Suitabook

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Reading: Pause after major choices to discuss perspective and power, and separately examine what the narrative shows versus what its characters assume.
Themes: Friendship and responsibility: George and Lennie depend on one another while travelling for work; George acts as Lennie’s protector and guide, though the relationship has rough edges. The friendship is presented as meaningful and sustaining, while also involving strain and liability.
Dreams under hardship: The men seek ranch work during the Great Depression while dreaming of owning a piece of land and living independently. The dream gives the characters purpose, but the surrounding circumstances make its fulfilment uncertain and expose the fragility of hope.
Marginalisation and judgement: The ranch community includes people facing loneliness and hardship; Lennie is physically strong but described as having limited intellectual capacity, while a woman is judged through the men’s perceptions. The story draws attention to exclusion and unequal power, but some attitudes belong to characters and should not automatically be treated as the book’s own conclusions.
Worth knowing: Violence is described as emotionally impactful but not graphically bloody.