himself, providing him with a peaceful end while recounting their shared dream one last time. The story is a powerful exploration of friendship, loneliness, the futility of the American Dream, and the harsh realities of life for marginalized individuals during the Depression era.