A review by leandrathetbrzero
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

George and Lennie dream of a farm to call their own, but first they need to save enough money laboring on the land of others. Their fierce friendship is a curiosity to some and the envy of others. But its strength is tested as they join a new crew and encounter the farmer’s vindictive son. John Steinbeck poignantly highlights the bleak lives of laborers in 1930s America. Intended or not, this story also cultivates discussions on the treatment of those with mental disabilities throughout history. 

One of my goals each year is to read a few of the classics I missed during my education. I never felt my English classes were lacking in any way, but many titles in the “classic” canon get referenced in social situations, on television and in movies, and even in other books. And this is one of the few moments where I do admittedly feel FOMO. John Steinbeck is an author I had yet to try, and as I own Of Mice and Men, I decided that now is as great a time as any. 

Upon finishing this quick read, I am curious to know how teachers address with their students the many instances of animal death and harm to animals as well as the depiction of Lennie, a character with an undiagnosed mental disability. There is an uncomfortable ease with which the characters acknowledge Lennie’s tendency to accidentally kill mice and other animals when he becomes frustrated or upset. When Carlson pressures Candy into letting him shoot his elderly dog, one that Candy raised since it was a puppy, the scene brought me to tears. For a short novel, it is very emotionally taxing, and I can fully understand why it survives as a classic in American literature. Steinbeck’s purposeful use of such literary devices as foreshadowing, repetition and metaphor is brilliant as well. 

With that said, the blunt descriptions of animal death and harm to animals ignited visceral reactions in me. I wouldn’t willingly expose myself to those scenes again. And while I appreciate the appearance of a protagonist with a mental disability, and my heart ached for him at every turn, I was upset with how violent Steinbeck made him. I couldn’t help but try to imagine how little readers in the 20th century were exposed to characters like Lennie, wondering how this particular depiction impacted their views and understanding of people with mental disabilities. I also wonder how this story would have changed if it were written by a modern author in the historical fiction genre.

A heart-wrenching tale that left me in tears more than once, Of Mice and Men deserves its label as an American classic. 
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