Rabbits in Of Mice and Men (2024)

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory

When George first tells the story of the dream farm, it's because Lennie's desperate for him to "Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove" (1). For George, the farm may symbolize freedom and happiness, but for Lennie, it is simply access to soft things—which is a freedom and happiness of its own.

Unfortunately, we know that the rabbits are just going to die. (Even George is mostly interested in killing and eating them.) They may be emblematic of a simple and idyllic life, but they're a fraught symbol: we know Lennie is excited about them because they'll be furry and lovely to pet, but we also know that Lennie tends to hurt whatever he pets.

Lennie knows it too. At the end of the story, he hallucinates a "gigantic rabbit" that tells him he "ain't fit to lick the boots of no rabbit. You'd forget 'em and let 'em go hungry" (6). And he says this all in Lennie's voice. This enormous, angry rabbit suggests that Lennie realizes deep down that he'll never have his dream. Come to think of it, neither do we. For all the talk about rabbits, the only one that appears in the book is this giant, hallucinatory one. Like the Easter bunny, these rabbits—and the self-sufficiency they represent—are nothing but a child's fantasy.

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Rabbits in Of Mice and Men (2024)

FAQs

Rabbits in Of Mice and Men? ›

Symbolism of Rabbits in Of Mice and Men

What do the rabbits represent in Of Mice and Men? ›

Answer and Explanation:

The rabbits are used to show Lennie's innocence through his desire to take care of something and get away from the troubles he and George go through just trying to stay alive.

What is the significance of the rabbit appearing at the end Of Mice and Men? ›

The rabbit appearing at the end of the book is significant because it shows the thing he wanted and loved more than life appearing to him one last time.

What is the answer to the a of rabbits? ›

Answer: a herd of rabbits is the answer... u can also use colony ,husk ,Warren instead of herd...

Why does Lennie always talk about rabbits? ›

For Lennie, rabbits represent an escape from the obstacles he faces as a mentally-disabled man.

What is Lennie's explanation for why he likes rabbits? ›

Lennie continues to talk about his rabbits, and she asks him why he likes animals so much. Lennie replies that he likes to touch soft things with his fingers. She admits that she likes the same thing, and offers to let him stroke her hair.

What is the purpose of the story of the rabbits that George tells Lennie? ›

George tells Lennie this story so he does not sad at their situation, so that Lennie continues to have hope for their future. Before they go to sleep, George tells Lennie to "hide in the brush" near their campsite and wait for George to come if he gets into any trouble.

What do rabbits symbolize? ›

The idea of rabbits as a symbol of vitality, rebirth and resurrection derives from antiquity. This explains their role in connection with Easter, the resurrection of Christ.

Why is Lennie so obsessed with rabbits chapter 6? ›

Why is Lennie so obsessed with rabbits? Because he likes soft things, and he likes to touch things with his hands that are soft. In this chapter, in what way did George show strength? By being able to kill Lennie himself instead of letting the other guys kill him.

Why does Lennie see Aunt Clara and the rabbit? ›

Because Lennie accidentally killed Curley's wife, he has emotions that he can't necessarily portray in a normal fashion. To understand his own emotions and the consequences of his actions, he uses the visions of Aunt Clara and the giant rabbit.

What is the main message of the rabbits? ›

THE RABBITS offers a rich and immensely valuable perspective on the effect of man on his environment. Visually loaded and told with a passion for truth and understanding, THE RABBITS aims to promote cultural awareness and a sense of caring for the natural world.

What is the secret meaning of the rabbit? ›

“Rabbit: fear, timidity, nervousness, humility. Rabbit's medicine includes moving through fear, living by one's own wits, receiving hidden teachings and intuitive messages, quick thinking, strengthening intuition, and paradox. Rabbit also represents humility, because he is quiet and soft and not self-asserting.

What was so different about this rabbit answer? ›

The rabbit that Alice saw was different, as it could talk and also wore a red waistcoat and carried a watch.

What do rabbits symbolize in Mice of Men? ›

Symbolism of Rabbits in Of Mice and Men

Rabbits represent a safe and happy life for Lennie: George promises him that when they get their farm together, Lennie can have all of the rabbits he wants. More broadly, rabbits symbolize innocence and abundance in the story, in stark contrast to the characters' reality.

Why can't Lennie tend the rabbits? ›

When Lennie shows her the dead puppy, she tells him it was just a mutt and no one will care, but Lennie explains that George won't let him tend the rabbits because he did a bad thing again. Curley's wife tells Lennie of her life and her missed opportunity to travel with the show that came through her hometown.

What are Lennie's last words? ›

Lennie's last words are about the farm that he dreams of owning with George Milton: 'Le's do it now. Le's get that place now. '

What did the rabbits symbolize? ›

In some ancient cultures, rabbits were symbols of fertility and prosperity. For instance, in greek times they were sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. While in later folklores they're often portrayed as tricksters who can bring luck and good fortune if treated with respect.

Why is Lennie so obsessed with rabbits What do they symbolize? ›

Lennie is also associated with rabbits, which are part of his dream (he will get to tend them on the farm) and because they are soft things he likes to pet. Rabbits also symbolize his realization that he is in trouble; if Lennie does "a bad thing," George will not let him tend the rabbits.

What does the big rabbit tell Lennie? ›

Lennie's second hallucination is of a giant talking rabbit telling him that George will be mad at him and beat him with a stick. He also tells him that he is unfit to care for rabbits and George will never allow him to do so. Both of his hallucinations are expressions of his own insecurities.

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