‘Of Mice and Men’ is based on the experiences of a migrant farmer, set in 1930’s America. The characters are also symbolized as realistic people, but influenced by the issues and circumstances based on the Wall Street crash, the American Dream and being set after WWI. I empathies for these characters for the consequences of these historical events are what to have made ‘Of Mice and Men’ a tragedy in relation to loneliness.
Each character had the idea of their own American Dream, whether it was based on money, status, happiness, and so on. Yet unfortunately, only the reader realizes that they will never be fulfilled. George and Lennie’s dream of their own ranch conveyed to me as their own image of Heaven. The opening descriptions of Section One, such as the water was “twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight” quoted in chapter 1, convey to me on how Lennie and George travel on their journey to hopefully recreate these experiences as their ranch, for the sands were “a few miles south of Soledad” also stated in chapter 1, a land represented of loneliness and depression, which ...
John Steinbeck, an American novelist, is well-known for his familiar themes of depression and loneliness. He uses these themes throughout a majority of his novels. These themes come from his childhood and growing up during the stock market crash. A reader can see his depiction of his childhood era. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows the prominent themes of loneliness, the need for relationships, and the loss of dreams in the 1930s through the novels’ character.
I have been analysing the novella ‘Of Mice and men’ by John Steinbeck, which was published in 1937. Steinbeck wrote the novel based on his own experiences as a bindle stiff in the 1920’s, around the same time when the great Wall Street crash happened, causing an immense depression in America. Throughout the novel he uses a recurring theme of loneliness in his writing, which may have reflected his own experiences at this time. This is evident in his writing by the way he describes the characters, setting and language in the novel.
The thought of achieving a personal dream seems to be the driving force behind the American society during the era of the ‘Depression.’ This was a time when many dreams were created; dreams of being successful, owning a land and looking after animals or growing crops. The people who had these dreams were mostly ranch workers, or migrants, people who never stay in one place long enough to form ever-lasting relationships, hence the dreams of many of the ranch workers in this beautiful novel. The American Dream Everyone has a dream to strive for. The poor ranch hands wish to be their own bosses, and actually have stability.
Both the 1994 film Forrest Gump and the 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, feature non-typical characters. While these two stories have their obvious differences, there are similarities between the protagonists of each publication that cannot be ignored.
Although Lennie is strong physically, he is not strong mentally. Because of Lennie’s mental weakness, he is unable to survive in society or on the ranch. He is constantly getting himself into trouble, such as the time he accidentally kills Curley’s wife. Lennie’s mental weakness ultimately leads to his death, much like the downfall of other weak links on the ranch and in society.
Readers have been drawn to John Steinbeck’s 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, by its enduring story of two men struggling to find their dream place during The Great Depression. In the start of the novel we learn that the men here run away from their previous job, but the worst is yet to come , their dreams are about to be shattered. George realises that in order to take Lennie out of this vulnerable position, he needs to make a decision; it is shocking and terrible. Although the novel is short the themes are complicated. The author dealt the themes of Racism, Respect for old age and Dreams.
Of Mice & Men opens and concludes against a beautiful landscape that epitomises limitless possibilities. The novella, penned by John Steinbeck and published in 1937 transpires during the Great Depression, focusing on George Milton and Lennie Small – two of the countless migrant workers seeking employment in California. Based on Steinbeck’s experiences as a bindlestiff, the text is recognised for its reflective themes relating to society; delving into the experiences of those living during the Depression. The book particularly emphasises social subjugation and the issues of sexism, racism and discrimination for being different.
The novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, uses colourful language to paint a vivid story of the life of two migrant ranch workers during the United States Great Depression. From this simple story emerges an array of lessons about people, and the circumstances that lead them to make life-altering decisions. These themes are numerous, but three are most notable. In the novel, the themes of loneliness, dreams, and outcasts are central to the reader’s understanding of the novel.
In Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, there is a lot of evidence to show that the world is designed to prey on the weak. One character in particular, Crooks, is a very good example for this. Not only is he is a black man in the segregated 1930’s, he also has back problems. Because of this, people treat him like a lower class person than everyone else, though in the great depression nobody really had any money. One quote from the book to show this is when Curley’s wife says “I could get you strung up a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (page 81) She uses her power over Crooks to put him into what society says is his place. He stood up for himself and she made sure that the used her power as one of the “strong” to put him back in line. Even after
Its 1937, in the middle of the Great Depression. There are migrant workers with few job opportunities. Disability and prejudice lead to no respect and no pride. You are a nobody traveling alone and it is your own fault. There is no one to blame, or lean on for help. It was a desperate time for all working class americans. Struggling to make a stake, let alone make ends meet. It is a constant cycle for some, get a job, make a stake, blow it, and repeat. In a dark time like this nobody would dare to think that they could make it out. The price of living is high, and never stops rising. Many will never make it, and many have lost hope trying. In John Steinbeck's novella Of
In the novel “Of Mice and Men” loneliness and Isolation plays a keen part in the story to help deliver a greater meaning to the readers. (As the story develops we learn that many of the characters are alone in the world with no one.) While the story progresses we see many of the characters open up about their feelings and talk about their loneliness.
“Of mice and men” is about people who are lonely, sad and in search of
John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, set in California during the Great Depression, depicts the desire for the American Dream, held by many different individuals. Throughout the novel many characters are introduced, and their conflicts ignite trouble. For instance, the main characters, George Milton, intelligent and irritable, and his companion, Lennie Small, hefty and senseless, are migrant workers who hope that one day they will acquire the American Dream. Lennie, being senseless, makes George have a difficult time trying to find a job because of Lennie’s wrongdoings. Withal, in the Bunkhouse, many conflicts arise as these migrant workers join the ranch. Steinbeck uses the lives of George and Lennie to demonstrate the importance of friendship
Loneliness is a theme in this novel that is reflective of the time period in which the novel was written. Loneliness haunts the characters in the novel Of Mice and Men. Nearly everyone in this book is a loner, and all are suspicious of George and Lennie’s companionship. Loneliness is said to cause people to become mean and afraid of everyone else. This theme is relevant in the time period in which this novel was written, the Great Depression. To make money during the Great Depression many people had to travel around to work which did not allow companionship to develop because they always moved around to different places and lacked a true home. Another cause of loneliness during the Great Depression is discrimination because of age, race, or sex.
"Were born alone we live alone die alone. Only through love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that were not alone” Orson Welles. In this novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck focuses on the loneliness of California ranch life in the 1930’s. One of the most important things in the life is to have a friend, without friends people will suffer from loneliness like in this novel, not everyone in the novel has the same connection and special friendship like George and Lennie’s. Of Mice and Men is the story about lonely men who travel from ranch to ranch not really communicating with other ranch hands. Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife all were lonely and dealt with their loneliness in different ways.