Essay The Use Animals to Show the Main Themes in Of Mice...

How does Steinbeck use animals to show the main themes in Of Mice and Men? This story is about two men (George and Lennie) and their desperate hope in that they will raise enough money so that they can purchase a plot of land and â€Å"live of the fatta the land†. In this essay I will discuss how Steinbeck uses animals to show the themes of, friendship/loneliness, anger/violence, cruelty/kindness and dreams. The main points that I will be discussing are, how Lennie connects with animals, how Steinbeck portrays loneliness through animals, how the American dream fuels and directs the story, how Crooks is treated like an animal and has animal instincts himself, how killing of animals foreshadows the story, how Steinbeck uses animals†¦show more content†¦A main theme that Steinbeck portrays through animals is Loniness. In â€Å"Of Mice and Men†, Candy’s dog represents the fate awaiting anyone who has outlived his or her purpose. Once a fine sheepdog, useful on the ranch, Candy’s mutt is now debilitated by age. †Well – Hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him. He said proudly†. Candy’s sentimental attachment to the animal and the fact that he raised the dog from a puppy is his plea to Carlson to let the dog live, however in that era and on that ranch this meant nothing. This is because in the era in which this book was written animals were seen as worthless if they were unable to do their job, if an animal was unable in anyway they would have been killed immediately. Although Carlson promises to kill the dog painlessly, his insistence that the old animal must die supports the idea that the strong will dispose of the weak. A theme that really directs and fuels this story is the American dream, this theme is recited repeatedly. The farm that George constantly describes to Lennie, those few acres of land on which they will grow their own food and tend their own livestock, is one of the most powerful symbols in the book. It invites not only the other characters but also the reader, who, like the men, wants to believe in theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Of Mice And Men548 Words   |  3 Pagesfreedom from their parents. In the same case, too much responsibility can put more stress on that freedom-seeking teen and can have devastating effects. John Steinbeck shows the theme that in life, responsibility is best taken in moderation in his novel Of Mice and Men. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In Of Mice and Men, George shows the weight of responsibility on taking care of Lennie. 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