Symbolism
Steinbeck shows symbolism throughout Of Mice and Men in various ways. Major examples are the fact that Curley's wife does not have an actual name. The disrespect shown towards Curley's wife throughout the novel represents how woman were treated back in the 1930's. Another example of symbolism is the characteristics described of Lennie and Crooks. Both men are described basically as animals, and both men are discriminated against because of who they are. Crooks is an African American; during the 1930's African Americans were still treated poorly, and thought to still be inferior to whites. When Crooks is introduced in the novel, Steinbeck gives him several characteristics that are the same characteristics of a horse. "Crook’s bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung...In one hand he held a bottle of liniment, and with the other he rubbed his spine" (Steinbeck 66-67). Liniment was commonly rubbed on horses to help ease the pain of sore muscles. However, Lennie is discriminated for being mentally challenged, and having a large body structure. There are several instances when Lennie’s body features are compared to those of an animal. Steinbeck writes, "Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes..." (3). For the duration of the novel, both Crooks and Lennie are treated like they are actual animals and get no respect just because they are different. In Contemporary Literary Criticism, critic Peter Lisca says, "The first symbol in the novel, and the primary one, is the little spot by the river where the story begins and ends. The book opens with a description of the place by the river, and first we see George and Lennie as they enter this place from the highway to an outside world. It is significant that they prefer spending the night here rather than going on to the bunkhouse at the ranch" (3). This is an important setting in the story because it is where George and Lennie spend time before reaching the ranch, where George tells Lennie to go if there is trouble, and eventually the place where Lennie is killed. Symbolism takes all different forms in Of Mice and Men, and each example represents something greater than it seems to be.