In referring to the "general symbolism", I assume you are referring to what the story represents. You could also be asking about the symbolism of the title. I will present you with both answers.
The title refers to a poem by Robert Burns which includes these lines:
"the best laid plans o' mice and men/often do go wrong"
The book demonstrates this title through the characters of George and Lenny primarily. They have big plans of having their own place, being their own family and their own boss. Their plans seem possible when they meet Candy, who wants very much to join them. However, the disability of Lenny and the tragic events that cause him to mistakenly kill Curley's wife, put these plans to an end.
Overall, this book represents the isolation caused by the depression. The men and the one woman of this story have been isolated by a lack of choices and by poverty. They are all struggling to survive and have to abandon many dreams in order to do so. This causes them to become closed off, angry, and despondent. They turn on one another in their attempt to get ahead. The exceptions are George and Lenny, who have each other - until the end, when they two are isolated by their situation.
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