H English 10 | 6th Period

Honors english 10 Mr. Hollister

Of Mice & Men & The Pearl by John Steinbeck

                           

Introduction

I will be telling you about two books by John Steinbeck and how his stories relate to one another. They will make you really think about life decisions and why things happen the way they do in life.

Settings

Both were placed in the 1900s. It took place between 1929-39 so it was during the great depression.

Of mice and men

The setting in mice and men was in the 1930’s in Salinas California.

The Pearl

The village by the sea, the sea, and the piaster city was settings in the pearl.

Characters

These characters had a lot of similarities. George and Kino were both very courageous men and always stuck to their word. They both had a job to watch out for people and keep them safe.

Of mice and men

Lennie, George, and Candy were three main characters. Lennie was mentally ill. He was very slow and only had a memory of his aunt Clara. George was a great man who always helped Lennie. He grew up with Lennie so he knows all about him. Lennie’s aunt told George before she died to always watch and take care of Lennie. Candy was a man that worked on the ranch. He was George and Lennie’s first friend.

The pearl

Kino, Juana, and the doctor was three main characters. Kino was a very independent man who had a wife named Juana and a baby named Coyotito. The doctor was a rich man who layed in bed all day and ate chocolate.

Themes

They both had a life lesson to them. George had to be brave about killing Lennie knowing is was best for him even though it did not feel right. Kino had to be brave to put is family in danger even though it lost him a child, but was free. They had to learn that sometimes the wrong thing actually turns out to be the right thing.

Of mice and men

Learning a lesson is part of the theme, commitment, and loneliness. I honestly think commitment was the major one, because George never let Lennie down he stayed committed to him and always helped him the best he could.

The Pearl

God’s plan and fate was two settings of The Pearl. Fate was the one that i think mostly stood out, because they really struggled to stay alive and to be safe and also lost a child in the process.

Symbolism

The symbols match between these two books, because they both have good and evil. Kino had to do some things he did not want to do and so did George. George seen the good in Lennie that no ones else did, but he also knew what bad things he could do (the evil inside of him)

Of mice and men

The dream of the farm was a symbol, because it was a peaceful place for George and Lennie both. It took them away from reality.

The pearl

Symbols were the scorpion which meant pure evil.

Another one was Kino’s canoe.

Plot

Of mice and men

We find out Lennie likes to touch soft things and George found a dead rat in Lennie’s pocket Lennie says she likes to pet it but George does not agree and throws it away.

They get to the ranch and talk to the boss about work George tells Lennie that he is not to speak and to let him speak for him.

George thanks Slim for Lennie's new puppy. Slim asks the question that's on everyone's mind, wanting to know why a "cuckoo" like Lennie and a "smart little guy" like George are traveling around together.

The pearl

The community reaction to the pearl as social commentary of the ruling class for abuse or even greed.

Kino and Juana do not face easy things with regard to their newfound fortune, and in fact the might be in danger.

Kino and Juana take the baby and the pearl into the wilderness in an attempt to make it to the city to avoid being chased and sell the pearl.

Conclusion

Both of these books had sad endings. Both main characters lost a person that they were attached to and loved very much. Although at the same time they got freedom. George could finally build his life the way he wanted without worrying about Lennie. Kino lost his child, but he became free and still had his wife. So sometimes the bad things end up becoming the good things.

Of mice and men

To me this book meant comprehension. If you think of everything that has happened it really all adds up. George always took care of Lennie and never let him down. He always took up for Lennie and did everything he could for him.                                            

The pearl

This book had a lot of courage. It took courage for Kino to find the pearl and for him to be as brave as he was to travel as long as he did fight off all those people. Him as an individual is a very courageous man who seems he would do anything he can to keep his family safe.