Compare the Opening and Closing Scenes in Of Mice and Men Essay

Of mice and men is a great novel written by protest writer John Steinbeck. It is a sad story about the life of two migrant ranch workers George and Lennie, and the conflicts between the reality and their relationship and dream. The opening and closing scenes are both set in the same place – Salinas River, however readers can sense totally different feelings from these two scenes. In this essay I am going to compare the opening and closing scenes of this novel focus on the following points: 1) the description of nature to evoke feelings, 2) The dialogue, and the way George and Lennie speak to each other, to explore how George change towards Lennie, 3) The dream George and Lennie share, to explore how Steinbeck protests against the reality. The opening scene in of Mice and Men is happy and peaceful compared to the closing scenes. Before the entry of the two main characters, Steinbeck gets the audience involved by describing the idyllic setting: the beautiful, colorful, peaceful and poetic evening in Salinas River. He creates the pleasant atmosphere brilliantly by sensational words like ‘deep and green’ water, ‘yellow sand’, ‘golden foothill slopes’, ‘fresh and green’ willows, ‘mottled’ sycamores. Just like a strong warm visual effect colorful oil-painting, the Willow Pool in Salinas River vividly present to us. It is also a calm peaceful riverside, little creatures like lizard, rabbit, coon, dears, heron are freely and actively wondering on the riverside. The feeling of relaxation in a warm afternoon is evoked and emphasized in depicting. â€Å"The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands†; â€Å"†¦the leaves lie d eep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them†¦.† This untainted beauty of the nature and the relaxed serenity atmosphere that Steinbeck wisely opens with tending toward the Romantic. It suggests a purity and perfection sense–>sense of purity to the reader that associates with the innocence of Lennie; indicates the idealized friendship and the romanticized dream between George and Lennie. On the other hand it helps to emphasize the changing atmosphere when two protagonists enter into the scene. By comparison to the same scene in the closing ending–scene it hints about the future trouble and the calm before the storm. The setting is also a symbol of a place free from society, a safe sanctuary for Lennie and George, where they can be themselves. That’s why George chooses to let Lennie come back here when he meets trouble, and even Lennie is finally killed by George in mercy here, the Salinas River does keep Lennie safe from the torture of being killed curly. The description of the landscape also helps us to develop an understanding of the background of the great depression. â€Å"There is a path through the willows and among the †¦ sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys†¦., and beaten hard by tramps †¦.† â€Å"†¦the limb is worm smooth by men who have sat on it.† Boys working in the ranch swim here and tramps traveling pass here trying to get job, use it as a rest area. It shows the background of great depression, people struggle with financial freedom, they had to drift into the country for jobs in the farming industry. The ending of the novel occurs at the exactly same place where the story started. The landscape is still the same; however they suggest a totally different feeling. â€Å"Already the sun had left the valley†; â€Å"by the pool among the mottled sycamores, a pleasant shade had fallen†. The sunset is normally symbolic the end of life, it is a subtle foreboding–indication of the impending death of Lennie. The changing landscape in the coming evening is also described in the other three plots. All these plots are following by the description of the chasing people coming nearer. Steinbeck uses the description of setting as an important tool to convey that Lennie’s death is impending. Readers can also notice that the peaceful and untainted atmosphere is replaced by violent – a heron ate a snake and waiting for another. The scene is not anymore slow and relaxed; instead â€Å"A far rush of wind sounded and a gust drove through the tops of the trees like a wave.† Dry leaves â€Å"scudded a few feet†; Things become swift and dramatic; they are signifying the turmoil George and Lennie have and are going to suffer. Apart from using the setting to underline the themes, Steinbeck is also accomplished–excelled in using creatures and their imagery to illustrate the themes and suggest the foreboding on what George and Lennie will suffer. In the opening chapter, as the human footsteps approached, the rabbits â€Å"hurried noiselessly for cover†; the heron â€Å"labored up† and â€Å"pound down river†. â€Å"For a moment the place was lifeless†. Creatures like lizards, rabbits, herons, coons, deers are in possession of the peaceful land, however when human being invaded, we can suddenly sense the tension in this scene — the dangers can lurk–appear at every turn, weak creatures can become prey anytime. They are good indications of a predatory world that George and Lennie are in. In the closing chapter, Steinbeck reflects some animals in the first section. He vividly describes the cold, deliberate way a large heron killed a water snake. The unsuspected snake â€Å"glided smoothly up the pool†, it is totally unaware that â€Å"in the shallows† there is a heron stood â€Å"motionless† waiting for it. â€Å"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†. Death of the helpless water snake comes so quickly, surely, and to the unaware. Normally, snake is a symbol of evil, however here it is utter–>completely helpless, and it is eaten by a heron, which is commonly regarded as a sign of goodness. This dramatic scene implies the helpless and unsuspecting Lennie who will be killed by his best friend -George, who is as cool as the heron (the situation forced George to shoot Lennie quickly). George killed Lennie with mercy, because he knows at least Lennie will die with happiness and without fear like the unaware snake. In the opening chapter of Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck solidly established the character profile for George and Lennie, as well as their relationship. Apart from the description of their physical characteristics, Steinbeck achieves this heavy reliance on the great proportion of direct speech dialogue between George and Lennie. The language that George and Lennie used in their conversation is fairly simple and contains commonly used American slang like â€Å"brang†, â€Å"would of†, â€Å"gonna†, â€Å"kinda† â€Å"for a sack†, etc. This help to reflect the setting and their down-to-earth uneducated ranch worker’s lifestyle and make an authentic–>real sense. The relationship between George and Lennie is clearly established right from the beginning of the book when George sternly warns Lennie to stop drinking water from the pool. â€Å"Lennie, for God’s sake don’t drink so much'†; â€Å"You gonna be sick like you w last night.