Of Mice and Men Part 4

When a book becomes adapted into a film, changes are bound to happen. There’s no perfect adaption of any one media to another. The same can be said for the movie version of the book Of Mice and Men. While the changes in this adaption aren’t as wild as some other adaptions out there, they are still there. First of all, the movie begins not at the clearing where the book begins, but back in Weed, when Lennie and George have to evade the law. This begins the story at a more exciting point, but robs it of its bookending nature. It also seems to be a way to pad out the movie a little bit, which is why it seems so strange that we never hear the full story about Lennie and George’s Place.

In addition, the scene in Crook’s room cuts out Curley’s Wife and Candy. This gives us a more time to develop Lennie and Crook’s characters, moving character development for Candy and Curley’s Wife to other scenes. The film also makes Curley’s Wife a more sympathetic character than in the books. This makes her eventual death seem more tragic than satisfying. Finally, the film ends a lot sooner than the book. George shoots Lennie a lot sooner than in the book, and the book’s last few pages aren’t even in here, with the movie pretty much just ending once Lennie kicks the bucket.

Dear George

First of all, I am very sorry for what you had to do. Yes, I said "had". You were justified in Mercy Killing Lenny at the end of your book-I mean, uh, adventure at the ranch. I know as well as you do that Lenny didn't mean that woman no harm, "I didn't mean no harm George, she was just so little..." but the other guys wouldn't have understood, and you know what Slim said: "Curly...hates big guys. He's always pickin' scraps with big guys." Naturally, once word got out that a big guy killed his wife, there's nothing that could've stopped him 'sides a bullet to the brain...actually, that could've worked too...nah, then you just get into more trouble and it's just not worth it. Anyway, regarding Lennie...

Lennie was doomed the instant he snapped that poor girl's neck, and you knew that there were only two ways he could go; he could die after being hurt, tortured, and humiliated, all without his best friend there to comfort him, or he could die happy, hopeful, and with his best friend. Clearly, you made the right choice in picking the latter for him. And while Curley's killing would have been done in meanness and spite, yours was more like a Mercy Angel, coming from the sky to put poor Lennie out of his Misery. And did it need to be you? Absolutely. You were the person closest to Lennie. You were the one that knew him best. You were his only friend, so it's fitting that you were the one to do the deed. Just like Slim said when his dog was euthanized, "It shoulda been me, George. I shoulda been the one to do it."

And don't feel bad about Lennie...









He's prob'ly up there in Heaven right now tendin' the Rabbits.

Of Mice and Men Part 2

Lennie is afraid of the ranch because he's not used to this kind of treatment. He's not used to being hated, "He hates big guys. He's always pickin' scraps wit' big guys..." he's not used to being flirted with, "Nobody can't blame a person for lookin'..." and he's just uncomfortable with how the people here treat him. He's only used to the vitriolic treatment he gets from George and the caring he used to get from his Aunt. He's also uncomfortable with all these new things he's having to take in all at once. New bed, new people, new job, it's all a lot for a guy like Lennie. Sadly for him, Lennie will just have to try and deal with all of these new circumstances.