In the book OF MICE AND MEN what does the quote "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" mean?
i know it has something to do with men planning a very reasonable plan and then something goes wrong that messes up the plan...but i need for desciription for it.
I know it relates to George and Lennis in the book...but who are other two men that are related to the quote? can it be curleys wife since she wanted to be an actress...and i need one more.
if anyone can help me with this that would be great!
You wrote:
In the book OF MICE AND MEN what does the quote "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" mean?
i know it has something to do with men planning a very reasonable plan and then something goes wrong that messes up the plan...but i need for desciription for it.
Your interpretation is mostly correct. One thing to think about, though, is that you have mentioned only the plans of men. What about mice? Do they make plans at all? How does your answer to that question make your interpretation change, if at all?
I know it relates to George and Lennis in the book...but who are other two men that are related to the quote? can it be curleys wife since she wanted to be an actress...and i need one more.
Why do you need four men? Is it integral to your assignment? There is nothing in the quotation that indicates four people.
George, Lennie, Curley, and Curley's wife would work.
=)
In the quote i understand the plans of men...but i don't understand the plans of mice? i don't get what they mean when they say the plans of MICE go awry? can you please help me with that part?
and yes i need 4 people for my assignment...and i understand that george and lennie are two people and so is curleys wife...but what was curleys plan that went awry though?
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!
Anonymous, I hope you read the book. It seems 'questionanble' to me that you have. As I recall, it was George who had the 'plans'. The quote "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry" is attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. I don't know that there are any "plans of mice" in the story, other than symbolic ones. George was a small man, Lennie large; Goerge was the thinker/talker, Lennie the mentally challenged one. Their plan was to work, save and buy their own farm/ranch. The story has a tragic ending. Their plans simply weren't to be.
I agree with Roger. Have you read the book? Do you know where the "mice" come into the title and the story?
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i have read the book as part of my summer reading assignment. i understand the whole book except for the fact that what the "mice" represent in the quote? if you guys could just help me with that question i wouldnt have any more questions for you
Anonymous, as I saw it George and Lennie could be viewed as both. They're certainly men, but unfortunately, they're rather small and insignificant in the scheme of things. If you did in fact read the story, then you know what George had to do "mercifully" to Lennie. This is because he knew what the mob would do to him...unmercifully. They would squash him like a mouse. No?
yes george shot him in the head becuase he accidently killed curleys wife playing with her hair
Lennis had a "pet" dead mouse in his shirt pocket at the beginning. Remember the dialogue where George told him: ..."I know there ain't. You got it in your hand. What you got in your hand--hidin' it?"
"I ain't got nothin', George. Honest."
"Come on, give it here."
Lennie held his closed hand away from George's direction. "It's on'y a mouse, George."
"A mouse? A live mouse?"
"Uh-uh. Jus' a dead mouse, George. I didn' kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead."
"Give it here!" said George.
"Aw, leave me have it, George."
"'Give it here!'"
Lennie's closed hand slowly obeyed. George took the mouse and threw it across the pool to the other side, among the brush. "What you want of a dead mouse, anyways?"
"I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along," said Lennie.
"Well, you ain't petting no mice while you walk with me. "
Thanks for that Bob. It's been awhile since I read the story and that sounds familiar. That definitely ties the men-mice title together. Consider the foreshadowing too: George is the one discarding the mouse, as he would do again late in the story...
i think im doing pretty much the same assignment, and i don't understand the mice part. and this didn't help at all haha.
I apologize if my previous explanation did not clarify the meaning of the "mice" in the quote. In the context of the quote, "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry," the inclusion of mice is symbolic. The mice represent the small and insignificant things in life that can also go wrong, just like the plans made by men. In the book, the mice symbolize the dreams and hopes of the characters, including George and Lennie, which do not come to fruition. The author uses this metaphor to convey the idea that even the seemingly small or unimportant plans or dreams can also go wrong or go awry.
To better understand this symbolism, you can examine the characters' dreams and plans throughout the book. For example, George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm represents their desire for a better life and stability, but it ends up being shattered due to circumstances beyond their control. Similarly, Curley's wife aspires to be an actress, but her dreams are dashed when she becomes trapped in an unhappy and unfulfilled marriage.
I hope this explanation provides a clearer understanding of the meaning behind the inclusion of mice in the quote. If you have any further questions or need additional clarification, feel free to ask!