Of Mice and Men represent evil in that both oppress and abuse the migrants in different ways. Fate is felt most heavily as the characters' aspirations are destroyed when George is unable to protect Lennie (who is a real danger). Steinbeck presents this as "something that happened" or as his friend coined for him "non-teleological thinking" or "is thinking", which postulates a non-judgmental point of view. "Of Mice and Men" was Steinbeck's first attempt at writing in the form of novel-play termed a "play-novelette" by one critic. Structured in three acts of two chapters each, it is intended to be both a novella and
House of the Tragic Poet an additional "cubiculum", an "ala" (a service area for a dining room), and an "oecus" (a small dining area). The northern end of the "tablinum" opens onto a large, open "peristyle", or garden courtyard. To the right of the "peristyle" sits the drawing room, which, in the House of the Tragic Poet, is believed to have been used as the main dining salon. Adjacent to the drawing room is a small kitchen area. Near the left side of the "peristyle", a small back door opens onto an additional street. Finally, into north-western corner of the "peristyle" is built a small