Skip to main content

What are some examples of conflict in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck?

A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. Four major types of literary conflict appear in John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men. These conflicts could be labeled person vs. fate, person vs. person, person vs. society and person vs. self. Person vs. fate is revealed in the book's title which comes from the Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse." The poem suggests that fate often intervenes in the plans "of mice and men" and those plans go astray and are unrealized. In the book, George's, Lennie's and Candy's plan of buying their own "little piece of land" is shattered by fate when Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife. In fact, Steinbeck imposes a rigid determinism on the character's of the book and none of them are able to break free of their individual fates.

The major person vs. person conflict appears in Chapter Three when Lennie, who has been innocently smiling over the dream of the farm, is challenged and attacked by Curley, who beats Lennie badly, until George gives Lennie the cue to fight. The seeds of the conflict are set up in Chapter Two, when George and Lennie first meet the belligerent boss's son. The conflict is important because it sets up the fury for revenge which overtakes Curley in the book's last two chapters.


Candy and Crooks are characters who struggle against society. Candy is old and unable to work as hard as he did before losing his hand, and so is helpless to the attitudes and prejudices of the other men, especially Carlson, who takes a dislike to Candy's old dog and ends up shooting it when Candy can't do it himself. Crooks is a victim of a society which looks down on his color and race. He is segregated and because of this segregation, deeply lonely.


The major internal conflict (person vs. self) of the book is within George. He loves his friend Lennie, but after the incident in the barn with Curley's wife, George is no longer able to stick up for Lennie. At the end of Chapter Five, he pleads with Curley to leave Lennie alone and not hurt him, but Curley, bent on revenge, will not hear it. Rather than let Lennie fall into the hands of Curley or the Sheriff, something Lennie would never understand, George steals Carlson's gun and shoots his friend. Only Slim seems to understand George's conflict at the end of the book when he tells George, "You hadda George. I swear you hadda."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more