OMAM Chapter 6

Summary

Chapter 6 of 'Of Mice and Men' brings the story to its tragic conclusion by the serene pool of the Salinas River. As the day wanes, nature is depicted through vivid imagery with water snakes gliding and herons perching. Lenny, troubled by his past actions, converses with imaginary figures, representing his inner guilt and longing for redemption. The chapter climaxes when George makes the heartrending decision to end Lenny's life to spare him from a worse fate, highlighting themes of friendship, mercy, and inevitable tragedy. The story ends with the profound silence of loss, leaving readers to contemplate the complexities of human relationships and the sacrifices made out of love.

Highlights

• A tranquil scene by the Salinas River sets the stage 🌊
• Lenny imagines Aunt Clara and a giant rabbit scolding him 🐰
• George confronts the harsh reality of what he must do 🔫
• The dream of 'living off the fat of the land' is revisited 🌱
• George's difficult choice emphasizes themes of mercy and sacrifice ⚖️

Key Takeaways

• Nature sets a serene yet ominous backdrop 🌅
• Lenny's imagination reflects his inner turmoil 🤯
• The final act of mercy by George ends in tragedy 💔
• The enduring theme of friendship amidst hardship 👬
• Symbolism of dreams and their ultimate futility 💤

Overview

Chapter 6 provides a beautiful yet haunting close to the tale of George and Lenny by the Salinas River. The setting sun and nature's calmness serve as a backdrop to Lenny's chaotic mind, manifesting as imaginary scoldings from Aunt Clara and a giant rabbit - an externalization of his deep guilt and fear. His desire for a simple, happy life starkly contrasts with the unfortunate reality they face.

In this pivotal moment, George grapples with an unbearable decision. As Lenny dreams once more of their ideal future, George steels himself to do what's needed. His hand trembles under the weight of the choice - not driven by anger, but by compassion and the hope of sparing Lenny from a crueler end at the hands of others.

The chapter beautifully captures the themes of dreams, friendship, and sacrifice. The recurring vision of their dream speaks to the human spirit's resilience against hopelessness. Yet, the tragic end underscores the unattainable nature of those dreams, leaving a poignant commentary on human existence and the bonds that define it.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: OMAM Chapter 6 In the tranquil and serene setting by the deep green pool of the Salinas River, the late afternoon is described with the sun already receding from the valley and climbing the Gabilan Mountains. The description paints a picturesque and still landscape with rosy hilltops and pleasant shade falling among the sycamores. Meanwhile, a water snake is observed gliding gracefully through the pool, navigating its way with a periscope-like head, ending its journey near the legs of a heron standing silently in the shadows, reflecting a moment of calmness and the beauty of nature.

