Previous
Style
Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Part 3
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of the novella is bittersweet, combining brief moments of peace and happiness with a broader sense of suffering and regret. The relationship between George and Lennie is complicated, but ultimately, it is one defined by loyalty and affection. Throughout the novella, there are many sweet moments when these characters are able to display how much they care for one another. However, the sense of inevitable tragedy that pervades the novel adds a bittersweet feeling to these brief flashes of happiness. One such scene takes place when George, Lennie, and Candy discuss their hopes for the future with optimism and excitement:
George stood up. “We’ll do her,” he said. “We’ll fix up that little old place an’ we’ll go live there.” He sat down again. They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing, each mind was popped into the future when this lovely thing should come about. George said wonderingly, “S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing.” Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea. “We’d just go to her,” George said. “We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus’ say, ‘We’ll go to her,’ an’ we would.”
Despite the difficult lives they lead on the ranch, all three men savor this vision of a happier tomorrow, reflecting hopefully on “the future when this lovely thing should come about.” Together, they discuss all the pleasurable things they hope to do with their free time, including attending the circus, a carnival, or baseball games. There is a clear sense, however, that these dreams are too good to be true. By the novel’s tragic ending, these happy and optimistic moments are cast in a sad and melancholy light.
Related Themes:
