What card game does George play and what does it symbolize

One of the major themes of the book is the sense of isolation that all the men feel. Despite being around other men, there is a constant sense of loneliness and lack of intimacy. The game solitaire represents isolation. It is a one-person game. Men play it alone.

A golden green field stretches ahead endlessly, pointing towards two great mountains with its straightly planted fruit trees. To the left of the field are three small cabins built with simple wood structures in rectangular shapes. Near the edge of a cluster of trees sits a large house, painted white and red with a wooden porch resting out in front. Laborers are scattered throughout the field, each one carrying a basket filled with harvested crops and working individually. They bend down together in a rhythmic manner to pick the fruits and buck the grain, despite standing meters apart. A scrawny, short man leads a horse back to the dilapidated stable, while a tall, slim man leads a parade of donkeys towards a fenced area. Another man, old and…show more content…
Steinbeck utilizes symbols as one of his main literary elements, found in every passage and every sentence of the story. In two of these “symbol sentences”, he writes, “Slim sat down on a box across the table from George. He studied the solitaire hand that was upside down to him” (Steinbeck 34). The two symbols used are the boxes and the solitaire hand. The box that Slim sits down on represents isolation from the rest of society. At the current moment, Slim is sitting on it, which shows him overcoming it. He is able to fight off the loneliness and isolation from the world by sitting with George. However, the box of loneliness will eventually swallow him up and barricade him from connecting with anybody else, as it will with all the other characters of the novella. Another symbol identifying the theme statement is George’s solitaire hand. Solitaire itself is a card game played by one person, symbolizing solitude. Slim and George are sitting together, yet directly between them stands the loneliness embodied by the solitaire hand. The loneliness will get in the way of the two men from accomplishing their dreams of defeating it. Both symbols are found multiple times through the book and depict the theme statement. In addition to the boxes and solitaire, Candy’s dog also symbolizes how everything ends in loneliness.…show more content…
Many choose to disregard this loneliness ahead in exchange for their lighter, brighter dreams. There are, after all, still so many places left to go and so many people left to see. However, all endings in life, whether that ending concerns relationships, dreams, or death, are of solitude. Coming to terms with this is necessary in order to find peace and to live with purpose. It opens the eyes to a hidden truth— loneliness will continue to be a companion through the entirety of

Table of Contents Show

What card game does George play in mice and men?
What are the 2 card games George plays?
What does euchre symbolize in Of Mice and Men?
What are some symbols in Of Mice and Men?

Card games have been played as a way to pass the time since before the year 1000. Some of them are played with huge groups of people, and some, such as solitaire, are played by only one person. The game of solitaire and a couple of other card games are found all throughout the book Of Mice and Men and they represent many different themes. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses the motif of card games and solitaire to establish themes of loneliness, racism, and distraction.

Solitaire is a card game that requires one player and is usually set up in manner similar to this

One theme expressed by Steinbeck through the motif of card games and solitaire is loneliness. The 1930’s were a time when almost everyone was alone either physically or mentally. Steinbeck mentions many times that George and Lennie are unusual because they have someone that will travel with them and support them. George’s constant playing of solitaire provides contrast to this statement and foreshadows the future. “He went back to the table and set out a new solitaire hand.” (pg.33) This quote is just one of many times that George can be found playing solitaire. The quote also shows that this isn’t George’s first round of solitaire in that playing session, which means that he would have had to been alone for a while to play multiple rounds. Solitaire is the only game ever actually played in the entire book. There are mentions of other games such as rummy and euchre, but they are always interrupted and George plays solitaire by himself instead which I believe symbolizes that friendship and company in that time period is only temporary and you will soon be back by yourself.

Another theme found through the motif of card games and solitaire is racism and segregation. The people that live in the bunkhouse often sit down together to play cards. Everyone that does so has one thing in common- other than living and working on the farm- they’re white. The 1930’s weren’t only a time of poverty and loneliness, they were a time of segregation. “They play cards in there but I can’t play because I’m black.” “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ’cause you was black.” Both of these quotes appear when Crooks is telling Lennie what it’s like to be lonely. Crooks is the only person of color on the entire ranch and because of the segregation at the time, he is never allowed to go inside the bunkhouse and hang out with everyone else. Card games are the perfect way to display the racism that took place at this time because they are a simple thing that everyone- no matter their skill level- partook in as a way to unwind after a really hard day working on the ranch, so you know Crooks was excluded solely because of his skin color and not because of his card-playing ability.

White children in the 1930’s protesting the integration of schools

People of color protesting the segregation of schools on the 1930’s

One final theme showcased through the motif of card games and solitaire is distraction. The 1930’s were the time period of The Great Depression, which was very horrible time. Card games would have been something people could do just to kill time and forget about how bad the world was at the time. “Lay out some cards why don’t you? We ain’t going to get no euchre played this way. George brought the cards together tightly and studied the backs of them… A shot sounded in the distance… George shuffled the cards noisily and dealt them.” This quote takes place when Candy’s dog is being shot. The men are in the bunkhouse playing cards when the shot fires and are aware of it, but it doesn’t interrupt their game of euchre. The shooting of Candy’s dog symbolizes the terrible world of the 1930’s, and the cards represent staying distracted as a way to ignore what is happening in the world.

Men looking for job would wear signs that list their qualifications in a desperate attempt to find work

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck showcases many different important themes revolving around The Great Depression and the time period of the 1930’s through the use of motifs. The motif of card games and solitaire thoroughly exemplifies the themes of loneliness, racism, and distraction.

What card game does George play in mice and men?

In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George Milton is shown many times playing the game of Solitaire, a card game which requires only one man and a pack of playing cards.

What are the 2 card games George plays?

What was the card game that George played in Of Mice and Men, chapter 3? George plays the card game solitaire in Chapter 3. He also deals the game euchre to play with Whit to try and take their minds of the dog's impending execution by gunshot.