Of Mice and Men Symbolism
Animals
People
Objects
Places
Mice
Candy's dog: this dog symbolizes the terrible concept of aging and being old, and also the strong bond that builds up over a certain person/thing over time. It's a reality that in this world, old people and old things are not appreciated as much, since they are usually considered a drag. But this dog shows how the old age is time where attachment build up, but not everyone feels that attachment.
The ideal Farm George and Lenny wanted to get: It symbolizes control, authority, self-dependancy, and freedom: all that the workers wanted but couldn't obtain.
Croook's Isolated Cabin
This can clearly be seen with Carlson's feelings towards the old dog vs. Candy's feelings for it.
Carlson:
"'He's all stiff with rheumatism. He ain't no good to you , Candy. And he ain't no good to himself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?'" (pg44)
Candy:
"'Well- hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him.' He said proudly, "You wouldn't think it to look at him right now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I've ever seen.'" (pg44)
The Similarity of all the Character's names except the two main characters: Curly, Candy, Crooks, Carlson
No name for Curly's wife
This resemblance in names symbolizes the sameness that the author gives each individual, showing that they are all as important as unimportant, even when they think there is superiority between them. For instance, Crooks is a black man and Curly is the boss' son, but in the big picture they are both the same: both people, both farm workers.
The author doesn't give Curly's wife a name to show or emphasize the lack of importance women had back in that time, and the lack of power she had in that ranch. The author, calling her "Candy's Wife" throughout the whole book, objectifies her, making her someone's belonging.
The isolated cabin where Crooks lives symbolizes loneliness and exclusion, since he is just like any other person, but he is separated from the group of workers for being black. It also symbolizes permanency, since the other workers come and go, but he is forever stuck being the slave of the farm.
quote: "Crooks the negro stable buck, has his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn."
"And scattered about the floor were a number of personal possessions; for, being alone, Crooks could leave his things about, and being a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men, and he had accumulated more possessions than he could carry on his back."
(pg66 and pg67)
Candy cried, "'Sure they all want it. Everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus' somethin' that was his. Somethin' he could live on and there couldn't nobody throw him off of it. I never had none. I planted crops for damn near ever'body in this state, but they wasn't my crops , and when I harvested 'em, it wasn't none of my harvest. But we gonna do it now, and don't make no mistakes about that."
Mice are a symbol of deception, and false hope. Lennie has an obsession for petting soft things, but every time he finally thinks he has a mouse to pet, he accidentally kills it. Every time the mouse dies, hope dies with it.
"'I'd pet 'em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead- because they was so little." (pg10)
Game of cards
The game of cards is a symbol that represents group and collaboration, as it involves two or more players, and it is never played alone. It is used here by the author to emphasize how lonely Crooks is compared to the other workers, who are always with company.
"' 'Cause I'm black. They play card in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me." (pg68)
High heels boots
The high heels boots are a symbol for superiority and power. The boots are only worn by the boots and his son Curley, and their "high heel" shows how they are superior from the rest
Quote:
"At that moment a young man came into the bunkhouse; a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair. He wore a glove on his left hand, and, like the boss, he wore high heeled boots."