Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, starts with a vivid description of an area a few miles south of Soledad, California. The Salinas River runs through the scenic land, with the Gabilan Mountains on one side and a valley on the other. The banks are covered with leaves, and the area is a haven for rabbits. At first, the place appears deserted, but there are signs that boys and tramps often use the site for refuge.

Two men appear, walking one behind the other. The first man is small, dark and quick. The other man, his exact opposite, is described as huge and pale. The large man, Lennie, drops to the ground and drinks the river water in large gulps. The smaller man, George, reminds him that the water might make him sick. George then tastes the water and agrees that it seems all right, but he still warns Lennie that he should never drink water if it is not running. George washes his face in the river and then sits back on the ground. Lennie watches George, imitating the way he sits and struggling to make his hat sit on his head the same way. George complains that they would not have had to walk so far if the bus driver had dropped them off at the right place.

Lennie, who is confused, asks George where they are going. (Clearly, Lennie is mentally disabled.) George becomes angry that Lennie has already forgotten their plans. Lennie apologizes, and George softens. Lennie says he remembers the rabbits, which is the only part of their plan that he ever remembers. George says that he is carrying Lennie's work card so it does not get lost. As they talk, George notices Lennie has something in his pocket. It is a dead mouse that he has been petting as they walk. George takes the mouse from Lennie and throws it away. Lennie again says he has forgotten what they are doing. George explains that they are going to work on a ranch. He tells Lennie not to speak when they meet their new boss. He makes Lennie repeat it a few times in an attempt to help remember.

They talk about how they had to run away from trouble at their last job in Weed. George says Lennie creates many problems, and he talks about how easy it would be if he were on his own. Lennie wants to go the ranch to eat, but George says they will spend the night outside by the river. He says if they go to the ranch, they will have to work. He wants to spend the evening resting and looking up at the sky. Lennie retrieves the dead mouse and George forces him to give it up once again. When Lennie begins to cry, George explains that he is not taking the mouse out of anger, only because it is not clean. They remember Lennie's Aunt Clara who used to give him mice to hold. She stopped giving them to him when he continued accidentally killing them.

George again angrily recounts all of the ways his life would be easier if he did not have to take care of Lennie. He yells about being run out of Weed because Lennie scared a girl by holding onto her dress. They had to hide in an irrigation ditch while a search party looked for them. Lennie says he could go off in live in the hills by himself. George feels guilty for yelling at Lennie and apologizes. He tells Lennie to stay with him and promises to get him a puppy as soon as he gets a chance. Lennie begs George to repeat their plans. George tells the beloved story again, as he has many times before. They will someday have a house and animals. Best of all, Lennie will get to take care of rabbits.

The men eat cans of beans by the fire. George reminds Lennie once again not to say anything to their new boss. He then tells Lennie to look around and remember the place where they are sitting. George tells Lennie that if he gets in trouble, he should run to this place and hide in the brush. Lennie repeats the instructions. Lennie asks George if there will be different colors of rabbits, and George agrees, teasing him by saying they will be red, blue and green. Lennie says again that he can just go live in a cave in the hills. George tells him to shut up, and they go to sleep.