In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men many themes are prevalent, however there is one theme that can be continually seen throughout the duration of the book. This is the idea that humans automatically feel the need to protect the things and people that they care for. George is constantly protecting his friend Lennie from his own stupidity. This is partly due to the fact that George promised Lennie's Aunt Clara that he would watch after him, but also simply part of George's human nature. Whenever something seems suspicious to George, he warns Lennie of it and advises him to steer clear of the situation to ensure no trouble will be caused. Another main character in the book, Candy, watches out for his poor old dog. All of the men complain that the dog stinks because it is essentially rotting from the inside out. They tell Candy that he should get rid of the dog because he is of no good to anyone anymore. Eventually Candy gives in and lets another man shoot his old dog to put it out of his misery. He then mentions that he hopes that someone would do the same for him if he one day became useless. These are just two examples of the watching-after that takes place in Of Mice and Men.
The ending of the book symbolizes numerous things, but it can also be classified as the point in the book that the theme of people watching out for one another comes about full—circle. In one of the final scenes, Lennie accidentally snaps the neck of his boss' wife. After realizing what he has done, he flees to the spot that George told him to go in case anything bad happened. When Curley, the woman's husband, finds his wife's body in the barn he becomes infuriated and immediately gathers up the other men to go on a man hunt. Curley has only one thing in mind, the death of Lennie. George tags along with the brigade and even leads it to the spot that he knows they will find his best friend Lennie hiding. George walks down by the water and sits next to Lennie and acts to console his friend before he shoots him. The fact that George kills Lennie once again exemplifies the need for people to protect their loved ones. At this point Lennie is only becoming more dangerous and doing more damage to those around him, even if he doesn't mean to. He's gone from crushing hands to snapping necks. It is obvious that George cares for Lennie, and this is why he finds it necessary that he kill Lennie before he is able to do anymore damage to himself or others. Although it seems backwards, shooting Lennie is one of the most caring things George did throughout the book. It shows that he had the courage to do probably the most terrible thing in order to save his friend from being brutally murdered by a vicious and spiteful man. If any of the other man would have shot Lennie, he most likely would have seen it coming and died an afraid man. However George watches out for his friend and does what he feels necessary in the end to protect him from his own fate, no matter how painful it was.
The ending of the book symbolizes numerous things, but it can also be classified as the point in the book that the theme of people watching out for one another comes about full—circle. In one of the final scenes, Lennie accidentally snaps the neck of his boss' wife. After realizing what he has done, he flees to the spot that George told him to go in case anything bad happened. When Curley, the woman's husband, finds his wife's body in the barn he becomes infuriated and immediately gathers up the other men to go on a man hunt. Curley has only one thing in mind, the death of Lennie. George tags along with the brigade and even leads it to the spot that he knows they will find his best friend Lennie hiding. George walks down by the water and sits next to Lennie and acts to console his friend before he shoots him. The fact that George kills Lennie once again exemplifies the need for people to protect their loved ones. At this point Lennie is only becoming more dangerous and doing more damage to those around him, even if he doesn't mean to. He's gone from crushing hands to snapping necks. It is obvious that George cares for Lennie, and this is why he finds it necessary that he kill Lennie before he is able to do anymore damage to himself or others. Although it seems backwards, shooting Lennie is one of the most caring things George did throughout the book. It shows that he had the courage to do probably the most terrible thing in order to save his friend from being brutally murdered by a vicious and spiteful man. If any of the other man would have shot Lennie, he most likely would have seen it coming and died an afraid man. However George watches out for his friend and does what he feels necessary in the end to protect him from his own fate, no matter how painful it was.
