Chapter 6- Personal Response

In this chapter, Lennie has strange hallucinations of Aunt Clara and a gigantic rabbit talking and scolding him in his own voice. I think he sees them because they act as his conscience, and they express his guilty feelings and his final thoughts. Steinbeck probably added it because he couldn't just have Lennie saying all of these feelings out loud, or else that would contrast on his mentally challenged character. I think that Sinise doesn't include them in the film version because it would be strange and in contrast with the rest of the movie. From beginning to end, the story is sad, serious, and realistic, but if he added the old women talking in Lennie's voice, and a gigantic rabbit as well, then this would change to a very fictional story.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. You could say that it is sad, and it is, but there is more than it just being a sad story, it has many lessons to teach. It teaches us about friendship, and how difficult it really is to reach that level of closeness, as George and Lennie did. We also learn about human cruelties and how our society disposes of the weak, as they did Lennie. Not only did this book teach us many important themes, it was entertaining and believable.

Aunt Clara

As I was reading the description of Aunt Clara in the last chapter, I pictured Mrs. Doubtfire automatically. Steinbeck described her as an older woman from what she was wearing, and she had thick eye glasses.

Chapter 5- Personal Response

The differences between the movie and the book continue in this chapter. One of the main differences is that in the movie when Lennie starts feeling Curley's wife's hair, she says "that's good" and there is a bit of sexual tension. On the other hand, in the book, she automatically jumps to saying "don't mess it up." I think Sinise added that in the film because it adds a thrill and is entertaining for the audience, it also goes along with the use of women in this story, as temptations and trouble makers. Throughout the book/movie until chapter five, there have been many tragic events, such as the death of Curley's wife. It is difficult to blame one person, for this event, for example, as all characters take blame for her death. Curley's wife is to blame for dressing seductively and luring in the men and Curley is to blame for keeping his wife as a "prisoner" and being overly protective. I think that George should not be blamed as he did all he could to stop this event from occuring again. Ironically, I believe Lennie should not take any blame, even though they were his own hands that killed her, he cannot control all of his emotions and actions because of his mental disabilities.

Poem on Dying Dreams

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes

I chose this poem by Langston Hughes because no matter what time or place, this poem can relate to you. It warns us to hold on to our dreams, as that is what keeps us going, and it gives us hope that one day we will fulfill them. This is very similar in that George and Lennie always had the dream of living on their own piece of land, having a laid back and free lifestyle, while at the same time, George kind of knew all along that that wasn't possible.

Chapter 4- Personal Response

In this chapter, Steinbeck really went into racism and made it clear as big issue, as it was in 1937. He showed this through Crooks and his stories, and he showed the some of the violence and anger associated with racism, and using the word ni**** was a part of it. Although, Sinise toned down the racism and rather focused on Curley's wife and her loneliness. I think the director did this because since the film was made in 1992, it would have been considered a bit rude and the subject might have been touchy, while Steinbeck probably included it because racism was still around then. Another reason Sinise might have taken it out is because focusing on Curley's wife and her problems might have been more interesting and attention grabbing for the audience.

Art Work- Loneliness

Berc Ketchian Lonely Lady

16 x 20 Oil

I think that this painting represents the theme of loneliness because not only does it show a woman with no company and no one to talk to, it shows that even when there are people around you, and you are not alone, one can still be lonely.

Chapter 3- Personal Response

Steinbeck focuses on the different social ranks in this chapter, among many other key ideas. We can tell that Slim is highly respected and Steinbeck has done alot to accomplesh that. First, he introduces Slim by his reputations, as we hear from others thier opinions on him before we actually meet him. Steinbeck also makes him have a control and power over the bosses son, therefore showing his strength. The foreshadowing continues in this section as when George tells Slim the story of Lennie "raping" the woman in Weed. This foreshadows the climax of Lennie killing Curely's Wife.

