The Inevitable Tragedy: Foreshadowing in of Mice and Men

In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, foreshadowing plays a significant role in building the tension and creating a tragic conclusion. From the very beginning, Steinbeck employs this literary device to forecast the future and to subtly guide the reader towards the inevitable ending. Through the use of foreshadowing, Steinbeck creates a sense of inevitability, highlighting how the dreams of the characters cannot be realized and eventually lead to their downfall. In this essay, I will analyze how Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to convey his themes of hopelessness, powerlessness, and the destructive power of dreams.

The First Instance of Foreshadowing

The first instance of foreshadowing in the novel can be found in the opening chapter, where we are introduced to George and Lennie, the two main characters. George and Lennie are on their way to a new job, but their ensuing conversation foreshadows some of the novel's more tragic elements. George tells Lennie that if he gets into trouble, he should come back to this very spot and hide in the brush until George comes for him. This already adds a sense of danger to the story, as we can tell that there is something sinister or dangerous for Lennie to fear. This is further compounded by George's statement that “guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world…they don't have no family. They don't belong no place” (Steinbeck, 13). This already hints at the hopeless existence of the characters and sets a tone of sadness for the rest of the novel.

The Dream of Owning a Farm

However, the most prominent instance of foreshadowing is the repeated mention of the dream of owning a farm, shared by George and Lennie. From the beginning, it is clear that the goal of owning a farm is something that the two friends have held dear for a long time. This dream seems to be all they have, and they cling to it for hope in the face of their otherwise bleak existence. However, the dream is repeatedly foreshadowed to be an impossible dream, which they will not be able to realize. For instance, George tells Lennie, "We'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof" (Steinbeck, 14). This vision of the farm, which is idyllic and pure, stands in direct contrast to the harshness and reality of their current lives. This dream becomes a symbol of hope and happiness, but it is also foreshadowed to become a source of their downfall and tragedy.

The Tragic Conclusion

Perhaps the most poignant example of this comes towards the end of the novel, when Candy offers to pitch-in on the purchase of the farm, only to have it fall apart when Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife. After this tragedy, the dream becomes even more impossible, and when George is forced to kill Lennie, it is clear that this hope was never meant to be realized. George laments, "I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we'd never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would" (Steinbeck, 105). This statement highlights how the dream was always a fantasy and how hopes can only take individuals so far. The farm and its animals remain a metaphor for a better life, but it is clear that this life was not meant to be. Through the repeated use of foreshadowing, Steinbeck drives home the point that the American Dream is often unattainable and that no matter how hard individuals try, they can never escape the harsh realities of life.

Conclusion

To conclude, Of Mice and Men makes significant use of foreshadowing to create tension and to guide the reader towards the tragic conclusion of the novel. Through the dream of owning a farm, Steinbeck conveys a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness that cuts deep. The dream is an impossible goal for the characters, but it remains a source of hope for them. Foreshadowing is employed by Steinbeck to convey that even hope can never take the place of reality and that some dreams remain unattainable. The novel highlights the destructiveness of dreams and the tragic consequences of hope in a world where there is no place for it. Of Mice and Men is an evocative and poetic novel, one that remains relevant in its telling of the unattainable nature of the American Dream.