A review of “of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck

If people still read an old book, then they find something connected to their life and emotions. This particular book was written in 1937 (during recession time of US) and gained its author everlasting respect and made him inseparable part of world literature heritage. I like this kind of short and sharp works.

There are people with wishes and hopes, there are people without any hope for future, and people with full of hatred that impede the characters to fulfill their missions. Let me brake it down, hardly trying not to spill more spoilers than indicated in book description.

George loses many of his life opportunities because of his friend and the main reason for that is George believes he can find another job, another opportunity, but he cannot find another friend like Lennie. He is hundred percentage sure about how pure Lennie’s heart is, and he knows that if Lennie does any harm to anything, it is not because he meant it, all unfortunate series have happened unintentionally. On the other hand, he needs someone right behind him, doesn’t matter if he has made his dream of buying piece of land come true, or if he is on his way to reach his goal. He tells:

“A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.”

The novel has touched many of sensitive topics of that time including rich and poor (owner and workers) relationship, attitude towards “black” people and etc.

Attention! SPOILER below ↆↆↆ

As they were nearly completed the task of saving money and moving, things develop in an extremely sad way and George decides the only way to continue is to kill Lennie. On the final, when George approaches to Lennie and tells him that he does not consider him guilty and talks about their future dreams. At that very moment, I was almost praying that Lennie doesn’t see a gun in hand of George and at least pass away without knowing what has killed him. At least, Lennie died with a caring friend and a dream in his pure heart. Because if Lennie would see George is killing him, he would die twice, as mentally and materially.

The final sentence shows that people without dreams will never get to understand how people with dreams suffer.

"Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"