Of Mice and Men - Symbols Flashcards
What does the bunkhouse represent?
Conflict. It is where Cruelty, violence, jealousy and suspicion all arise.
What does Crooks’ room represent?
Retreat of the repressed. The most obvious manifestations of discrimination: Name calling, isolation, fear and even the threat of death.
What does the barn represent?
A supposedly safe place where animals can find shelter and warmth.
It is a man-made place where humans take care of animals, which is quite ironic because Lennie kills the puppy and Curley’s wife (Who is described as an animal) in the barn.
Why is The American Dream important?
It is symbolic of George and Lennie’s relationship, it is the thing that ties them together and keeps them working, even when times are tough.
It is their personal form of religion and is their version of heaven, so when Lennie kills a human, their chances of going there are forever ruined, and George knows this. Before shooting Lennie though, he gives him a glance at the dream, but it only remained a dream.
What do The Cards represent?
They represent chance. Chance that Slim happens to be in the barn when Curley comes into the bunkhouse looking for his wife, chance that George is away from the barn when Lennie is burying his pup and Curley’s wife comes in.
This shows that we can’t understand everything that happens, nor can we control everything. It shows how the events affecting society were random, and can’t be controlled. The world is unpredictable, and plans often “go awry”.
In fact, Steinbeck was going to call the book “Something That Happened”, which just shows this literally.
What do “hands” represent?
The men. They are referred to as “hands”, dehumanizing and objectifying them, making them workers, not men.
Lennie’s hands are symbols of trouble, whenever he uses them, trouble ensues.
Candy’s missing hand is a symbol of helplessness in advancing with old age and disability discrimination. His fear is that he will be deemed useless and fired when one hand is not strong enough.
George’s hands are small and strong, the hands of a doer and planner.
Curley’s hands are mean and cruel, he also keeps his hand soft for his wife which shows his inability to be aroused by his wife.
Crooks’ hands are pink, and Curley’s wife’s hands have red nails.
Slim has large, skilful hands like those of “a temple dancer”.
