Death (OMAM) Flashcards
What is death presented as in Of Mice and Men?
A central theme throughout the novella, appearing numerous times as both a physical event and an inescapable force that affects us all, highlighting the harsh reality of life and the inevitability of failure in the pursuit of happiness.
What quote does Lennie use to describe the mouse?
“jus’ a dead mouse”
What is the significance of Lennie saying its “jus’ a dead mouse”
Adverb “jus’ “ (contraction just) trivialises the mouse and makes it and its death seem insignificant, foreshadowing the inevitable deaths of Lennie, Candy’s dog, Curley’s wife etc. , which outside of the microcosm that is the ranch, will be completely insignificant to society
Symbolises the uncontrollable, destructive strength of Lennie, foreshadowing the deaths of his puppy and, more notably, Curley’s wife
Why is the scene with the dead mouse placed at the start of the novel?
Structurally, it immediately introduces the reader to the recurring motif of death
Why is a mouse featured within the novel and its title?
Based off a poem by Robert Burns, ‘To a mouse’
In the poem, a mouse’s nest is destroyed by a farmer, representing the powerlessness and fragility that both mice and humans possess when confronted with larger, external forces that will inevitably destroy their dreams.
What did Slim do to some of his pups?
“drowned four of ‘em”
What is the significance of Slim drowning some of his pups?
Represents the harsh nature of the Great Depression, where sacrifices had to be made and sentimentality was absent
Since the mother could not feed all of the pups, only the strongest ones were allowed to survive, showcasing the Darwinian nature of society, and how anyone’s life is decided by their utility above everything else
Mirrors how society rejects the old, disabled etc. as they are weak and serve no practical function
How does Carlson describe Candy’s dog?
“damn near blind”
“stinks like hell”
What is the significance of the way Carlson describes Candy’s dog?
“damn near blind”, “stinks like hell” - Carlson attempts to portray death as a relief from the dog’s suffering, as it is so old that it has lost its purpose and is seen as useless in society
Also reflects its owner, Candy, who is soon to lose his function in society and will be rejected too; the farm is a microcosm for wider society
What quote proves that Candy’s dog did once have a purpose?
“best damn sheepdog I ever seen” - Once had a purpose, but now that it has been lost, due to forces outside of his control, he is deemed worthless
Slim ultimately agrees with Carlson that the best decision is to shoot Candy’s dog. What quotes show that Slim agrees, and that he has the final say?
“wisht somebody’d shoot me” if he had the same fate
Slim’s “opinions were law”, and since Candy is below him in the hierarchy of the ranch, there is nothing he can do
What is Candy’s greatest fear?
Losing his purpose in society, causing him to be sacked from his job at the ranch and live out the rest of his life in isolation and misery
What does Candy say in hindsight about the killing of his dog?
He “ought to have shot that dog” himself
Candy wishes he could’ve taken the action into his own hands and shot his dog himself out of mercy. What does this foreshadow?
George killing Lennie out of mercy in the same way, sparing him from a worse fate
Taking responsibility for the death of a companion is a mark of humanity and loyalty, which may have influenced George’s decision later in the novella
What does Lennie and his puppy symbolise?
Lennie’s desire to care for the puppy - a smaller, weaker creature - is similar to how George cares for Lennie, who may be physically strong but is mentally weak
Inevitably, both Lennie and the puppy are unable to be protected from the hostility of this world by the one who cares for them most, leading them to lose their lives
What rhetorical question does Lennie ask the puppy after he kills it and what does it represent?
“why do you got to get killed?” - Lennie is oblivious to his own strength, and is himself to blame for the destruction of his dream but is unable to recognise so. The puppy in this sense embodies the fragility of both life and dreams in this hostile world.
What does Lennie acknowledge when he kills Curley’s wife?
“I done another bad thing.”
What is significant about the sentence structure Lennie uses after killing Curley’s wife?
“I done another bad thing”, “it’s bad enough like it is” - simple, declarative sentences mirror Lennie’s inability to process complex thoughts, including the consequences of his actions
Lennie says he’s done a “bad thing” by killing Curley’s wife. What does this show?
He is able to understand the gravitas of his actions, but cannot comprehend what will happen as a consequence, due to his learning disability
What quotes show Lennie is unable to understand the severity of his actions?
“it’s bad enough like it is”, “partly covered her”
Lennie removes the pup from the scene of Curley’s wife’s murder, as it is already “bad enough”. Does this action affect anything?
No, Lennie cannot recognise that the severity of killing the wife of Curley - the boss’ son - far outweighs the death of the puppy (sorry puppy) and that is all the other men will be concerned with
Lennie tries to “partly” cover Curley’s wife with hay. What imagery does this convey?
Much like that of an animal, thinking that he can conceal what he has done although it will be very clear to the other men what has happened
What is the death of Curley’s wife a metaphor for?
The death of George and Lennie’s dream
Also an allusion to the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, where in this sense Curley’s wife represents Eve, who stripped George and Lennie of their dreams of paradise
What quote shows that George knew Lennie would be killed from the beginning?
“don’t make no difference” - Lennie’s death was inevitable, him and his dream were doomed to fail from the start, killing him now is mercy as it spares him from a worse fate
Where does George focus his attention on when speaking with Lennie in their final moments?
“where the spine and skull were joined”
George staring at the base of Lennie’s skull alludes to…?
The way in which Carlson killed Candy’s dog
No matter who or what you are in this society, once you lack a purpose or role to perform, you are removed
Also insinuates that in 1930s America, the disabled are treated the same as animals
George begins to describe a paradisiacal world to Lennie before he takes the shot. What quotes show this and what is George alluding to?
“everybody gonna be nice to you”, “no more trouble - George is describing Heaven, as he believes Lennie is compassionate enough to reach it and is comforting him in his final moments, like the caring friend he is
When George is describing Lennie’s dream as synonymous with Heaven, what is Steinbeck insinuating?
That the only way that someone like George and Lennie can achieve their dreams is to reach Heaven; it is impossible to do so in this world
What does Slim say to comfort George after Lennie’s death?
“You hadda, George”
Slim reaffirms George’s decision to kill Lennie, describing it as something he had to do. What is the significance of this?
“You hadda, George” - it was necessary to kill Lennie as it was inevitably going to happen
George killing him how he did was an act of mercy to prevent any further pain for Lennie, as his only escape from the constant suffering in society was through death
Repetition of this phrase reassures George and confirms he made the right decision
What does Carlson remark as the final line of the novella?
“Now, what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?”
What is the significance of Carlson’s final line?
He is oblivious to the emotional weight of George’s action, demonstrating the callous nature of society
It also exhibits how men struggle to understand each other’s feelings, particularly in this society where opening up to others makes you weak and vulnerable
