In modern society, most men follow the social construct of masculinity. Although men care about other men, social norms force them to repress emotions and feelings. However, in John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, the characters George and Lennie defy this stereotype. Despite typical conventions, both men travel together and care for one another. Steinbeck uses the bond between these characters to reveal that true companionship could endure difficulties and hardships.
In the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck Lennie and George go to Soledad to work on a ranch. George and Lennie are migrant workers that are trying to get a farm for themselves. This is hard for them because Lennie is disabled and seems to always be getting in trouble. When they -- George and Lennie -- are at the ranch, they and the reader experience lots of racial discrimination towards African Americans. One of the people that gets discriminated in the book is Crooks. Crooks is an African American that gets mistreated because of race. There are a few examples that the author really highlights, when we find out that Crooks is living away from all of the white men, nobody comes to visit him, and he gets referred to by the other men with racist slurs. He also works by himself on jobs that are difficult to him since his was crippled by a horse. There are some striking
Universally, it’s known for people in different time periods to share the same characteristics. In the 1930’s, people were racist and migrant workers travelled all over America. In the 1990’s, society was developing into what it is today. Specifically, an uprise of advanced technology and architecture. Although the time periods differ immensely, the people of those time periods are very similar. In Of Mice and Men, set in the 1930’s, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, set in the 1990’s, Curley’s Wife and Betty Carver share similar characteristics.
In the novel “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck portrays the theme of social injustice throughout the story in the lives of several characters that include Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and the stable buck, Crooks. All of these characters are mistreated in some way, shape or form. The hardships that these characters faced help guide us to see the social injustice that is prevalent in the story.
Another form of discrimination Steinbeck portrays is ageism. Ageism is defined as “...stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age.” (“Ageism”). The main victim of ageism in Of Mice and Men is Candy, the Skinner, who is an elderly man who hurt is hand in an accident and is not fit for most jobs on the ranch. Ageism can affect the youth and the elderly, and anyone in between, but during the Great Depression, it mostly affected the elderly. They were seen as useless and as extra mouths to feed. Candy faces the endless fear that the boss will fire him once he loses his worth on the farm. Candy’s fears are portrayed when Carlson shoots his old dog because the dog is too old to be of use. He tells Lennie
Is being a woman something someone should be blamed for? Growing up as a woman in the 1900s was very unfair for all females. They had less rights and were treated as if they were prized possessions. A book that provides insight into this topic is Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. In the book, the only female character is married to the boss’ son, Curly. Curly and his wife 's relationship has no true love involved and according to Curley 's wife, the marriage is very forceful. In fact, we do not even know the name of Curley 's wife! In Of Mice and Men, it is illusive that Curley 's wife is treated poorly and has an unfair life. All Curley 's wife wanted to do was talk with the other ranchers instead she is considered a tart for talking to other
At the beginning of the book “Of Mice and Men”, when John Steinbeck (the narrator) writes, “They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other; both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders”, he introduces us to Lennie and George, we as readers know right away that there is an inequality between the two men: one man is walking behind another. Furthermore, the two men are dressed identically. It is perhaps a way to point up the idea that inequality will always be part of a relationship, but we should try to make the relationship as equal as possible. Of Mice and Men is a novel that tells the story of two migrant ranch workers George Milton and Lennie Small who move from town to town in California in search of job opportunities, with the dream of one day having a ranch of their own. Steinbeck idealizes
John Steinbeck’s 1937 historical fiction novella, Of Mice and Men, is filled with issues that are still current today, and in the story, he hints at his own belief set. Some topics found in the book, which was set during the United States’ Great Depression, discussed sexism, prejudice, and friendships. These can be and are as difficult to discuss approximately eighty years later. Throughout the story, characters who are prejudice use victims to make themselves feel better about who they are, showing their own insecurities about their position.
John Steinbeck’s life influenced the context in his novel Of Mice and Men. In fact, he was knowledgeable towards the issues of women’s rights and mental disabilities, and even worked on a ranch as a migrant worker himself. Likewise, these same ideas and actions took place during the Great Depression and are vividly displayed within the characters and the plot of Steinbeck’s book. Women’s rights, mental disabilities, as well as ranch work during this time period are depicted through Curley’s wife, Lennie, and the setting of the ranch.
Curley's wife is rejected for many reasons, but the main source of her rejection is that she is a woman. She is married to Curly, the boss’s son, without a choice. She doesn't like being married to him, as proven when she says “I don’ like Curly. He ain't a nice fella.” (89) Another struggle she has is she still wants to be friends with other men. When she looks them in the eye to talk to them, they call her a tart and that she has the ‘eye’ for others, as proven by the sentences “Well- She's got the eye.” (28) and “Well, I think Curley's married . . . . a tart.”
In John Steinbeck‘s novella Of Mice and Men set in the Salinas Valley during the Great Depression, George Milton took responsibility over his friend, Lennie Small, as they hoped to obtain ownership of their own ranch. The theme of isolation was prevalent throughout the story and portrayed by Curley’s Wife, Crooks, and Candy. Steinbeck revealed through these characters that isolation creates a longing for companionship for comfort in times of struggle and solitude.
Of Mice and Men is a novella describing a story filled with men except for one, Curley’s wife who lives on a ranch dominated by men. Curley’s wife is a portrayal of all women during the 1930s and the struggles they had to face. She suffers from oppression because she is blamed for distracting the men from doing their work merely because of the way she looks and she is compared to an object. “Curley’s wife” is barely a name for a woman and Steinbeck uses this title for her to dehumanize her and show that she is Curley’s object. She is a female archetype of a temptress representing a sexist view of women.
The novellas Of Mice and Men and The Pearl are both often noted as social criticisms. The author, John Steinbeck addresses real-life issues that society is facing. Whether through direct statements and comments, or through a fictional characters’ situation, Steinbeck criticizes just some of the problems of society. He shows the way people are discriminated against, and why. He shows the issues society faces. Author John Steinbeck explores multiple real life issues in both works, and provides a message of how unfair the world is, as well as show how cruel humans can be to differences.
John Steinbeck is a famous novelist who was born and raised in the country seat of Monterey Country in Salinas, California. The familiar geography and demographics inspired Steinbeck’s later novels and short stories. In his early adolescence, Steinbeck showed a growing interest in writing. He would work late at night in his attic, sometimes inviting friends over to read aloud to them. Hoping to sharpen his skills, Steinbeck enrolled at Sanford University in 1919. Steinbeck continued through college on and off for six years until finally he left Stanford in 1925, without a degree. After his first novel in 1929, Steinbeck married his first wife in 1930. Even through this tough time, Steinbeck continued to pour himself into his writing. Steinbeck makes use of his personal experiences and fabricates them
“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.” - Alice Walker