Foreshadowing
Steinbeck uses foreshadowing in Of Mice and Men to show greater or more catastrophic events to come. For example, George tells Lennie often that life would be so much easier without him. Then, George ends up killing Lennie. Also, the death of Candy's dog as a sacrifice foreshadows that another character in the novel will also be sacrificed. Then whenever Lennie kills the puppy and the mouse because they were soft and he stroked them too hard and he later started stroking Curley's wife's hair and wouldn't let go of it.
After Lennie crushed Georges hand it showed that Lennie does get violent, even though not on purpose. Lennie always seeks George for direction and help. George says how he can't be gone from Lennie or something bad will happen: "Seems like I cant be gone for one minute" (Steinbeck). This quote foreshadows that something bad will happen in George's absence. The day Lennie killed Curley's wife George was out playing horse shoes with the guys while Lennie was in the barn alone with her. Lennie didn't have George there to tell him to let go of her or anything so Lennie was frightening and panicked.
A critic, Howard Levant, of the novel Of Mice and Men comments on Steinbecks ability to use foreshadowing through the smallest details: "Many of the scenes are excellently and convincing in themselves. Considerable attention is given to establishing minor details" (Levant 360). This is true, for Steinbeck showed that a greater event was going to happen in George's absence by having him state that he cant leave for one minute. Just that one sentence foreshadowed one of the biggest events in the novel. Steinbeck is excellent at providing the most vague indications representing a greater event beforehand.
After Lennie crushed Georges hand it showed that Lennie does get violent, even though not on purpose. Lennie always seeks George for direction and help. George says how he can't be gone from Lennie or something bad will happen: "Seems like I cant be gone for one minute" (Steinbeck). This quote foreshadows that something bad will happen in George's absence. The day Lennie killed Curley's wife George was out playing horse shoes with the guys while Lennie was in the barn alone with her. Lennie didn't have George there to tell him to let go of her or anything so Lennie was frightening and panicked.
A critic, Howard Levant, of the novel Of Mice and Men comments on Steinbecks ability to use foreshadowing through the smallest details: "Many of the scenes are excellently and convincing in themselves. Considerable attention is given to establishing minor details" (Levant 360). This is true, for Steinbeck showed that a greater event was going to happen in George's absence by having him state that he cant leave for one minute. Just that one sentence foreshadowed one of the biggest events in the novel. Steinbeck is excellent at providing the most vague indications representing a greater event beforehand.