Theme Analysis

In last week's blog response, I asked you to select a theme that "hit home" with you the most.  Now that you have set your sights on a theme you would most like work with some more, it is time to test your skills of analysis.  Scan through the last chapter (6) in Of Mice and Men and see if you can pull out a moment from the text that, upon close reading, says something about your selected theme.


My theme: Power vs powerlessness

Example: "Lennie obeyed him. George looked down at the gun." (Steinbeck 106)

This quote shows that Lennie is a character that has little power. When George tells him to do something, he does because he is afraid of what will happen if he does not.We see in the book that George can be very powerful. Lennie has little power because he does everything George says. He may be strong, but when it comes to making decisions, he is not the one in power. In the last chapter, Steinbeck shows how powerful George is when he takes the gun and uses it to kill his alliance. The theme of power vs powerlessness is evident in the last chapter.  

So why did George kill Lennie any way? Check out this article to see for yourself!
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6350367/1/Why-Did-George-Kill-Lenny-Essay