Explore the implications of ‘homelessness’ with regards to Lennie Essay

Home in Of Mice and Men represents an model, 1 that either characters in this novella, including Lennie, go forth to lack. Thus they ar all domicilless in one intellect or a nonher. The subject of central office and homelessness is one that is closely related to all the major themes of Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck effectively portrays his characters by their different aspirations towards home. In doing so he creates a hierarchy of this ideal. Thus the nigh humble and teachable dream of home pursued by Lennie and his companion George is shown to be the most compelling and immenseest of all. Yet, w green Lennie grasp the fresh flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains-the light of nirvana? Or are the providential forces of parcel and destiny to r halter Paradise Lost ?Of Mice and Men is about the rent of two American labourers, George and Lennie. George is a smart little guy whereas Lennie is the fill opposite. The plot and structure of the story is very economical an d the language apply is in no look elaborate. Assisted by the simple duration frame we are given the impression that the story is an uncomplicated one.Yet, at heart this seemingly unembellished novel are to be found a variety of themes, skilfully brought to light by the way in which the writer handles his subject George and Lennie. The two main themes of Of Mice and Men are that of dreams- the aspiration towards an ideal home, and that of loneliness.Lennie is a man of immense strength and size. However, in effect his psyche is interchangeable that of a childs. His home is neither with record nor with man. end-to-end the story, Steinbeck is constantly describing Lennie in animal terms. He says, regarding Lennie, (h)e walked, heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. In many cases Lennie is uniformned to a dog. This image is furthered by Candys dog who plays a choral role as Lennies double.The description of Lennie as the poor bastard also suggests t hat Lennie is non of the family of man. Lennies mind has never fully learnt how to control his body. He is thereof not at home in the ranch where he and George are working as he is unable to cope with the complexities of modern stomachly. Also, living in the ranch for too long would inevitably lead to trouble, such(prenominal) as that which occurred in Weed. Therefore, even if one were to consider the ranch as being Lennies home, it can not be a ineradicable one. by the subject of protest, Of Mice and Men provides us with a new mark to homelessness. Negroes, cripples and misfits are all shunned by society. This is illustrated by the characters of Crooks, Candy and Lennie respectively. Lennies ill treatment is apparent at many times throughout the story. one such case being that when Curley decides to pick a fight with him. nonetheless George, Lennies closest companion used to play jokes on im pee he was.. dumb. Rejected by society Lennie is homeless. However, one must pro vide that although Lennie is interact badly at times, there are others where he is treated with kindness and sympathy. Yet, is sympathy enough to make him feel at home?In the first paragraph of the story we are introduced to the idea of spirit as home. Yet, although Lennie is constantly portrayed as an animal, as with man, Lennie and temperament are incompatible one inevitably leading to the destruction of the other. Lennie, like a child, is fascinated with things that he can caress such as mice and pups.His love for them is undeniable, yet they all end up dead. One may say that he loves them to death. Both Lennie and George know that Lennie is incapable of surviving in spirit, thus with a sort of animal wit, Lennie plays on Georges feelings of sin If you dont want me.Ill go off in the hillsand live all by myself. The idea of Lennie living alone in nature is a laughable one. This incompatibility is ominous- it is as if Steinbeck is verbalise that Lennie will either destroy na ture or nature will destroy Lennie.Lennies home, the only one that may agree with his survival is one where like a terrier who..bring(s) a ball to its master he is everlastingly tethered to George, and constantly under his watchful eye. This is neither possible at the ranch nor where Lennie is alone in nature, he is therefore homeless is in this sense.Yet it would be wrong to suggest that Lennie attempts to find home for the higher up reasons, for as George puts it, (h)e was too dumb. His motivation is that of fear fear of loneliness, a plan that even Lennie is able to understand. His feeling of insecurity towards the one most authoritative thing in his life-his relationship with Lennie is evident at certain times throughout the story. One such case being when distrustful Crooks teases Lennie about what will happen if George does not return from town Hell deal back to-night- But the doubt was too much for him. Dont you think he will? Lennies doubt makes Crooks double nix to be of great significance. Crooks says, Spose you didnt have nada. Through this Steinbeck appears to be saying that Georges companionship is not one of substance. Their musical interval is indeed inevitable. For this reason Lennie desires a home.Lennies dream of home is one in which he is in harmony with both man and nature. It is a humble dream, which is summed up by George, Well its ten acresgot a kitchen, orchard, cherries Having a particular Western resonance in that it is related to the great American dream in the time of the frontiers, the farm offers Lennie a mental home from his own innocence. He can be at one with nature that he so loves whilst being looked after by George. Yet cynical Crooks believes that this dream is impracticable Hundreds of theman every damn one of ems got a ..piece of land in his head Nobody never gets to enlightenment and nobody never gets no land. Lennies tragic death is the closing confirmation of this.Lennies life can be seen to be a trap. The only means of escaping the implications of homelessness and thus freeing himself is to dream. Crooks double negative (nobody never gets to heaven) leads us to question whether Lennie actually ascertains his ideal home paradise. Across the Salinas river lies the golden foothill slopes that curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains. The light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains is an image that recurs throughout the novella.At the end of the book Lennie stands facing the great mountains, all that lies between him and paradise is the Salinas river-the river of death. In death, Lennie has overcome this barrier. His ascending spirit is scaling the golden foothill-the path to heaven whilst his body shall soon receive the land for which it so yearned. Whether or not Steinbeck intended so literary an interpretation is unknown. However, the image gives us rich insight to Steinbecks views on the subject of home. It is as though Steinbeck is saying that the actual apprehensi on of the dream is of little importance, what is of importance is the feelings and emotions that are generated by it.