John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is filled with colourful characters and well developed moods beautifully contrasted with each other as the plot progresses. An excellent example of this occurs in the opening and closing episodes of the novel. The story's introduction is set in the same geographical location as its conclusion. Even though both episodes occur at exactly the same location, in other aspects of setting the two are very different. The mood varies …showed first 75 words of 689 total…

…showed last 75 words of 689 total…and closing episodes of Of Mice and Men in the same location. By doing this he draws attention to the subtle changes that have occurred in George and Lennie's relationship since the beginning of the novel. The episodes are so alike in some ways and so different in others, it makes for a beautiful contrast. The events of the story changed the mood from hope at the beginning to very bleak at the story's end.