ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY

***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***

The book Of Mice and Men is full of animal symbology. It seems that on every page another simile or metaphor is used, and each one helps to create the whole deeper meaning that is the book. Many have studied these meanings, but it is only when one can let go of assumptions and look past what is immediately apparent that they can see the real truth behind the words. John Steinbeck was an artist of words, and his work can be described as poetic, for what is poetry but the language of symbolism?

1. One such symbol was the poor dog of Candy's that met his -somewhat- untimely demise in the third chapter of the book. What is immediately apparent is the thought the dog represents Candy in that he is old and not worth much. However, the deeper meaning there is rather surprising. The dog in fact represents Lennie. Candy's dog was old weak, sick and smelled something terrible. One day, Carlson took the dog and shot him. Once looking back on the book, one realizes this event carries heavy foreshadowing. Almost everything about the dog could be interpereted as a metaphor for Lennie. The fact the dog was in pain, weak and old were a combined metaphor for Lennie's mental state, how he is inadequate when it comes to 'figuring'. The terrible stink loosly stands for Lennie's many mistakes, how they affect others and the memory stays around for a while. More than any of that, however, the main part the dog plays is that of foreshadowing Lennie's fate. They were both innocent, helpless can loved (by at least one person, anyway) then they were killed. It probably doesn't matter, but, and errant thought; they were both shot in the back of the head with Carlson's Luger. Hmm...

2. I am quite aware I have already done an animal sybolism thing on Candy's dog, thank you very much, but I find the poor thing also represents something quite different from the previous one. As anyone with a pet can (and most likely will) tell you, pets are great. The bond between man (or woman) and dog is profound and lasts lifetimes. Dogs give us comfort and companionship in a very lonely world and have been by our sides throughout the millenia... However... In Of Mice and Men that loved dog is shot without a second thought for no other reason than that it smells bad. Now... wait a minute... didn't I just say that the bond between man and his dog is incredible? That doesn't make any sense unless... Unless the people have forgotten the bond. And not just the master-pet bond, but all bonds. Slim, that wise ageless skinner, said himself, "Ain't many guys travel 'round together. I don't know why. Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other." [page 35]. This shows that in these tough times in the throws of the Great Depression, people have forgotten the bonds people can make with each other. Even George says, "Guys like us... are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place..."[page 13] To which Lennie replies, "But not us!... because I got you... and you got me..."[page 14] This shows how people are still making bonds, but only a very very few. The bonds of master and pet (Candy and his dog) have been forgotten, along with the bonds between friends (Lennie and George). The death of Candy's dog and, ultimately, Lennie, signify this terrible theme. After George kills Lennie, this is proven by Carlson saying, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"[page 107]

3. As any reader of Of Mice and Men can tell you, Lennie has gorren into a lot of trouble. None of it is his fault, but he finds himself overwhelmed in a world in which he is too strong and too dumb for anyone's own good. Throughout all his mistakes, however, he has a gentle heart and a naive soul, and was granted one last chance in a rather unusual form; a puppy. To understand my meaning, one must briefly explore the last events of Lennie's life. He killed the pup, panicked for a bit in the barn, Curly's wife came in, she was killed, then Lennie was killed. Had Lennie not killed the pup, Curly's wife would have lived, and so would Lennie. It seems that the pup's life, Curly's wife's life (oh how I wish she had a name) and Lennie's life were all inexorably entertwined to the point of cut one, cut them all. In this seemingly innocuous puppy lay the fates of several people. Although most people will tell you the poor thing represented Lennie's innocence and childlike character, the deeper meaning becomes apparent with some meditation. After all, Lennie's state of mind is quite thoroughly obvious without any help from the puppy. I close the subject with this sobering thought; Lennie was granted one last chance. George had saved him countless times so poor Len-Len (that's right I said Len-Len) was living on borrowed time anyway. Lennie was given one last chance... And I think you know how it turned out.

Ahhh finally I'm through with the major animal symbologies throughout the book. Because there are so many of them, I think I'll just flip to a random page and see what I can see. Now, if you wish, feel free to enjoy these random tidbits scattered all around that I think are interesting... Or just plain amusing.

4. Slim, "It's brighter'n a bitch outside."[page 34] Of course, he doesn't mean this literally. Female dogs do not shine light. But, assuming he is using the word 'bitch' in the context of a swear word, one can assume he is simply saying it is very bright outside.

5. George leaves with the 'fellas' to go on the hunt for Lennie at the end. This is discribing the barn after everyone's left. "The barn was darkining gradually and, in their stalls, the horses shifted their feet and rattled the halter chains."[page 98] Now, why one earth would the author find it worthy to mention the horses shifted their feet? (rhetorical question) With a little bit of consideration and the addition of what was going on at the time, this could quite easily be a subliminal message foreshadowing restlessness or, more likely, something not too good. The end is near and we can't wait to reach it.

6. George; "No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull." [page 22] This phrase is slightly self-explanitory, but it stills get its point across. Lennie has the strength, size, endurance and mental capacity of a bull.

There are loads of metaphors in the chapter Lennie fights Curly, so here's a few you can rattle off;

7. "Curly Stepped over to Lennie like a terrier." [page 62] Rat terriers, despite their size, are incrdibly viscious creatures when they see their prey. They were specifically bred to crawl through tight spaces, sniff, hunt out, and kill rats that hide in either holes in the garden or crannies in the house. Their hunting technique is brutal yet effective, and I won't go into the details of it right now. Although the metaphor for a terrier was used earlier in regards with Lennie, ("Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master..."[page 9]) this is portraying the playful, obedient side of terriers and not the savagery of the rat terrier on the hunt. When it comes to Curly, it's pretty obvious he represents the latter.

8. "Lennie covered his face with huge paws..."[page 63] The reference to Lennie's hands as paws is used very frequently throughout the story and it just keeps on popping up randomly. It simply shows how his hands are huge, powerful and clumsly like a bear's paws.

9. "Lennie... bleated with terror."[page 63] Anyone who has been to a sheep farm has at least acknowlaged in the back of their mind how sheep run away from any human contact. This of course is completely instinctual, but the point remains the same that they more often than not bleat as they run away. When Steinbeck says Lennie bleats, it shows how he was terrified but unable to do anything about it. Poor Lennie.

10. "The next minute Curly was flopping like a fish on a line..."[page 63] When someone accompishes the goal of fishing, namely catching a fish, said fish, once leaving the safety of the water and exposed in air, immediately begins flailing wildly in an attempt to escape. This could quite possibly be the only time in the book the reader feels sorry for Curly because he has been reduced to nothing more than a fish without a hope to escape but trying vainly anyway.