Power Struggle In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men follows George Milton and Lennie Small as they attempt to survive the destitution of the Great Depression. The two travel together, making them different from the rest of the ranch workers, who are alone in their hardships. However, their relationship is more complex than the surface: it presents a power struggle with the ulterior motive to help oneself. Through the characterization of the ranch workers, Steinbeck makes a claim about human’s innate characteristics: people in power will use their status in order to solidify their position over the weak.
Through George and Lennie’s relationship, Steinbeck exemplifies a power struggle in which the stronger of the two, George, prevails over the other. George continuously uses his mental advantage to belittle Lennie; George states, “Used to play jokes on ‘im ‘cause he was too dumb to take care of ‘imself...Made me seem Goddamn smart alongside of him” (Steinbeck 40). George and Lennie’s relationship is particularly complex: it is not affectionate, but, rather, one of dominance. Both George and Lennie have very low positions in society; they own no property, have little money, and are migrants looking to work for someone else. Lennie is George’s only outlet for control. In a society that reveres masculinity and strength, this is of the utmost importance: having authority over Lennie gives George the illusion of control, which makes his pauperization more bearable. George takes advantage of Lennie’s mental handicap
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Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men presents complicated relationships that deal with power struggles and human nature. While Of Mice and Men only focuses on one small ranch, the ideas Steinbeck expresses can be related to society as a whole, then and now: those that have a higher position in society will continuously utilize their power to oppress the
Of Mice And Men George And Lennie's Relationship
1035 Words | 5 PagesLennie also looks up to George so much that he often repeats his actions. “Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George's hat was” (Steinbeck, 4). Lennie does this not only because he looks up to George, but because he wants to impress in a way that in his head, makes up for him forgetting, and doing “bad things.”
How Does Steinbeck Present Lennie's Intentions In Of Mice And Men
1001 Words | 5 PagesThis also shows the overpowering control George has over Lennie’s conscience, and the consequence that Lennie can’t remember his own actions, only the stories George repeats. He is never truly angry with Lennie for his petty mistakes, he is simply thinking of the limitations of their dreams because of Lennie’s unpredictable actions. It seems George can only control Lennie by threatening him with the thing he cares about most which is the farm, “But you ain’t gonna get in no trouble, because if you do, I won’t let you tend the rabbits” he threatens, trying to make Lennie remember the importance of his actions (36). George is constantly complaining that he could have a better life and even have a farm without Lennie to look after, but he also wants a companion. Lennie is often simple minded and easily influenced, but intuitive enough to manipulate George’s loneliness, “If you don’t want me George I can go up in that cave over there and leave,” George quickly denies this saying “No, look I was just foolin’ Lennie, ‘cause I want you to stay with me” (20).
Essay On Lennie Smalls Death In Of Mice And Men
743 Words | 3 PagesHe is a man who cannot take care of himself so he relies on his friend, George. Lennie does not fully understand that he will never be able to experience a normal life, because of his mind. This makes him suffer. Lennie is also very forgetful and confused because of his mental state which makes him suffer as well. “George scoffed, Lady, huh?
How Does Steinbeck Use Of Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
954 Words | 4 PagesOf Mice and Men tells a story based in California during the 1930s; of two men who have very different characteristics, but share the same goal. The men, George and Lennie, are migrant workers. At their new job, they meet many individuals: Candy, who is very old and cleans the bunkhouse; Curley, who is the boss’s son; Curley's wife, Crooks, the stable hand; and Slim, who is known as the “prince of the ranch.” Though they recently started, their new job quickly goes downhill. John Steinbeck’s book is carefully written and often uses hints to foretell what will happen next.
Inhumanity In Of Mice And Men
837 Words | 4 PagesThe Inhumanity Caused by Weaknesses The author Dean Koontz once said, “...the most identifying trait of humanity is our ability to be inhumane to one another.” Although there are many hopeful aspects in people, the inhumanity of people is inevitable. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie Small and George Milton discover the hardships and the hope in life as migrant workers during the Depression era. Though their hope for a better life dwindles throughout their journey, Lennie and George’s dream of owning their own farm help to distract them from their harsh reality of despondency.
