I had read Steinbeck in both high school and university-though to
say I actually "read" him in high school would be a mistake. I had
to read The Grapes of Wrath and write a paper about it. I found the
book to be so boring that I couldn't even make it past the first
few pages without falling asleep. When university came, I had to
read Of Mice and Men for one of my courses. Feeling a little leery
about reading more Steinbeck, I was reassured by its short
length.
I picked it up recently because of its volume and portability. It
was a quick read, but with so many messages within. In fact, it was
quite a depressing read, but the way that Steinbeck puts his
stories together, it's hard not to be taken with the beautiful
descriptions and the flowing dialogue.
One of the themes of this book is most definitely innocence. We see
it in Lenny and we see it in the old dog. With Lenny's innocence,
it's easy to enjoy the banter and friendship between him and
George. The imagery that Steinbeck conjures is so great that the
whole story will stick with you. The comparison between Lenny and
the old dog are both tragic and horrifying. Just like the old dog
having to rely on his master to get through each day, Lenny has to
rely on George. He can't be blamed for the crimes that he does, yet
others just can't see it that way.
This really is a book that should be read more in schools-it's a
real eye-opener. Touching, sad, and timeless, Of Mice and Men is a
classic that should be read in every generation.