OMAM Ch. 6 Themes (Abeer's fc) Flashcards
“No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.”
Fraternity and Idealized Male Friendship: George making things right with Lennie before killing him –> Tragedy of their brotherhood and closeness. He also cares for Lennie’s happiness.
Impossibility of the American Dream/Freedom vs. Captivity:
He would’ve always let Lennie tend the rabbits, so he cared for Lennie’s happiness –> Death is an escape to true freedom.
“A water snake glided smoothly up the pool, twisting its periscope head from side to side; and it swam the length of the pool and came to the legs of a motionless heron that stood in the shallows. A silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically.”
Predatory Nature of Human Existence: The strong will feed on the weak –> foreshadows Lennie’s death.
Also highlights how nature is an ever-changing cycle of life and death.
“You ain’t fit to lick the boots of no rabbit. You’d forget ‘em and let ‘em go hungry. That’s what you’d do. An’ then what would George think?”
Fraternity and Idealized Male Friendship: Cares about George’s Opinion –> Lennie’s Loyalty to George
Impossibility of the American Dream: Lennie isn’t “fit” to lick the boots of no rabbit –> The weak/flawed aren’t “fit” for the American Dream and his dream (American Dream) of tending the rabbits is falling apart.
Predatory Nature of Human Existence: Lennie cares about George’s opinion –> He is scared of George’s reaction.
Fear: Lennie is scared of George’s reaction, and his American dream is falling apart.
“You… an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from ‘em.”
Impossibililty of the American Dream/Freedom vs. Captivity: Describing a haven/the dream before killing Lennie –> Death is the only way to true freedom.
Predatory Nature of Human Existence: Describing a haven/the dream (where everyone is nice) before killing Lennie –> Human nature is flawed and predatory in the real world - perfect human nature only exists in heaven.
