What is Steinbeck trying to say about human nature in Of Mice and Men?

Different
characters inOf Mice and Menreact to the harsh lifestyle of the itinerant worker in different
ways. Curley, compensating for his small stature and harsh job, acts braver and stronger than he
is. Slim seems adept at this life and is therefore able to contain Curley. Slim is also
thoughtful. He understands 's sadness whenis dead. Crooks realizes that even on the ranch,
removed from mainstream American society, racism still exists. He reacts to this discrimination
by keeping to himself. Candy, even though he's quite old, or perhaps because he's quite old and
desperate, is inspired by George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm and asks to be a part of
it. Prior to this, Candy's main companion and distraction from the reality of his harsh life was
his dog. With the dog gone, he needs some other crutch or some other idea to take his mind off
of the job.

George and Lennie feel that they are different than all these
other itinerant workers but they also represent this class of people. In , George explains this
to Lennie.

Guys like us, that work on the ranches, are the
loneliest guys in the world. They got no fambly. They don't belong no place.

With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a
damn about us.

This is a Naturalist or Social Realist
novella. That is, it depicts the social and economic forces acting on human beings. The novella
does call attention to the social and economic hardships of these workers during this period of
American history. The novella also shows how humans react in the face of adversity.

Each character reacts differently. Lennie is simple and the dream of the farm is more
than enough to keep him going from job to job. George is frustrated but generous with Lennie.
George also believes in the dream of the farm or at least tries to believe in it, for his sake
and for Lennie's. For George, Lennie is a friend but also a burden. He uses the dream,
impossible as it might seem, to keep his and Lennie's spirits up. With respect to human nature,
one conclusion is that humans find ways of dealing with harsh lifestyles. Human beings'
resiliency is admirable and can be tragic, considering the obstacles they might face. Some, like
Curley, react by becoming insecure and defensive. Some, like George and Lennie, dream of
something better even if they know, deep down, that it is virtually
impossible.