John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men - 922 Words

You know that ominous feeling you get in your stomach sometimes before something terrible happens? And preparing yourself for it is impossible, because you can never quite put a finger on what it is? In the world of literature, this occurrence is called foreshadowing. It is a literary element authors just eat up, because most of the time, you don’t identify it until after you have read what it was foreshadowing in the first place. There are various ways through which authors embody foreshadowing into their writing, including symbolism, plot, and characters. John Steinbeck, author of the novella, Of Mice and Men expertly secretes foreshadowing throughout the novella, doing a particularly impressive job in chapter four. Steinbeck†¦show more content†¦This concept is on full display when Curley’s wife warns Crooks, â€Å"...you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.† However, this derogatory com ment and situation hold deeper meaning. The next remark Lennie makes following it is â€Å"I wisht George was here. I wisht George was here.† Ironically, the person Lennie wants at that moment is the person that causes his death later on. Steinbeck uses this situation to connect death/murder to George, foreshadowing Lenny’s demise. Curley’s wife, a misunderstood, outcast woman, is a character that struggles with loneliness and isolation every day. Lennie, an unappreciated, secluded man, is at battle in the same war. Steinbeck makes Curley’s wife’s loneliness embarrassingly obvious in chapter four, as she vents to the men about her husband and not having anyone to talk to. Lennie, being in the same boat in regards to communication with people, finds comfort in things like rabbits and puppies, and clings to them. Whether he knows it or not, Lennie uses these animals to fill the hole of overwhelming loneliness he feels. However, both of these characters are hollow in places that crave sincere conversation to be filled. Near the end of chapter four, following a lie regarding Curley’s injury, Curley’s wife comments to Lennie, â€Å"O.K. Machine. I’ll talk