The Role Of Geography In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
What is literature if not an author’s imaginative response to what occurs around them? John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a prime example of just that. His experiences living during the Great Depression in America is reflected through the geography in his book and the meanings behind it. The perceived geography of the novel; the river, the barn, and Crooks’s room; is so simplistic to allow the reader to see the effect of more discrete aspects of the setting. As Thomas Foster says in How to Read Literature like a Professor, “Geography is setting, but it’s also (or can be) psychology, attitudes, finance, industry- anything that place can forge in the people who live there.” Behind these small settings lays a few more important geographical aspect to Of Mice and Men.
The book was published in 1937, during
…show more content…
In the first scene we see it as a place of hope, where the boys are able to rest and talk about their plans of the future. The end of the novel presents the lake as a place of false hope. Lennie is led to believe that if he meets George there that they will be able to move onto the next job and everything will be okay, but meeting George there actually leads to his death. The lake was a place of hope for Lennie, a safe place. The lake could in reality have stood for a false hope or an honest sense of hope throughout the whole novel. This is dependent upon George’s actions after the end of the novel. If George follows the other men into a life of wandering and spending his money at brothels, the lake must have symbolized a false hope, because the dream of a good settled life was never going to come true. But if George actually got the farm and made a life for himself, the lake could have symbolized an honest hope. The hope Lennie felt about the lake led George to kill Lennie, giving George a better chance at a normal life. A hope of finally buying the farm and not having the burden of Lennie to worry
How Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
1320 Words | 6 PagesIf the reader pays attention to the gestures of George they could tell that the friendship of Lennie and George would be broken. George’s gesture is dealing out cards for the game solitaire. Solitaire is only game for one and it foreshadows that George is going to be on his own and lonely because Lennie is going to die. Although all the foreshadowing lead to Lennie’s death there is another example of it that does not coincide with the ending. Steinbeck makes the setting of the bunkhouse where the hands live like a reality.
How Does Steinbeck Make Decisions In Of Mice And Men
597 Words | 3 PagesGeorge and Lennie would have gotten caught if they tried to make it out. There were people standing around them that would have seen them leave. On page 100 Steinbeck writes, “A man's voice called up the river, and another man answered.” The evidence shows that there were people surrounding them when they wanted to get away. First, George had to kill Lennie so he doesn't get in any more trouble.
John Steinbeck Dehumanize Lennie Small
1305 Words | 6 PagesGeorge knew he had to do something, and he didn’t want anyone else murdering Lennie. George knew exactly where Lennie would be, because George told Lennie to come back to this very spot, if he ever got into big trouble. This foreshadows Lennie’s fate too. George knew if he had to come back here, he had done something very wrong and he would have to kill Lennie. Lennie’s last moments were thinking of the ranch, and animals, and food.
Essay On Loyalty In Of Mice And Men
1047 Words | 5 PagesOn the bank of the river, Lennie lay dead, no longer able to show George his loyalty. In the aftermath of loyalty came loneliness because eventually one of the characters in a relationship will outlive the other and leave one all
Imagery In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1630 Words | 7 PagesThe novella ‘of Mice and Men’ was written by John Steinbeck in the 1930s. It is set in a difficult period of time when America was sunk in deep depression. However, themes of loyalty shine brightly throughout the novella. He shows that even though Americas economy is in tatters, loyalty can still be as prominent. There were also distinct themes of disloyalty, mainly between characters.
Of Mice And Men Symbolism
262 Words | 2 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, is an allegorical novel. As one reads deeper into the novel, the symbolism starts to unfold. Although, it may not be so clear in the beginning. The novel begins with a description of the Salinas River which is just south of Soledad, California. This location is where two migrant workers, Lenny and George, will be walking along on their way to find to work.
Of Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis
937 Words | 4 PagesAnother instance when Steinbeck uses dramatic irony in the novel is when George kills Lennie because of their friendship. He knows that if he does not do it himself, then Lennie will face a much worse death by the hand of someone who does not care how much pain he feels. Although, George only realizes how much Lennie means to him after he is dead, and Lennie’s death releases him of responsibility as he states, “If I was alone I could live so easy”, and “I could get a job an’ not have no mess” (Steinbeck 101). Although George is finally free, he is lonely, and the dream of the farm dies along with Lennie. It is the one thing that solidifies their friendship, but without the other, the dream loses its purpose.
Of Mice And Men Betrayal Essay
888 Words | 4 PagesOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a well known classic that depicts the life of migrant workers''' during the great depression. As this book may seem uninteresting, it actually has been shown immense respect in the literature world. It has stood the test of time and is a primary book being taught in schools today. The theme played a big role in making this happen. Without realization kids are able to relate to the reason that it depicts loneliness and betrayal.
