An individual has the potential to utilise and enact on power and authority based off certain circumstances, thereby prompting either a pernicious or positive outcome. John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men published in 1937, exemplifies the thematic element of power thoroughly through its various forms and the manipulation of them whereby, as a result, causes individuals to comply or think in accordance to their superior(s).
The possession of psychological power has the ability to enrich a person's influence on others. The prevalence of this notion is explicit throughout Steinbeck's entire work as the abstraction of this plays a fundamental contribution to the occurrences within the plot. Of Mice and Men protrudes the power of psychological ascendancy where several characters in the novel, most notably Lennie, fall victim to the intellectual influence of their authoritative figures. Visual imagery amalgamated in, "Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew up his knees, and embraced them. Lennie who had been watching, imitated George exactly," elucidates the clout that George has over Lennie. He looks up to George to the extent where he physically impersonates him, hence accentuating the leverage George has as juxtaposed to Lennie in relation to psychological supremacy. The auditory imagery in "Lennie looked eagerly at him. 'Go on, George. Ain't you gonna give me no more hell?' 'No,' said George. 'Well, I can go away,' said Lennie 'if you don' want me,'" explicates Lennie's anxiousness to abide by George's commands. Due to George's usual reprimands against Lennie's deportments, Lennie holds the expectation of George's once again disapproval of him. This leads to Lennie's inquisitiveness as to the reason behind George's unusual tranquil behaviour this time round. The implication of this bespeaks the fact George is constantly the more dominant persona in their friendship.