How Does Steinbeck Show The Power In Of Mice And Men
726 Words | 3 PagesWhen George needs to depend on Lennie and George gets upset with Lennie, Lennie threatens him to leave. In any case George remembers that Lennie is mentally disabled and can't survive on his own. Therefore, that gives Lennie the power to forget things but still be able to stick around. However, Lennie sometimes holds back on things because he know what he is capable of doing. The boss’s son, Curley, at their new job picks with Lennie because he’s a fighter and like to fight bigger people.
Indirect Characterization In Of Mice And Men
850 Words | 4 PagesLennie is a big character involving this stories theme by still having friends even though is very different from George and all the other workers. Some readers might think that Lennie has a brain injury that causes his forgetfulness and is a mean person who wants to cause havoc. Despite, the readers thinking that Lennie has a brain injury, it is clear that those allegations are false and George only says this to cover up Lennie’s stupidity. Although, some critics may think that Lennie is a mean person always trying to cause havoc, it is obvious that Lennie is a nice man with a small mind who does not know how to control his strength. Lennie is a dynamic character with observations being made about his forgetfulness and kindness.
Examples Of Loyalty And Loyalty In Of Mice And Men
970 Words | 4 PagesExamine how far George and Lennie are loyal to each other throughout 'Of mice and men' In the novella 'Of Mice and Men', by the well-known author, John Steinbeck, the reader is introduced to a varied range of different characters on the ranch; within this realm loyalty between George and Lennie plays a significant role in the lonely itinerant lifestyle. The characters in this short novel act in a world of their own, having no connections to any other type of society; through this Steinbeck can strongly depict the theme of loyalty and friendship in dire situations during this period of time. During the 1930's, at the ranch, a predominant role of intelligent white-males is seen to retain power over lesser groups of people, of which Lennie is portrayed to be this part as he is mentally disabled. Despite this George and Lennie strike up a friendship of loyalty: showing firm and constant support. ' Guys like us got no fambly...they ain't got nobody in the worl' that gives a hoot in hell about 'em' sums up the reason why their loyalty and companionship is so vital and special to each other.
Of Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis
937 Words | 4 PagesBy giving Lennie these childish and animalistic qualities, Steinbeck is illustrating how his immaturity causes him to get into trouble and distances him from the other workers. Although, through all of Lennie’s mistakes, George stays with him because he needs his companionship as much as Lennie does as it brings them both hope and strength in their desperate situations as migrant workers during the
Deprecation Of Others In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
487 Words | 2 PagesBut he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him.” (40) This shows that George used Lennie’s mental disability to amuse himself, completely disrespecting Lennie as a person and making himself feel more powerful. A third example of this from the book is where Curley’s wife says to Crooks “Well you keep your place then, Nigger.
Social Injustice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
513 Words | 3 PagesIn the novel “Of Mice and Men” the theme of social injustice is presented by John Steinbeck through the characters of Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. By examining the theme of social injustice one can be taught that treating someone based on their mental capability, gender, or race is wrong. Rather treat them base on the person they are on the
Power And Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
568 Words | 3 PagesIn the novel of “Of Mice and Men” power and friendship is the very bases of the story. There are many people with power in the book but I specifically was interested in Curley’s power. Curley is the son of the Ranch’s boss and he is very spoiled. He does not listen to rules and usually gets away with any trouble he makes or gets into.
Compare And Contrast George And Lennie
605 Words | 3 PagesAlthough described as a rather large man, Lennie’s role between the two men is very childlike. Lennie is treated like a child by George because Lennie does not have the maturity or mental capability to make decisions for himself. For example, George must continuously remind Lennie of the spot he must come to if in trouble because Lennie cannot focus long enough to process this information. Lennie is also fairly unintelligent and blindly loyal to George. This loyalty is seen when George tells Lennie to jump into a river, and Lennie obeys even though he is unable to swim.
Friendship In Of Mice And Men
715 Words | 3 PagesIn John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the era of the Great Depression in the 1930’s is revealed through a simple story of ranch workers who hope to improve their lives. Migrant workers, George and Lennie, have a friendship that is based on trust and protection. The other workers lack the companionship and bond that these two men have. In the novel, the absence and presence of friendship is the motivation for the characters’ actions.
How Does Steinbeck Present George's Friendship
567 Words | 3 PagesLennie is in many ways helpless and does not know how to care for himself. George helps him by giving him short commands and telling him to repeat things to himself to remember things. George has no responsibility to take care of Lennie, yet George is willing to do anything for Lennie. ‘“When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.”’
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