Explore the implications of ‘homelessness’ with regards to Lennie Essay

‘Home’ in Of Mice and Men represents an ideal, one that all characters in this novella, including Lennie, appear to lack. Thus they are all ‘homeless’ in one sense or another. The subject of home and homelessness is one that is closely related to all the major themes of Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck effectively portrays his characters by their different aspirations towards ‘home’. In doing so he creates a hierarchy of this ideal. Thus the most humble and submissive dream of home pursued by Lennie and his companion George is shown to be the most compelling and greatest of all. Yet, will Lennie grasp the light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains-the light of heaven? Or are the providential forces of fate and destiny to render ‘Paradise Lost’ ? Of Mice and Men is about the plight of two American labourers, George and Lennie. George is a ‘smart little guy’ whereas Lennie is the exact opposite. The plot and structure of the story is very economical and the language used is in no way elaborate. Assisted by the simple time frame we are given the impression that the story is an uncomplicated one. Yet, within this seemingly unembellished novel are to be found a variety of themes, skilfully brought to light by the way in which the author handles his subject; George and Lennie. The two main themes of Of Mice and Men are that of dreams- the aspiration towards an ideal home, and that of loneliness. Lennie is a man of immense strength and size. However, in effect his mind is like that of a child’s. His home is neither with nature nor with man. Throughout the story, Steinbeck is constantly describing Lennie in animal terms. He says, regarding Lennie, â€Å"(h)e walked, heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.† In many cases Lennie is likened to a dog. This image is furthered by Candy’s dog who plays a choral role as Lennie’s double. The description of Lennie as the ‘poor bastard’ also suggests that Lennie is not of the family of man. Lennie’s mind has never fully learnt how to control his body. He is thus not at home in the ranch where he and George are working as he is unable to cope with the complexities of ‘modern’ living. Also, living in the ranch for too long would inevitably lead to trouble, such as that which occurred in Weed. Therefore, even if one were to consider the ranch as being Lennie’s home, it can not be a permanent one. Through the subject of protest, Of Mice and Men provides us with a new dimension to homelessness. Negroes, cripples and misfits are all shunned by society. This is illustrated by the characters of Crooks, Candy and Lennie respectively. Lennie’s ill treatment is apparent at many times throughout the story. One such case being that when Curley decides to pick a fight with him. Even George, Lennie’s closest companion â€Å"used to play jokes on ‘im ’cause he was.. dumb.† Rejected by society Lennie is ‘homeless.’ However, one must add that although Lennie is treated badly at times, there are others where he is treated with kindness and sympathy. Yet, is sympathy enough to make him feel at ‘home’? In the first paragraph of the story we are introduced to the idea of nature as ‘home’. Yet, although Lennie is constantly portrayed as an animal, as with man, Lennie and nature are incompatible; one inevitably leading to the destruction of the other. Lennie, like a child, is fascinated with things that he can caress such as mice and pups. His love for them is undeniable, yet they all end up dead. One may say that he ‘loves them to death.’ Both Lennie and George know that Lennie is incapable of surviving in nature, thus with a sort of animal wit, Lennie plays on George’s feelings of guilt: â€Å"If you don’t want me†¦.I’ll go off in the hills†¦and live all by myself.† The idea of Lennie living alone in nature is a laughable one. This incompatibility is ominous- it is as if Steinbeck is saying that Lennie will either destroy nature or nature will destroy Lennie. Lennie’s home, the only one that may agree with his survival is one where ‘like a terrier who†¦..bring(s) a ball to it’s master’ he is always tethered to George, and constantly under his watchful eye. This is neither possible at the ranch nor where Lennie is alone in nature, he is therefore ‘homeless’ is in this sense. Yet it would be wrong to suggest that Lennie attempts to find home for the above reasons, for as George puts it, â€Å"(h)e was too dumb.† His motivation is that of fear; fear of loneliness, a concept that even Lennie is able to understand. His feeling of insecurity towards the one most important thing in his life-his relationship with Lennie is evident at certain times throughout the story. One such case being when cynical Crooks teases Lennie about what will happen if George does not return from town: † ‘He’ll come back to-night-‘ But the doubt was too much for him. ‘Don’t you think he will?’ † Lennie’s doubt makes Crooks’ double negative to be of great significance. Crooks’ says, â€Å"S’pose you didn’t have nobody.† Through this Steinbeck appears to be saying that George’s companionship is not one of substance. Their separation is indeed inevitable. For this reason Lennie de sires a home. Lennie’s dream of home is one in which he is in harmony with both man and nature. It is a humble dream, which is summed up by George, â€Å"Well its ten acres†¦got a kitchen, orchard, cherries†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Having a particular Western resonance in that it is related to the ‘great American dream’ in the time of the frontiers, the farm offers Lennie a sanctuary from his own innocence. He can be at one with nature that he so loves whilst being looked after by George. Yet cynical Crooks believes that this dream is impracticable: â€Å"Hundreds of them†¦an every damn one of ’em’s got a ..piece of land in his head†¦ Nobody never gets to heaven and nobody never gets no land.† Lennie’s tragic death is the final confirmation of this. Lennie’s life can be seen to be a trap. The only means of escaping the implications of homelessness and thus freeing himself is to dream. Crooks’ double negative (‘nobody never gets to heaven’) leads us to question whether Lennie actually ascertains his ideal home – paradise. Across the Salinas river lies the ‘golden foothill slopes’ that ‘curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains.’ The light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains is an image that recurs throughout the novella. At the end of the book Lennie stands facing the great mountains, all that lies between him and paradise is the Salinas river-the river of death. In death, Lennie has overcome this barrier. His ascending spirit is scaling the ‘golden foothill’-the path to heaven whilst his body shall soon receive the land for which it so yearned. Whether or not Steinbeck intended so literary an interpretation is unknown. However, the image gives us valuable insight to Steinbeck’s views on the subject of home. It is as though Steinbeck is saying that the actual apprehension of the dream is of little importance, what is of importance is the feelings and emotions that are generated by it.