Summary
The Great Depression is in full swing and two men just having arrived at a clearing a few miles away from Soledad, California are on their way to a ranch to work. The first man, George, is smaller, but is the brains of the operation with “sharp, strong features”(2) and the next, named Lennie, is the giant muscular man who tags along with him. Lennie as shown by the way he talks and acts is a very simple minded man who likes to touch soft things. He picked up a mouse to pet it, but him not being smart enough to realize his own strength kills it. George fearing that his friend might catch something from it throws it away, but comforts him with their dreams of owning their own land and farming it.
After resting for the night, the two men report to the ranch for which they were hired to work. Over the course of a day, they meet Candy, an old handyman with an old dog; Slim, the trusting leader; Curley, the hot-headed lightweight boxer; and Curley’s wife, the flirtatious newly-wed, along with other minor ranch hands. After a run in with the wife, George warns Lennie that she is a person to stay away from. Later, Carlson, one of the workers, takes it upon himself to kill Candy’s elderly mut because of how bad it smelled and that it would be more merciful to shoot the dog now than to let it continue to suffer in its old age. While comforting the old man about his loss, George allows him to join him and Lennie in their little ranch since Candy would finance the purchase with his life savings.
Later on, Lennie is petting his new puppy in the barn when he accidentally kills it, like he has done with the mouse.
Curley’s wife walks in and makes the mistake of letting Lennie touch her. His large hands become tangled in her hair and in the struggle her neck snaps, instantly ending her life. Lennie runs away from the scene and Candy discovers the body. Once Curley finds out, he makes a search party to go find and murder Lennie. The place where George designated as the safe place (the first clearing) is where George finds Lennie. After a brief and final conversation, Lennie is unknowingly shot in the back of the head by his friend. George shot him out of mercy. The book ends with Slim comforting George for what he has done.
After resting for the night, the two men report to the ranch for which they were hired to work. Over the course of a day, they meet Candy, an old handyman with an old dog; Slim, the trusting leader; Curley, the hot-headed lightweight boxer; and Curley’s wife, the flirtatious newly-wed, along with other minor ranch hands. After a run in with the wife, George warns Lennie that she is a person to stay away from. Later, Carlson, one of the workers, takes it upon himself to kill Candy’s elderly mut because of how bad it smelled and that it would be more merciful to shoot the dog now than to let it continue to suffer in its old age. While comforting the old man about his loss, George allows him to join him and Lennie in their little ranch since Candy would finance the purchase with his life savings.
Later on, Lennie is petting his new puppy in the barn when he accidentally kills it, like he has done with the mouse.
Curley’s wife walks in and makes the mistake of letting Lennie touch her. His large hands become tangled in her hair and in the struggle her neck snaps, instantly ending her life. Lennie runs away from the scene and Candy discovers the body. Once Curley finds out, he makes a search party to go find and murder Lennie. The place where George designated as the safe place (the first clearing) is where George finds Lennie. After a brief and final conversation, Lennie is unknowingly shot in the back of the head by his friend. George shot him out of mercy. The book ends with Slim comforting George for what he has done.