Naturalism in Of Mice and Men Essay Example For Students

Naturalism in Of Mice and Men Essay Naturalism is a literary style that displays action or thought that is derived exclusively from natural desires and instincts (The Readers Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, p. 901). John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men contains several instances of this element. Some of these are found when Lennie breaks Curleys hand, when Lennie kills Curleys wife, and when George kills Lennie. When Lennie breaks Curleys hand, Lennies honesty is contrasted with Curleys hotheadedness and arrogance. Then Curleys rage exploded. . . . He crouched cowering against the wall. You tol me to, George, he said miserably,(Steinbeck 68). This scene contributes to the novel the knowledge of the full extent of Lennies honesty. The reader is shown that Lennie doesnt want to hurt Curley even when Curley is hurting him, and feels remorse when he is forced to go against his nature and inflict harm upon Curley. When Lennie kills Curleys wife, it becomes apparent that Lennies honesty is too stubbornly childlike for the good of himself or anyone else. Lennie was in a panic. . . . And then he whispered in fright, I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing,'(99). This scene makes the reader aware that Lennie is too honest to fit easily into society and not smart enough to understand how or why he must stifle his honesty. This helps the reader to understand Lennies strength and the childlike openness that drives him. Being forced to stifle this honesty expedites his death. When George kills Lennie, the reader sees that George is every bit as honest as Lennie, but is smart enough to realize that such brutal honesty is impractical. He would rather deceive and kill his friend than watch him die at the hands of a stranger. And George raised the gun and steadied it, . . . Slims voice shouted, George. Where you at, George?'(117). George kills Lennie because it has now been proven that Lennie is no good to himself or anyone else. This scene contributes to the knowledge of Georges honesty, but also shows that George must stifle the honesty of how he feels about Lennie and get on with his own life. Naturalism in this novel has the overall effect of making the conflict clearer and showing more of a contrast between the opposing forces. The three events mentioned have the overall effect of heightening the conflict and the contrast between Lennies frank honesty and brute strength with the other mens stifled honesty and false courage. This courage appears to be lacking until the climax and final resolution resulting in Lennies death.