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

Popular posts from this blog

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

 Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, faces both external and internal conflicts throughout the novel. Some examples of these conflicts are: External Conflicts: Conflict with the society: Montag lives in a society that prohibits books and critical thinking. He faces opposition from the government and the people who enforce this law. Montag struggles to come to terms with the fact that his society is based on censorship and control. Conflict with his wife: Montag's wife, Mildred, is completely absorbed in the shallow and meaningless entertainment provided by the government. Montag's growing dissatisfaction with his marriage adds to his external conflict. Conflict with the fire captain: Montag's superior, Captain Beatty, is the personification of the oppressive regime that Montag is fighting against. Montag's struggle against Beatty represents his external conflict with the government. Internal Conflicts: Conflict with his own beliefs: Montag, at the beginning of th...

In A People's History of the United States, why does Howard Zinn feel that Wilson made a flimsy argument for entering World War I?

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said, in the midst of the First World War. Indeed, as the nations of Europe went to war in 1914, the governments flourished, patriotism bloomed, class struggle was stilled, and young men died in frightful numbers on the battlefields-often for a hundred yards of land, a line of trenches. -- Chapter 14, Page 350, A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines his arguments for why World War I was fought in the opening paragraph of Chapter 14 (referenced above). The nationalism that was created by the Great War benefited the elite political and financial leadership of the various countries involved. Socialism, which was gaining momentum in Europe, as was class struggle, took a backseat to mobilizing for war. Zinn believes that World War I was fought for the gain of the industrial capitalists of Europe in a competition for capital and resources. He states that humanity itself was punished by t...

Where did Atticus take the light and extension cord in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with... Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with Jim if that’s what it takes to protect him.  Atticus tells the men that he will make sure his client gets his fair shake at the law.  “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till ...