This novel by John Steinbeck focuses on the two main characters' friendship and struggles to find and keep a job in this economy. The novel recognizes the impossible "American Dream" that people are striving for. Every character in this book knows that times are hard and their dreams are far reached. At the end of the day, everyone knows that, based on their lives, their American Dream will never come true and it will remain what it is, a dream.
In the 1930s, there were several factors that influenced Steinbeck in writing "Of Mice and Men."
California was facing economic problems due to the Great Depression. Many different farmers wanted to find work areas throughout the huge country that they were in. Some problems in labor were the advances in farming technology. Machinery allowed five to seven men to operate at a time, which replaced what over 300 men could have done in one day. The Midwest was experiencing a drought, and people began to migrate from rural to urban areas. Labor Unions are peaking throughout the country gaining more membership each day.
Communism was becoming popular within America. Most agree with the concepts of communism supporting programs that aid workers with federal funding. These people also
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Friendship was a very important theme in of Mice and Men. Lennie is a naturally friendly person; George believes Lennie deserves a friend. They've both known each other for long time and have been through a lot of hardships together and separating from each other would be unlikely. Lennie is a mentally disabled farm worker that protects George. George is not mentally disabled but chooses to stick around with Lennie because he cares about him. George knows Lennie is different and people will judge him, but they both look out for each other. The population of America was homeless, jobless, and most of all they were losing
George was a savvy, grown man and could have continued getting by on his own. He was able to find jobs and provide for himself. Lennie was strong and capable of working on his own as well. He could have found someone else to guide him. They could have both found a way to build a future on their own.
So, for the most part, George talks for him and always makes up excuses as to why things happen. George does his best to keep him “in check”, but it proves to be harder than it appears. Throughout the book, George was a loyal friend to Lennie because he saved Lennie from
Lennie cares about George. Lennie always wanted to be with George because, he needed a companion, but he may have trusted him a bit too much. “I turn to Lennie and say jump in and he jumps, couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned. "(Steinbeck, 40)
Of mice and men essay “True friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it but only you can feel the true warmth.” In the book Of mice and men George is the type of guy that shows true friendship. It may not like it at first but once you really start getting into the book and thinking about everything he does, you’ll see it. Trust me.
Throughout the novella, Steinbeck shows the reader differences between characters with the presence and the lack of friendship. The presence of friendship in George and Lennie’s relationship is key to why they stick together through everything. At first, the novella makes it seem that George is only friends with Lennie because of Lennie's disabilities. George promised Lennie’s Aunt that he would protect him when she is gone. George states that “‘When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’.
Some people can say that if you’re really close to your friend, it could be reasonable that at times you could get irritated at one another. In the novella “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, friendship is displayed between two characters, George and Lennie. Lennie is always getting into trouble and George is always there to get him out of trouble. Some people would say that George was a bad friend to Lennie, but there are times when you could understand that George just gets annoyed with Lennie. George was an overall good friend to Lennie because he kept him safe and happy.
In ‘Of Mice and Men’, written by John Steinbeck, friendship is portrayed as one of the main themes in this novella and a very important part of people’s lives. Steinbeck also portrays friendship by highlighting the importance of friendship and showing how its presence and absence can trigger many positive and negative emotions. Its presence creates hope, feeling of companionship and a sense of responsibility. In spite of friendship’s presence creating positive feelings, its absence does the complete opposite. It generates a feeling of loneliness and isolation.
In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men there are a lot of themes. The themes consist of friendship, loneliness, discrimination and dreams. All of these themes are important, and play immense role in the outcome at the end. The major theme is that friends stick together; unconditionally; this is demonstrated through Lennie and George's actions in Weed, in the bunk house, and in the aftermath of Curly's wife's death. One example of true friends sticking together is exemplified when George stays with Lennie after Lennie's actions in Weed.
In 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.
The relationship between the characters George and Lennie is a strong example of friendship in this novel. George and Lennie had been friends since they were kids; Lennie has always relied on George to get him out of tough situations since he is mentally challenged. When George and Lennie had arrived at the ranch the boss was wondering why Lennie couldn’t speak for himself; and that is when George had to step in, “George said, ‘He’s my … cousin. I told his old lady I’d take care of him.
In John Steinbeck´s Of Mice and Men, the ideas of companionship and friendship are addressed greatly. George and Lennie are companions who have traveled alongside each other for a long time. They have to keep moving because Lennie causes trouble, and essentially strains their relationship. Although they have issues, they have a deep connection which benefits each of them. Steinbeck´s Of Mice and Men uses motifs and characterization to show that companionship is beneficial to individuals.
George shows sensitivity to his best friend Lennie. Always looking out for his disabled friend, Lennie has sacrificed a lot throughout the years to keep him safe. George doesn't have to help Lennie, but he chooses too because they are really close friends. Fully knowing that he could leave Lennie at anytime and have a more successful life, George chose to stick with him because of Georges sensitiveness. This could be seen as a huge disadvantage because George had the potential to be someone bigger than he was.
Of Mice and Men was published in 1937 during a time of bi-racism between the caucasians and the african americans, and the apathetic Great Depression, which may have served as inspiration. In the novel two opposites attract, a gargantuan but mentally challenged man by the name of Lennie, and a small, nimble, and intelligent man named George. Suffering from a mental illness Lennie gets into trouble when he 's alone, but George always saves him, George knows Lennie doesn 't do anything, “out of meanness” as he says. Undoubtedly the reader assimilates that Lennie kills a young lady, said to have done so accidentally. Furthermore without any control George was forced to kill Lennie.
George looks after Lennie by preventing him from getting into trouble. George first shows that he’s caring when he and Lennie run away from Weed because Lennie touched a girl’s dress. George gets him out safely and gets him a new job. George says, “She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin’ for us, and we gotta sneak out in the dark and get outta the country” (13). This shows that George is caring because he got Lennie out of a dangerous situation.
Lennie and George the total opposite of each other have this fantasy of having a farm. But, what makes this dream of theirs, even more unrealistic is the friendship they have. George and Lennie have a true friendship. They have a true friendship because they always got each others back and they do what’s right for each other.