OMAM Chapter 6 Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 of M Men chapter 6 deep green pool of the Selena River was still in the late afternoon already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the gabblin mountains and the hilltops were Rosy in the Sun by the pool among the modeled sycamor as a pleasant shade had fallen a water snake glided smoothly up the pool twisting its Periscope head from side to side and it swam the length of the pool and came to the legs of a motionless Heron that stood in the sh ows a silent
• 00:30 - 01:00 head and Beak glanced down and plucked it out by the head and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically a far Rush of wind sounded and a gust drove through the tops of the trees like a wave the Sycamore leaves turned up their silver sides Brown dry leaves on the ground Scutt a few feet and row on row of tiny wind waves flowed up the pool's green surface as quickly as it had come the wind died and the clearing was quiet again the Heron stood
• 01:00 - 01:30 in the shallows motionless and waiting another little little water snake swam up the pool turning its Periscope head from side to side suddenly Lenny appeared out of the brush and he came as silently as a creeping bear moves the Heron pounded the air with its wings jacked itself clear of the water and flew off down river the little snake slid in among the Reeds at the pool side money came quietly to the pool's Edge Edge he knelt down and drank barely
• 01:30 - 02:00 touching his lips to the water when a little bird skittered over the dry leaves behind him his head jerked up and he strained toward the sound with eyes and ears until he saw the bird and then he dropped his head and drank again when he was finished he sat down on the bank with his side to the pool so that he could watch the Trail's entrance he embraced his knees and laid his chin down on his knees the light climbed on out of the valley and as it went the tops of the mountain seemed to blaze with increasing
• 02:00 - 02:30 brightness Lenny said softly I didn't forget you bet godamn hide in the brush and wait for George he pulled his hat down low over his eyes George going to give me hell he said George going to wish he was alone and not have me bothering him he turned his head and looked at the bright mountaintops I can go right off there and find a cave he said and he continued sadly and never have no catchup but I won't care if George want me I'll go
• 02:30 - 03:00 away I'll go away and then from out of Lenny's head there came a little fat old woman she wore thick Bullseye glasses and she wore a huge gingham apron with pockets and she was starched and clean she stood in front of Lenny and put her hands on her hips and she frowned disapprovingly at him and when she spoke it was in Lenny's voice I told you and I told you she said I told you M George cuz he such a nice fella and good to you but you don't
• 03:00 - 03:30 never take no care you do bad things Lenny answered her I tried a Clara ma'am I tried and tried I couldn't help it you never give a thought to George she went on in Lenny's voice he been doing nice things for you all the time when he got a piece of pie you always got half or more than half and if there was any catchup why he'd give it all to you I know said Lenny miserably I tried Aunt
• 03:30 - 04:00 Clara ma'am I tried and tried she interrupted him all the time he could have had such a good time if it wasn't for you he would have took his pay and raised Hell in a whouse and he could have sat in a pool room and played snooker but he got to take care of you Lenny moaned with grief I know and Clara ma'am I'll go right off in the hills and I'll find a cave and I'll live there so I won't be no more trouble to George you just say that she said
• 04:00 - 04:30 sharply you are always saying that and you know son of a bitching well you ain't never going to do it you'll just stick around and stew the bit Jesus out of George all the time Lenny said I might just as well go away George ain't going to let me tin no rabbits now and Clara was gone and from out of Lenny's head there came a gigantic rabbit it sat on its hunches in front of him and it waggled its ears and crinkled its nose at him and it spoke in Lenny's voice too 10 rabbits it said scornfully you crazy
• 04:30 - 05:00 bastard you ain't fit to lick the boots of no rabbit you'd forget them and let him go hungry that's what you do and then what would George think I would not forget Lenny said loudly the hell you wouldn't said the rabbit you ain't worth a grease Jack pin Ram you into hell Christ knows George done everything he could to Jack you out of the sewer but it don't do no good if you think George going to let you 10 rabbits you're even crazier un usual he ain't he's going to
• 05:00 - 05:30 Bear hell out of you with a stick that's what he's going to do now Lenny retorted beligerant he ain't neither George won't do nothing like that I've knew George since I forget when and he ain't never raised his hand to me with a stick he's nice to me he ain't going to be mean well he's sick of you said the rabbit he's going to beat hell out of you and then go away and leave you he won't Lenny cried frantically he won't do nothing like that I know George me and
• 05:30 - 06:00 him travels together the rabbit repeated softly over and over he going to leave you you crazy bastard he going to leave you all alone he's going to leave you you crazy bastard Lenny put his hands over his ears he ain't I tell you he ain't and he cried oh George George George George came quietly out of the brush and the rabbit scuttled back into Lenny's brain George said quietly
