Of Mice and Men and the Great Depression - 1661 Words

The 1930s in American history was an interesting period that merges strife with everlasting hope. John Steinbecks literature takes a snapshot of this time with realistic circumstances appropriate for the time. Of Mice and Men reflects the Great Depression Era by presenting the storyline in the agricultural setting of 1930s California, describing the hardships of migrant field workers, and mentioning the dreams and goals of various characters. The United States felt the reverberating effects of their failing economy during the 1930s. The decade of the 1920s was a period of a newfound â€Å"freedom† in which urban populations discovered leisurely activities, women proved their power and equal rights with the emergence of flappers, and the†¦show more content†¦Curley feels a sense of authority simply by being the field boss’s son. However, he fears the workers that were larger and stronger than him. â€Å"Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big gu ys†¦Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em because he ain’t a big guy† (Steinbeck 26). This explains the tension between Lennie and Curley that eventually swelled into a fight between them. Slim is an exception to the leading workers on the ranch; unlike the others, he is understanding and merciful, as in when he let Lennie carry his dog’s puppies and when his hands were shaking while Candy’s dog was put down by another worker. He has a good reputation among the workers because â€Å"Slim’s opinions were law† (Steinbeck 45). The respect he received and his easygoing nature allows George to befriend him at the end of the novel. (Hearle) (Shillinglaw) (Shindo) (Steinbeck) During the Great Depression, survival was mandatory in order to get through the hardships at the time. Because of the frequent movement between each job and the fact that migrant workers had no families or wives to care for, there was a lack of community and family wit hin each ranch. Therefore, the mentality of â€Å"every man for himself† was set in the mind of every migrant worker. George’s and Lennie’s companionship is looked as unusual by the other workers since most traveled alone, especially since Lennie and George are complete opposites both physically and mentally. When questioned why they travelShow MoreRelatedOf Mice And Men : The Era Of The Great Depression1516 Words   |  7 PagesThrough the movement of history gender roles of Men and Women have been extremely varied. From the standards, expectations, to the work or home place there was a difference. Women were looked at as less than a men , the intellectual individual. Being a male was the greatest things they could be and their masculinity was their greatest pride. In the 1930Â’s the era of the Great Depression took presence. The manÂ’s role in the depression was much more refined in this era. Most views of a man in theRead MoreA Comparison of Of Mice and Men and The Great Depression an Eyewitn697 Words   |  3 PagesA Comparison of Of Mice and Men and The Great Depression An Eyewitness History The Great Depression is comparable to Lennie and Georges life. I would like to give a comparison of George Milton and Lennie Small to the Great Depression. The time that this story took place was during the Great Depression. John Steinbeck captured the reality of this most difficult time. During the Great Depression people needed to travel together to share chores and duties to make a living until somethingRead MoreThe Great Depression Isolation In Steinbecks Of Mice And Men1547 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Depression isolation â€Å" A guy needs somebody- to be near him.† He whined, â€Å" A guy goes nuts if he ain t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you† (Steinbeck 72). In the 1930s through the Great Depression, many people struggled to survive. 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It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history; it began in the United States on Black Tuesday with the Wall Street crash of October 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. It lasted about a decade, ending in the early 1940s. Poverty stricken, life became a struggle to survive. Banks,Read MoreViolence and Social Hierarchy in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men was a Mirror of Society During the Great Depression1129 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’, Steinbeck presents the ranch in a ruthless and brutal way. He portrays a patriarchal society dominated only by white robust men. Steinbeck illustrates the different views and opinions of the social hierarchy in the ranch life. As well as Steinbeck displays the harsh and violent atmosphere where the newcomers are restricted and victimized by the other members of the ranch. 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In a five-paragraph essay, take a position for or against banning this novel. Use your three body paragraphs to develop each of three reasons for or against banning the novel. The Lost Portion of Human Society Right from the beginning of human civilization, books had become the vital flame that ignited many great achievementsRead MoreEssay about The ranch in Of Mice and Men is a very hostile environment.1629 Words   |  7 PagesThe ranch in Of Mice and Men is a very hostile environment. The ranch in ‘Of Mice and Men’ is a very hostile environment. What do we learn about life during the Great Depression from John Steinbeck’s novel? In this essay I aim to describe how life was like on a ranch during the great depression in John Steinbeck’s novel ‘Of Mice and Men’. Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California. This is where the book is set, in the Salinas valley. The books exact location is in