On This Day In History, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men Was Published

Robert Burns tribute, Milwaukee

When I was in high school I vividly remember two John Steinbeck books that we read and studied, One was his masterful and memorable novel Grapes of Wrath, the second was this powerful novella Of Mice and Men.

What I most remember is the insightful manner in which our English teacher Mr Harris drew attention to certain details that Steinbeck purposefully embedded in this tale of the Joad family as they were forced to leave their homeland during the Dust Bowl years of the Great Depression,  (A special shout out to English teachers in general and Mr Harris specifically for his lifelong influence.)

Of Mice and Men is a tightly packed story of two migrant workers. The writing is sensitve, and vivid, the story heartbreaking. Published in 1937 it certified that Steinbeck was the real deal as far as writers go.

The two main characters are George and Lennie. It's themes include the meaning of friendship, isolation and the quest to experience the American Dream, a place of one's own. Like all quest stories there is the dream or objective, and there are the barriers or obstacles to be overcome, The pair are displaced ranch workers striving to escape their fate, George being quick-witted and protective, Lennie being a large, incredibly strong but mentally disable man who needs a friend like Lennie to look after him.

The reality is that there are all kinds of Lennie's in this world. How do we best stand along side of them so they can find a place where they can be free to be themselves? They don't fit in to the business world of success motivation books and seminars. Misfits deserve a place to fit in, too.

The story opens with George and Lennie heading toward another job after things went bad in a previous one. The characters in the new situation have different ideas about life and symbolize the various ways working people approach what they do. There's also the unspoken rules of the various cultures we find ourselves in, with subsequent misunderstandings. In the end we seehow fragile dreams can be in a world that seems indifferent to our struggles.

The title comes from these lines from Robert Burns' poem, To A Mouse. 

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men

          Gang aft agley,

An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,

          For promis’d joy!

(Trans: The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.
    And leave us naught but grief and pain, for promised joy.)

Times have changed but the story remains relevant. Though we're living in a different era, human nature hasn't evolved the way technology has. 

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In 2021 I wrote about banned books. To my. surprise Of Mice and Men was banned in dozens of municipalities. You can find out why here: Do You Read Banned Books

Thanks for reading. Did you read this book in high school? Or later?  What was your take?