Of Mice and Men: Plot Summary

Of Mice and Men: Plot Summary

Introduction

• “Of Mice and Men” is a novella written by John Steinbeck that explores the themes of friendship, dreams, loneliness, and despair in the harsh environment of America during the Great Depression.

Beginning

• The narrative begins when George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced ranch workers, move to a new ranch in California in search of employment.
• They dream of owning a piece of land and becoming self-sufficient, with Lennie particularly interested in tending to rabbits.
• George often tells Lennie about this dream, which becomes a symbol of their hope and friendship.

The Ranch

• Upon reaching the ranch, they meet Candy, a swamper with an elderly dog, Curley, the confrontational son of the ranch owner, and Curley’s wife, the only woman on the ranch who is often dismissed and underestimated by the men.
• There are tensions between the characters, which grow when Lennie kills his puppy and subsequently, in a panic, accidentally kills Curley’s wife.

Climax

• When Curley’s wife’s body is discovered, a manhunt is launched for Lennie who has fled to a pre-arranged hideout.
• Candy and Crooks, another ranch worker who is marginalised because of his race, also become interested in George and Lennie’s dream, revealing the yearning of all those who feel dispossessed.

Conclusion

• The story concludes tragically when George is forced to take his friend’s life to save him from the brutal lynching planned by the vengeful and violent mob led by Curley.
• The novella ends with the shattering of their dream, a reflection of the harsh reality of life during the Great Depression, and the ruthless world that leaves no room for the weak or the different.

Do remember, it’s important to understand the plot and how it aligns with the themes and character development, as these components together form the basis of textual analysis in “Of Mice and Men”.