† â€Å"‘you never oughta drink water when it ain’t running†. George said these â€Å"sharply† and â€Å"hopelessly†. Readers can soon perceive–>feel that George is clearly a leader and guardian who guides and protects Lennie. He looks out for Lennie’s safety and instructs him on what to do. He talks to Lennie in a patronizing but a caring way. Whereas, Lennie is a big, half-wit, child-minded person, who is also sweet and loving. â€Å"That’s good,† he said. â€Å"You drink some, George. You take a good big drink† â€Å"Look, George. Look what I done† Just like an innocent child, Lennie enjoys the pure pleasure by drinking and playing the water, and his first thought is to share the pleasure with George. With the plot progression, we got clearer that George is a small but clever, level-headed man. He loves Lennie, takes care of Lennie, guides Lennie, and protects Lennie like a father. He looks after all Lennie’s affairs, even carrying Lennie’s work card for him. He also always bails–bail Lennie out of the trouble, or even potential trouble, as he knows Lennie can get himself into trouble very easily. George instructs Lennie â€Å"Get into the brush till I come for you† if Lennie gets into any trouble. Meanwhile, although George is Lennie’s mentor–guardian, he also looks up to Lennie’s feeling, respects his behavior with understanding even though sometimes it seems odd. When George found a dead mouse, he takes the dead mouse away from Lennie. This hurts Lennie’ feeling and he starts to whimper. George â€Å"put his hand on Lennie’s shoulder† to comfort him. He did this for Lennie’s good. â€Å"I ain’t takin’ it away jus’ for meanness†. That mouse ain’t fresh†¦.you get another mouse that’s fresh and I’ll let you keep it a while†. He promises Lennie to give a pup for Lennie to pet. â€Å"First chance I get I’ll give you a pup,†¦That’d be better than mice. And you could pet it harder.† He even plans a future with Lennie, â€Å"..we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres †¦.† George is also a short-tempered person, he often gets irritated, weary, frustrated with the difficulties of his responsibility for taking care of Lennie, such as Lennie’s forgetfulness. When Lennie forgot where they are heading to, George swears and scolds in anger: â€Å"So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you’re a crazy bastard!† â€Å"The hell with the rabbits. That’s all you ever can remember is them rabbits. Of Mice and Men.K. Now you listen†¦.† The way George treat Lennie is just like the way an overtaxed–frustrated parent treats a little boy. Lennie asks for ketchup childishly during the dinner. This innocent request sparkle–sparkles George’s frustration again. He â€Å"exploded† his voiced â€Å"furiously†, and â€Å"rose nearly to a shout†. He launches a long complaining speech about the difficulties that Lennie brought to him; states that without caring for Lennie he can live a far easier life. In anger George declares† If I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble. No mess at all†¦.† On the other hand, despite George’s harsh, derogatory responses, Lennie never gets annoyed. Because–because Lennie looks up to George as an idol, he mimics action of George’s. He loves George and treats him as the most important person in his life. Each time when Lennie realizes he has done something wrong, he always try to please George and quell–calm his anger, because he is afraid George will leave him. â€Å"Lennie knelt and looked over the fire at the angry George. And Lennie’s face was drawn with terror.† â€Å"George† very softly â€Å"I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.† When George said if they got ketchup, Lennie can have some, Lennie said â€Å"I’d leave it all for you†¦and I wouldn’t touch none of it.† He even suggests he can leave George alone and go live in a cave. Although Lennie is half-witted, he has enough sense to know that George loves him, so he plays with George’s guilty conscience, and sympathy for George to ask him to stay with him. As expected, George feels guilt to his friend as early as when he sees Lennie’s â€Å"anguished face†. â€Å"I been mean, ain’t I?† he said to Lennie â€Å"I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself†¦..Your Aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself,†¦.† George knows clearly without him his dim-witted friend Lennie cannot survive by his own. Also as a promise to Lennie’s Aunt, George feels responsible to look after Lennie. After Lennie is assured that George will not leave him, he pleads George to recite their familiar dream. On the thought of their dream, George’s voice turns to â€Å"deeper† and â€Å"rhythmically†. It is very contagious, as a reader–readers we are immediately drawn in by the dream, which is just as beautiful as the landscape that Steinbeck describes in the open setting — free and idyllic. â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world†¦.They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.† â€Å"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to†¦..But not us.