"Of Mice and Men"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes John Steinbeck's novel, "Of Mice and Men," which takes place during the Great Depression. The paper specifically focuses on the theme of "loss of paradise" that runs throughout the novel. The paper briefly describes the history of the times in which the novel is set and explains its importance in understanding the central themes of the novel.

From the Paper:

"Steinbeck of course understood that in reality there is no such thing as paradise, and that dreams and hopes and small little victories are all that men could have in this era. Virtually every character in the story had a paradise, either in dream form, or, like Candy, in the form of an animal. Steinbeck places these characters in actual social situations. Curly's wife is in a situation where all she wants is some tenderness, some love and romance, and she isn't going to find it in this cruel and bleak work environment. Lennie's dream of a paradise with rabbits and a piece of land can only be realized if he keeps out of trouble, but he is too simple to know how to do that, and in the end, his paradise is snuffed out along with his sad life."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Bantam Books, 1973.

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