Characters, events and themes in ‘Of Mice and Men’ Essay

John Steinbeck uses animal imagery to express and introduce characters, events and composings in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck also uses constitution, to convey events and settings in a subtle way.In slit one of Of mice and Men Steinbeck uses various colours to help the lecturer escort the clearing as a tranquil and peaceful place. By describing the Salinas River as deep and green the reader instantly envisages the water to be refreshing, swart and untouched. In addition, Steinbeck suggests that the clearing is full of sunlight The water is warm too, for it slipped radiate over the yellow sands. Yellow, in this context, is braceing because the words warm and flare are used before it. Steinbeck also uses alliteration to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere s pop outh of Soledad, the Salinas River. The repetition on the dims sound is calming and subtle. Steinbeck repeats this technique the water is warm too. As with thes sound, the soft w is calming.In this setting of absolute calm and serenity, Lennie and George are introduced. Steinbeck uses extensive animal imagery to describe Lennie dragging his feet in the way a bear drags his paws. This gives the printing process that Lennie is large and cumbersome. up to now, the main terra firma that Steinbeck uses this form of imagery in describing Lennie is to portray him as amoral and therefore around child- kindred. This means that later on in the novel, the reader will let in that Lennie is blameless and also innocent.In contrast, section two begins with a really different description of conditions at the bunk house. The walls are white washes. This gives the impression that the bunk house is plain and dull. Most get ons are wood and unrouged suggesting that everything is built for a practical purpose and that no thought has been format into decoration. In addition, even the sunlight is described negatively the sun threw a b obligation dust-laden bar through one of the side windows. This makes the s unlight come along dirty, like grey dust, which is at a vast disparity to the sunlight in section one, that is golden. The only reference to nature in section 2 is the use of a simile In and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. On the sur pose this simile seems pleasant, the flies represent nature and shooting stars are cognise to be lucky. Also the busy flies may remind the reader of the itinerant workers that come and go. However, this simile does have sinister connotations, suggesting that something is rotten on the ranch Hinting that death and destruction will follow in this novel.The theme of animals is also used to depict deep friendship when Candys dog is callously killed Id put the gun right here he pointed with his toe Carlson is arrogant and insensitive causing glasss to reveal one of the deepest friendships in the novel The old populace squirmed uncomfortably. Well hell I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him He said proudly, Y ou wouldnt believe it to look at him now, further he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.The fancy is a key theme throughout Of Mice and Men. This dream is surprisingly mere(a) and based on happy memories of Georges childhood An wed advance a few pigeons to go flying aroundlike I done when I was a kid.George is sometimes reluctant to repeat the dream. However once he gets into his stride the poetry of his language demonstrates that the dream is fair(a) as important to him as it is to Lennie The cream so god midst you got to cut it with a knife and eat it with a spoon. The dream is finally what binds Lennie and George together, keeping them focused and determined to work. This relates to animals and nature because all that Lennie and George want is to take in there own land and livestock this will set them free, like a bird.In section 3 a fight amidst Lennie and Curley takes place. Curly unexpectedly focuses his aggression on Lennie Then Curleys cacoethes exploded. Come on, ya big bastard. Steinbeck instantly lets the reader know that Lennie is innocent by describing him as helpless and comparing him to an innocent and amoral lamb Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated in terror. Steinbeck uses the comparison between Lennie and animals, in this situation to intend that his actions arent done out of anger or spite unless out of instinct and fear. During the fight Curly description changes dramatically from a terrier to a fish on a line implying that he is helpless, dangerous and at Lennies mercy The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line.In the last section of the novel, a poignant comparison is made using wildlife. A water serpent glided smoothly up the pool, twisting it periscope head from side to sideA silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically. Steinbeck uses this metaphor to emphasise that Lennies death is fate, ju st like nature.In conclusion, Steinbeck relays back to nature and wildlife to subtly describe a situation, theme or character. This allows the reader to localize with the novel and understand situations more clearly and deeply.