Of Mice and Men

American author John Steinbeck published his novella Of Mice and Men in 1937. Despite its place in the classical canon, the novella is one of the most challenged books of the 21st century due to its depiction of violence and use of profane, racist language. The novella’s title is an allusion to Scottish poet Robert Burns’s 1785 poem “To a Mouse,” in which a farmer unwittingly and regrettably kills a mouse while plowing. Of Mice and Men takes place in the 1930s and explores the friendship of two migrant ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, as they struggle to attain their American dream during the Great Depression. Many of Steinbeck’s works are commentaries on the social and economic effects of the Great Depression and feature recurring themes, including the dissolution of the American dream, isolation and loneliness, injustice, and the cruelty of man.

Content Warning: The source material features violence, racist language, and animal cruelty. Additionally, there are discussions/threats of racial and sexual violence.

Plot Summary

Chapter 1 opens with an idyllic scene south of nearby Soledad, California. A warm river is nestled between the Gabilan mountains and a lush valley.