119. OF MICE and MEN

John Steinbeck 1937

This short novel about the unique friendship between Lennie Small and George Milton is simply riveting. As tranquil as the setting seems to be, I somehow could not let go of an overlying sense of gloom. Lennie Small who is mentally impaired, unaware of his own physical strength and obsessed with soft furry things, sits down with George Milton, his protector and constant friend by the river to discuss among other things, their need to find a more stable job so they can fulfill their dream of owning a farm they can call their own, and where Lennie can raise rabbits. They find the job in a ranch, but they also meet a new set of people with their own insecurities, and in a flash, tragic events soon unfold.

'A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sand in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool.'(opening lines)

'Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones. And then from the direction of the state highway came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted heron labored up into the air and pounded down river. For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening of the green pool.(2)

"Well, how the hell did she know you jus' wanted to feel her dress? She jerks back and you hold on like it was a mouse. She yells and got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak out in the dark and get outta the country. All the time somethin' like that-- all the time. I wisht I could put you in a cage with about a million mice an' let you have fun.'(11)

'Lennie broke in. "But not us! An' why? Because... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why." He laughed delightedly.'(14)

"An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An' have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that George."(14)

"Sure," said George. "We kinda look after each other." He indicated Lennie with his thumb. "He ain't bright. Hell of a good worker, though. Hell of a nice fella, but he ain't bright. I've knew him for a long time."(34)

'Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch ever'thing he likes. Just wants to feel it.'(41)

George said, "She's gonna make a mess. They's gonna be a bad mess about her. She's a jail bait all set on the trigger. That Curley got his work cut out for him. Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain't no place for a girl, 'specially like her."(51)

"A guy needs somebody-- to be near him." He whined, "A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya," he cried, "I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick."(72)

'As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.'(93)

"Jesus Christ, Lennie! You can't remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever' word I say."(103)

'"An' I got you. We got each other, that's what, that gives a hoot in hell about us," Lennie cried in triumph.'(104)

a Penguin Book edition

107 pages

Book borrowed from the Library