† These important quotes further highlights to us that George is actually a royal, loving, devoted friend rather than father, brother or guidance. Because he is so willing to admit that he appreciates Lennie’s companionship, because he needs Lennie emotionally, they rely on and look after each other. Also he knows it is the companionship and the special strong bond they share that set them apart from other homeless lonely ranch workers,their friendship make a strong support during the hardships and predicaments in the special era. Despite his annoyance, George stays with Lennie by a combination of the motivations of pity, responsibility and gets a company in the hard time. It is these facts that propel–push George to stay loyal to Lennie and devotes Lennie through thick and thin. In the closing chapter, readers can soon notice the way George and Lennie talk to each other changes. † ‘What the hell you yellin’ about?'†. When George sees Lennie again in the pool, he still swears, however it is his only way to talk. He turns a lot quieter this time. He is softer to Lennie, without scolding or blaming like before. When he repeats the life he yearns for followed by Lennie’s request, his tone is â€Å"woodenly† and â€Å"monotonous†, with â€Å"no emphasis†. By contrast, in the opening chapter, his long speech with same content was emotionally rich and lyrical. When George recounts the dream to Lennie again before he shoots Lennie, he struggles to maintain his co mposure and optimism, as at that moment his heart is in despair. However he did try to give Lennie a hope that their dream is achievable and will fulfill soon. â€Å"Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobbody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from’ em.† â€Å"Look acrost the river, Lennie, an’ I’ll tell you so you can almost see it†. Right before George kills Lennie in mercy, George declares: â€Å"no, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.† This is the finally words George talk to Lennie, in this sentence; we can sense how loving and devoted George is to his friend Lennie. Lennie talks to George with great sense of guilt and intense fear. As he knows he has done another very bad thing. He is still unaware of the bad fate that facing him. What he is afraid of is George will disapprove and leave him this time. He knows every time when he causes trouble, George will complain about his burden, and threaten to leave him. He then plays the trick again to gain sympathy and make sure George won’t leave him. Different with before, this time George didn’t get irritated, and assure Lennie that he won’t leave. â€Å"I knowed it† Lennie cried. â€Å"You ain’t that kind†. Lennie still holds the childlike faith that George will always be there for him. This assured faith relieves him a lot. Same as the opening in the novel, Lennie further requests George to repeat the dream again, because the dream gives both him and George comfort. George never wants Lennie to be hurt, but in the end he realizes that he is out of options to protect Lennie, the death of Lennie is inevitable–unavoidable. In order to protect Lennie from suffering tortures in a painful death. George is forced to shoot Lennie while Lennie is occupied with their shared dream of the farm, which is his favorite story and always soothes and comforts him. With the respect, love and responsibility towards Lennie, George has chosen the best option in the situation, and gives Lennie the best gift he can, the gift of peace, which can save Lennie from a hellish life in a forever asylum-dreadful life. One of the main themes in Of Mice and Men is American dreams. During the Great Depression the harsh realities make people lonely and powerless and hopeless, to share a dream of a better place is the only outlet to comfort them and help to transcend–from the troubles they face. Steinbeck introduces this dream for George and Lennie in the very first chapter. â€Å"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future.†- Despite the hard and gruff reality, George is still an idealist and self-motivated man at the beginning of the novel. He believes through their hard working, his dream of â€Å"live off the fatta the lan† can be achievable , and there is something better up ahead, as he got Lennie. It is Lennie and their strong bond that keep them from the terrible isolation that the other men experience, and gives George a special sense of purpose to strive for. Their friendship sustains their dream and makes it possible. However, with a world filled with harsh adversity and predatory–circumstances, their relationship just can’t simply sustain. George and Lennie are forced to separate tragically. By killing Lennie, George is also forced to shoot his dream, forced to surrender his faith of the Land of Promise. Without Lennie, George is now in loneness and hopelessness, just the same as anyone among the legion of poor, homeless, powerless migrant workers. The tragedy for them is, no matter how hard they work they are doomed–fated to a life of wandering, no matter how intensely they dream, their dreams can only help transcend their circumstances, but no way to be fulfilled. The faded American dream in the closing chapter sadly shows that a land of freedom, contentment, and safety is not possible to be found in this world, it is only an Eden-like place. Actually, at the end of the opening chapter, when Steinbeck deliberately wrote on the rabbit with different colors which Lennie desired is already a hint of the unrealistic fantasy of George and Lennie. Through the comparison of the opening and ending scenes in Of Mice and Men, we can find that the settings are very important in these two parts, Steinbeck used them to help evoke different feelings and hint about the future troubles, as well as symbolize the main themes. Dialogues between George and Lennie are the main content of these two scenes, they help to characterize the main roles and establish and develop the main themes – loneliness, friendship, and dream. Through these main themes Steinbeck portrayed the hardship that ranch workers like George and Lennie encountered during the heartbreaking Depression era. He has succeeded in describing the cruelty and insurmountable -extremely difficult challenges during the Depression.