• 06:00 - 06:30 what the hell you yelling about Lenny got up on his knees you ain't going to leave me are you George I knew you ain't George came stiffly near and sat down beside him no I know it lny cried you ain't that kind George was silent Lenny said George yeah I done another bad thing it don't make no difference George said and he fell silent again only the topmost rid were in the sun now the
• 06:30 - 07:00 shadow in the valley was blue and soft from the distance came the sound of men shouting to one another George turned his head and listened to the shouts and he said George yeah well ain't you going to give me hell give you Hill sure like you always done before like if I didn't have you I'd take my 50 bucks Jesus Christ Lenny you can't remember nothing that happens but you remember every word I say well ain't you going to say it
• 07:00 - 07:30 George shook himself he said woodenly if I was alone I could live so easy his voice was monotonous had no emphasis I could get a job and not have no mess he stopped well go on said Lenny and when the end of the month come and when the end of the month come I could take my 50 bucks and go to a cat house he stopped again Lenny looked eagerly at him oh go on George a you going to give me no more hell no
• 07:30 - 08:00 said George well I can go away said money I'll go right off in the hills and find a cave if you don't want me George shook himself again no he said I want you to stay with me here Lenny said craftily tell me like you done before tell you what about the other guys and about us George said guys like us got no family they make a little steak and then they blow it in they ain't got nobody in
• 08:00 - 08:30 the world that gives a hoot and Hell about them but not us Lenny cried happily hell about us now George was quiet for a moment but not us he said because because I got you and and I got you we got each other that's what that gives a hoot in Hell about us Lenny cried in Triumph the little evening Breeze blew over the clearing and the leaves rustled and the wind waves flowed up the green pool and the shouts of men sounded again this
• 08:30 - 09:00 time I'm closer than before George took off his hat he said shakily take off your hat Lenny the air feels fine lny removed his hat dutifully and laid it on the ground in front of him the shadow in the valley was Bluer and the evening came fast on the wind the sound of crashing in the brush came to them Lenny said well tell how it's going to be George had been listening to the distant sounds for a moment he was businesslike look across the river Lenny and I'll
• 09:00 - 09:30 tell you so you can almost see it Lenny turned his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the gabblin don't get a little place George began he reached in his side pocket and brought out Carlson's Luger he snapped off the safety and the hand and gun lay on the ground behind Lenny's back he looked at the back of Lenny's head at the place where the spine and the skull were joined a man's voice called from up the river and another man answered well
• 09:30 - 10:00 go on said Lenny George raised the gun and his hand Shook and he dropped his hand to the ground go on said Lenny how's it going to be we going to get a little place we'll have a cow said George and we'll have maybe a pig and chickens and down the flat we'll have a little piece Al falfa for the rabbits money shouted for the rabbits George repeated and I get to T the rabbits and you get to T the rabbits
• 10:00 - 10:30 Lenny giggled with happiness and live off the fat of the land yes Lenny turned his head no Lenny look down there across the river like you can almost see the place Lenny obeyed him George looked down at the gun there were crashing Footsteps in the brush now George turned and looked toward them go on George when we going to do it going to do it soon me and you you and me everybody going to be nice to you ain't going to be no more
• 10:30 - 11:00 trouble nobody going to hurt nobody nor steal from him Lenny said I thought you was mad at me George no said George no Lenny I ain't mad I never been mad and I ain't now that's the thing I want you to know the voices came close now George raised the gun and listened to the voices money begged well let's do it now let's get that place now sure right now I got to we got to
• 11:00 - 11:30 and George raised the gun and studied it and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Len's head the hand shook violently but his face set and His Hands steadied he pulled the trigger crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again Lenny Jarred and then settled slowly forward to the sand and he lay without quivering George shivered and looked at the gun and then he threw it from him back up on the bank near the pile of old ashes the brush seemed filled with cries and with the
• 11:30 - 12:00 sound of running feet Slim's voice shouted George where you at George George sat stiffly on the bank and looked at his right hand that had thrown the gun away group burst into the clearing and curly was ahead he saw Lenny lying on the sand got him by God went over and looked down at Lenny and then looked back at George right in the back of the head he said softly Slim came directly to George and sat down beside him Sat very close to him never
• 12:00 - 12:30 you mind said slim I got to sometimes but Carlson was standing over George how'd you do it he asked i' just done it George said tiredly did he have my gun yeah he had your gun and you got it away from him and you took it and you killed him yeah that's how George's voice was almost a whisper he looked steadily at his right hand that had held the gun slim twitch George's elbow come on
• 12:30 - 13:00 George me and you will go in and get a drink George let himself be helped to his feet yeah a drink slim said you had to George I swear you had to come on with me he led George into the entrance of the trail and up toward the highway curly and Carlson looked after them Carlson said now what the hell you supposed eating them two guys