"Of Mice And Men" by John Steinbeck.

It has been said that "...life is a constant struggle between reliving the past and forging the future." This quote means that, in life, people must deal with problems of the past at the same time that they move on in life; the past is an integral part of our future. Basically, we repeat past

experiences while trying to strive on. It is a struggle because often times the events repeated are mistakes. This makes forging on with life frustrating not only for the main person directly

involved, but also the people around that person. Lennie and George, two characters in "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, must deal with a cyclic problem.

Lennie has a mental disability of some type that apparently affects his IQ and overall understanding of his surroundings. He is a very formidable man physically, yet sees the world through the eyes of a child.

Lennie James

Lennie James

Lennie James

It is with this limited understanding of the world around him

that Lennie's problem is situated. He has always had a natural attraction to soft objects: velvet, animals, and most of all rabbits. The problem is, with his massive strength, he overwhelms small creatures like mice to the point of death. Although every life has great value, the mouse was not

seen as a big deal. However, these accidental murders become more and more severe. Foreshadowing is used a to imply this. Lennie first kills a mouse, then a puppy, then finally Curley's wife, who lived a very tragic life to begin with. When the murders progressively "carry more weight," it is natural, and uncomfortable, to assume that a larger victim could fall to Lenny's hands. Lennie's problem cannot be remedied. Lennie himself does not understand what he is doing, and none of the supporting cast can stop...