Curley's Wife

Curley's wife is described as a heavily made up woman, with reddened lips and soft curls. Her name is never mentioned, and I think that this is because in the book she is considered an object. Curley's wife symbolizes temptation and trouble.

Whit

The purpose Whit is a character in this book, is so that he can establish how men were generally at that time period under those conditions. He also serves as a character to talk to.

Crooks

Crooks is an important character in the book. He is the only black man on the farm, and in that time, there was a great deal of racism. Steinbeck goes into detail and is very realistic about the issues of racism, while the director Sinise does not. Sinise barely mentions racism but rather focuses on Crooks loneliness.

Chapter 2- Personal Response

In Chapter Two, we start to see more of how difficult their lives are and will be. Foreshadow and symbolism also begins in this chapter with Candy's dog. Candy's dog symbolises the weak people in society and how they are put down. It is considered foreshadow because Candy's regret of not shooting his own dog influences George's decision to shoot Lennie. We are introduced to almost the rest of the characters in this chapter; the boss, Candy, Curely, Carlson, Slim, and Curely's wife.

Slim

I chose Clint Eastwood to represent Slim for various reasons. The first is that he has this majestic look to him and he seems talented, just like Slim. Steinbeck describes his face as "ageless" and in this photo it is as if you cannot tell his age either. I had to pick someone important because Slim seemed very important to everyone. Before we actually "see" slim in the book, we hear about him, and we even hear his voice. I think that this affect was added because it creates a build-up and sets up a background and reputation for a character.

Carlson

This fat version of Brad Pitt represents Carlson. All that we really hear about Carlson's appearance is about his weight. Carlson is not a major character and yet he is important in that he is another one of the guys, and he suggested the shooting of Candy's dog.

Curley

I think that this is a very good picture to represent Curly. Steinbeck describes him as a young man, with curly hair, a brown face, and dark brown eyes. This description fully matches this photo. Curley is a character that really annoyed me throughout the story, because of his behaviour, his attitude to others, and his dialogue, so Steinbeck has done a good job of making us dislike this character.

Candy's Dog

Candy's dog is quite important in this book. Now that Candy's dog is old, useless, and weak, all the men on the ranch decide that he is no longer needed, therfore he should be shot. This shows how the strong people get rid of the weak, just as how Lennie was weak, and was also shot.

Candy

Candy is an old man on the farm, and he is the first person George and Lennie meet when they arrive on the farm. Although the man in this picture has both hands, Candy does not. Before we find out that the old man's name is Candy, he is called "The Old Swamper."

The Boss

This seems to represent the boss in the book, because the only description Steinbeck gives us is that he is "fat legged." We can also infer that he is wealthy as Curly, is his son.

Chapter 1- Personal Response

To me, the first chapter of Of Mice and Men was average. Usually, the first chapter is supposed to be attention grabbing to keep the reader hooked, but I felt that was not the case here. Although, the first chapter did a great job of setting up and introducing the characters and setting to us so that the plot can begin. His style is extremely descriptive, and he goes into a lot of detail describing the setting and characters. I think that the descriptions are great until one point, and that's when it can be boring. There is a lot of dialog between George and Lennie that helps establish their characters, as George complains of how much life would be easier without Lennie, although the tone and word choice reveals the opposite. We also get a sense of adoration from the way Lennie repeats and listens to George.

The Setting- Ranch

I think that this photo shows the bunkhouse very well, as it is discribed as a long rectangular buiding. Also some fields are visable, and the main work on the ranch is to buck barley.

Lennie

To me, the man on the left represents Lennie, as he is "a huge man, shapless of face... with wide sloping shoulders." page 2. He fits the exact description.

George

I felt that this is how George looks when I read the description given by Steinbeck. George is described as a small man, with dark defined eyes and a long nose. I feel that this young photo of Orlando Bloom has all of those physical characteristics.

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was born in 1902, in California, which is often a setting is his books. He wrote Of Mice and Men in 1937, and this is one of his many famous books. A lot of his novels involve politics and the struggles of society.