Society is prevalent with innocence. Society is enraged with anger. Society is occupied with seductive people. The people in society can be consumed subliminally with an abstract quality, thus deepening the underlying meaning of a story. John Steinbeck authored Of Mice and Men. Although this book does not have the original intent of being an allegory, characters can be looked at individually for a deeper meaning. Each character in Of Mice and Men have abstract qualities that represent qualities in society. In this story Lennie represents innocence, Curley represents anger, and Curley’s wife represents the seductive side of society.
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Lennie symbolizes the innocence in society. First, George made Lennie give him the dead mouse that was in Lennie’s pocket, as they were walking down the river. Lennie said, “‘I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along,’ said Lennie” (5). Lennie only wanted to pet the mouse and meant no harm. Lennie acts similarly to an innocent child who does not know any better. He has no experience and needs someone to look up to for guidance. For this reason, he looks up to George for knowledge. Next, Lennie was in the barn reflecting on his actions that led to the puppy accidentally being killed. Steinbeck wrote, “Lennie got up and brought the puppy back and laid it on the hay and sat down. He stroked the pup again. ‘You wasn’t big enough,’ he said. ‘They tol’ me you wasn’t. I di’n’t know you’d get killed so easy’” (81). Lennie, like an inculpable child, did not think that he would hurt the puppy by playing with it. It was just Lennie, who did not know better, innocently playing with a puppy. Lennie did not understand that the puppy was more fragile than he thought originally. Even though George and Slim had warned Lennie the puppy was too small to play with, Lennie thought nothing would go wrong by just playing with the puppy. The innocence in society is symbolized by Lennie.
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Curley symbolizes the anger throughout society. First when the workers, Curley, George, and Lennie were in the barn, Lennie was smiling at a memory and Curley thought Lennie was laughing at him. Steinbeck writes, “His eyes slipped on past and lighted on Lennie; and Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch. Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. ‘What the hell you laughin’ at?’” (59). Lennie was not even involved in the initial conversation, but Curley was impatient enough to take his anger out on whoever seemed to want to confront Curley. Curley never gave Lennie the chance to even defend himself. Even though Lennie gave a sign that he had no clue of what was going on, Curley gladly jumped on the opportunity to fight someone. Curley’s anger clouded his head and made thinking rationally impossible. Next, Curley walked into the barn see his wife dead on the floor. Steinbeck writes, “Curley came suddenly to life. ‘I know who done it,’ he cried. ‘That big son-of-a-bitch done it. I know he done it. Why-ever’body else was out there playin’ horseshoes.’ He worked himself into a fury. ‘I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself’” (92). Curley showed no tolerance for Lennie. Without hesitation, Curley assumed Lennie was the killer of his wife. Curley was engulfed in rage, not caring about what anyone could have said to him. And out of anger, he planned to kill Lennie. The anger in society is symbolized by Curley.
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife symbolizes the seductive side of society. First, Whit and George are talking about Curley’s wife while playing cards in the barn. Whit says, “‘Well, stick around an’ keep your eyes open. You’ll see plenty. She ain’t concealin’ nothing. I never seen nobody like her. She got the eye goin’ all the time on everybody. I bet she even gives the stable buck the eye. I don’t know what the hell she wants” (48). Whit is giving George a warning that she comes around the barn a lot. Whit tells George that she tries seducing everyone in the barn. Even though she’s married, she is always looking at other men and she is not trying to hide it. Whit is taken by surprise that George has not seen her very much yet. Next, George is talking to Whit about Curley’s wife in the barn. George says, “‘She’s gonna make a mess. They’s gonna be a bad mess about her. She’s a jail bait all set on the trigger. That Curley got his work cut out for him. Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain’t no place for a girl, specially like her”’ (49). With barely knowing Curley’s wife, George already clearly sees the trouble she could cause. George tells Whit that if she gets what she wants, there will be a mess. The guys on the ranch already know that Curley’s wife is not fit to be living there, especially with the number of men on the ranch. The seductive side of society is symbolized by Curley’s wife.
Lennie, Curley, and Curley’s wife are all symbols for a broader population in society. Abstract qualities help one understand the deeper meaning to a story and the actions of characters. Looking at characters individually can determine abstract qualities they hold. Many pieces of literature have characters that embody abstract qualities to deepen meaning.