The Role Of Power In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
745 Words | 3 PagesTo better understand the novella Of Mice and Men, the background of the story must be elaborated. The setting of the story takes place in the Salinas Valley, California during the The Great Depression in the 1930s. John Steinbeck, the author, tells about the protagonist, George, and the antagonist, Lennie, and their journey of constantly finding new work to pursue George’s dream to own his farm and “live off the fatta the
How Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
666 Words | 3 PagesThe novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck is a gripping tale of two men and their lives during the Great Depression. George Milton and Lennie Small are two migrant workers who travel together finding work. They take on a new job “bucking barley” at a ranch in central California for the ranch owner and his son. While working at the ranch they encounter Curley the ranch owner’s son and his wife, a flirtatious woman. The story reaches a climax when Lennie unintentionally kills Curley’s wife and runs back to the Salinas River just as George instructed.
Human Condition In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
573 Words | 3 PagesThe book Of Mice and Men is full of puzzling examples of the human condition, from Lennie and his mental disability to Curley only caring about his social appearance. With characters like these two, the book exploits the human condition that concerns circumstances life has given you. John Steinbeck brings to life what being a laborer in the American depression meant to the men and one woman who had enough personality to stand out. Steinbeck shows the human condition of men while they survive in the American depression.
How Does Steinbeck Use Ethos In Of Mice And Men
640 Words | 3 PagesWhen world renowned author, John Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men, America went into an uproar, because he created a detailed and realistic account of the time period as he tells the tale of the main characters, George and Lennie. Readers are forced to contemplate their own past experiences and how those have affected the way they perceive their fantasies. He depicts the grit, dedication, and harshness of the reality it takes to reach our dreams. In his novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses symbolism, parallelism, and pathos to portray the American Dream through the lives and deaths of the characters. John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men portrays the American Dream through symbolic characters.
The Role Of Ambition In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
138 Words | 1 PagesImagine being able to tell someone to do something and they did it, no matter how awful it was. In John Steinbeck's emotional novel, Of Mice and Men, a grown man named Lennie is mentally challenged has a hard time telling what is right and what is wrong. He has a caretaker named George who has a short temper, however he tries his best to be patient with him. When George loses his temper it often cause Lennie to want to run away. Through all this they share a dream home where they can leave and go to the circus whenever they want.
Social Criticism Of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1262 Words | 6 PagesOf Mice and Men is John Steinbeck’s most successful early novel containing elements of social criticism shaped by this real life experience. Steinbeck drew his inspiration for the work from his experience living and working as a “bindlestiff” during the 1920’s. Instead of graduating from Stanford University, Steinbeck chose to support himself through manual labour whilst writing. His experience amongst the working classes in California lent authenticity to his depiction of the lives of the workers - who are the central characters of this novel; and the social issues that ensue. To further emphasize the loneliness of the itinerant worker Steinbeck then decides to set the novel near Soledad, California, a town name that means “Solitude” in Spanish.
Narrative Techniques In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
895 Words | 4 PagesIt does this through an emphasis on dialogue rather than description, rapid changes of scenes and lack of transitions. To set the scene of 1930s life, Steinbeck uses the concept of social realism when he evokes the idea that the two protagonists are destined to crash from the very beginning. Steinbeck ensures that his characters are believable and are shown as is so that the reader can connect and relate with each protagonist. There is a much deeper meaning to the setting of mice and men; The Great Depression and poor men desperately looking for work. Steinbeck describes natural settings to create a mood and atmosphere for the reader, also emphasising themes such as loneliness and instability.
More about The Role Of Geography In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
How Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
1320 Words | 6 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Make Decisions In Of Mice And Men
597 Words | 3 PagesJohn Steinbeck Dehumanize Lennie Small
1305 Words | 6 PagesEssay On Loyalty In Of Mice And Men
1047 Words | 5 PagesImagery In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1630 Words | 7 PagesOf Mice And Men Symbolism
262 Words | 2 PagesOf Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis
937 Words | 4 PagesOf Mice And Men Betrayal Essay
888 Words | 4 PagesThe Role Of Power In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
745 Words | 3 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Use Foreshadowing In Of Mice And Men
666 Words | 3 PagesHuman Condition In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
573 Words | 3 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Use Ethos In Of Mice And Men
640 Words | 3 PagesThe Role Of Ambition In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
138 Words | 1 PagesSocial Criticism Of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1262 Words | 6 PagesNarrative Techniques In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
895 Words | 4 Pages