"Of Mice and Men" has both a movie, and book, both with similar, but different endings. The book ends with a quote from Carlson, to Curley about George and Slim. The movie ends with a flashback of George and Lennie together. The flashback at the end of the movie shows George and Lennie walking together, calmly, naturally, and in a friendly manner, as if they were really close to each other. They're walking in a light, yet shaded, and very peaceful field, facing away from the screen or camera, in a casual fashion. This flashback obviously represents the tight and dependent relationship that exists between George and Lennie, and the bond between them, that connects their companionship or friendship.
Previous to our viewing of the film, I had predicted what the response or reaction of our class would be as the credits rolled. As I had inferred, everyone was silent, and seemed to be deep in thought. We were thinking about the message of the story, its outcome, and the content of it. I can say with certainty that the director chose to end the movie this way, instead of how the book ended the story, because of the opportunity or chance that they were given. Think about how hard it might be, to describe a flashback in a book, while having the readers know it's a flashback, with it having the same impact as physically showing it. Having the ability to explicitly show a message on screen, in the perfect, if not almost exact way that you want the reader to see it, is a privilege. The director of the movie ended it perfectly with the readers experiencing a mixture of awe, wonder, compassion, and grief, along with positively many other emotions that wrapped the message of the movie up in a very unique and flawless manner.
The line that finishes the book is said by Carlson, and says, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?" This quote really tells me that Carlson didn't understand the relationship between George and Lennie at all. I mean, to not show any signs of sympathy towards George, or any signs of even acknowledgment that he understood how George felt. Maybe this was because Carlson, along with the majority of the other men, travel alone and haven't really experienced the kind of friendship that George and Lennie had, or maybe it was because Carlson felt that George wanted to kill Lennie because he was actually a bad person, for some reason. Honestly, I haven't completely figured that part out yet. This line is a little bit of a final topic switch or an extra tiny twist to analyze about the book. You know, I don't feel as much anger or annoyance at Carlson's inadvertent ignorance, as I feel sorry for him. I think Carlson said that last quote, because he didn't understand what George was feeling, and why. To be working, traveling, and living practically alone without the feeling of love that George and Lennie shared, isn't even imaginable to me. Therefore, when Carlson first said that line, I was in disbelief and a little angry, but now I feel only sympathy and feel sorry towards Carlson's numbness.
In my opinion, the reason this book was so great, is because of how it can relate and appeal to practically anyone. I strongly and passionately recommend this book to anyone who's ever known or felt a strong relationship with family, or friends, and I truly hope that this story provokes them and guides them to similar feelings and thoughts that I experienced while reading "Of Mice and Men." The biggest or the most substantial impact that rubbed off on me throughout this story, was the true privilege and importance of friendship. As I've proceeded through my childhood, friendship and tight personal relationships have always been taken advantage of, along with take granted for by me. It is the same with the theme of hopes and dreams throughout the book and movie. Without hopes, dreams, people you love, bonds, relationships, and friendships, there's absolutely nothing to strive for. What is life without those aspects? That's the question that was invoked in me, by "Of Mice and Men", and its answer is nothing.
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