The curse of strength
I initially read the book "Of Mice and Men" in Polish and was intrigued by the work of John Steinbeck. After a failed first attempt at "The Grapes of Wrath," this short novella seemed like a fitting second chance.
I didn't know what to expect. Living in Poland required more effort to understand the context of this story and its times. I must admit that I didn't do my homework when I initially read this book in Polish.
After living in England for a few years, I read it again, this time in English. My homework was done by living in this country with a long history, in many aspects similar to the history of the United States.
First and foremost, it's a book about the friendship of two men whose fates are intertwined uniquely. George is small, intelligent, and decisive. Lennie is strong and of great stature. He is also simple-minded, following George and trying to do what he tells him to do.
One is looking out for the other, but Lennie also has his unbridled strength to offer in moments of danger. It is a friendship whose fate is determined by the final scene, which is not obvious when we intend to interpret it. It is difficult to describe it clearly as an act of betrayal or mercy. And even if it is possible, I suspect that opinions will be divided.
John Steinbeck is a master of dialogue. We read successive characters' statements for many pages, immersing us deeply in this story. Sometimes, I even thought I was there too or watching a play in the theatre. However, when the narrator's description begins later, everything changes. The vocabulary and the way of perceiving the presented world change. I must admit that I am impressed with it.
It is also a book about the difficult times of the Great Depression of the 1930s. John Steinbeck doesn't seek to charm us. Instead, he presents the brutal realities of those times: racism, poverty, the class system, the absence of any labour standards, lynching... But it is not everything. On the other hand, the author introduces us to the world of dreams of people living in these times. Everything they want, their dreams, and their motivation to work.
"Of Mice and Men" is not a lengthy story. However, it is peculiar. This story is complete, and it is difficult to add anything more or take anything away from it. It is also a challenging narrative, and I needed to read it twice to discover the connections and meanings hidden within its pages.
