Essay about Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

After the Great Depression, many things changed, different\\ genders and races were all treated differently. Blacks and white women were forced to be outcast in the world, women belonged in the house and blacks did not belong anywhere. In the book Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck portrays perfectly of how blacks and women were separated from everyone else with Curley’s wife and Crooks, the black stable hand. Curley’s wife and Crooks are alike in many ways; in their loneliness, the way they are separated from everyone else and how they get out casted from everything, discriminated against during the time period; which helps show how blacks and women were treated during this time period of life.

'I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my

He understands that this is a trial which he must face and he has made up his mind to do all that is in his power to make it back to

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.

Biases and inequality towards women have been a problem in society since men foolishly decided to give women the stereotype of being housewives and only good for breeding children. Those who refuse to follow the stereotype are considered promiscuous, or unfaithful towards their significant other. This stereotype was highly expected of women during the early twentieth century, and was also exhibited in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men towards Curley’s wife. Of Mice and Men took place in the 1930s, and the plot follows two best friends trying to achieve their dreams, which lands them in a ranch that will do them nothing but harm. In this ranch, only the strongest may survive, and those who do not follow the usual stereotype were considered weak, and will most likely die. Steinbeck’s theme of death is always feared, but to some it is a way to leave the misery that is the world reveals the social injustices in society causes gender discrimination towards Curley’s wife. The hostility and bitterness towards Curley’s wife did not just lead to her death, but also saved her from the loneliness and isolation she had to go through on the ranch.

to George and wants to be just like him. This is quite sad really as

The deep green pool of the Salinas River lay disturbed in the late afternoon. A camouflaged frog cut sharply left and right in the shallow pool; back and forth, back and forth until it stopped suddenly. The valley was empty as the animals attempted to stay out of the unusually cold and bitter air; the day made even colder by the hiding sun and the biting wind. A slow, rhythmic crunching of dead winter leaves quietly interceded into the area, and as it grew louder what little wildlife was present fled into the bushes and sycamore trees.

After a quiet and solemn drink with Slim, George dreadfully goes back to the empty bunkhouse. He sits on the bed, and his face falls to his hands. His shoulders move up and down as he sobs. Footsteps sound outside and Candy enters the dark building. George quickly wipes his face, but keeps his head down. Candy turns on the electric light and glances at George with a sympathetic look. George does not move or acknowledge Candy. The room is quiet as a graveyard. Candy seems to be pondering about something to say or do.

‘Of Mice And Men' by John Steinbeck is a classic novel, tragedy, written in a social tone. The authorial attitude is idyllic, however, as the story develops it changes into skeptic. It is evident that Steinbeck knew the setting and places he is writing about.

lead him to a life of worry and lack of security, as he is old and a

The next morning they arrive at the Salinas Valley ranch bunkhouse, where they meet Candy, and are interviewed by The Boss. The Boss notices that George answers all of the questions directed to Lennie, and instructs nervous Lennie to speak. Fortunately, George makes and excuse for Lennie saying he was kicked in the head by a horse when he was a child, and isn’t bright. The other man of tremendous strength on the ranch. They see Candy again and he advises George to look out for Lennie, who knows Curley enough and can see Curley would love to jump a guy like Lennie. If he can’t outfight Lennie- he’ll say Lennie picked on him because he’s smaller; Curley shows dominance wherever he can.

I chose to research John Steinbeck for the Mulitgenre Research Project. I chose this American author because he has written many old timey American classics that signify the growth of the Untied States, which is exemplified in his novel, “Of Mice and Men”. This author is important to American literature because “ Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen (Steinbeck)”. This quote signifies Steinbeck’s many novels. He started out with just a few and eventually worked his way to the top of the literary world. Once you learn to handle some criticism and crazy, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

1. Significance of Title: The title, “Of Mice and Men” comes from a phrase in the poem To a Mouse On Turning up in Her Nest with the Plough by Robert Burns. The second to last stanza contains the line, “the best schemes o’ Mice an’ Men/ Gang aft agley” contains the phrase John Steinbeck based the title for the novel. The poem is similar to the book in that George, Lennie, and the mouse all have a goal that involves months of dedicated work. However, the plough and sudden death of Curley’s wife both bring a sudden end to their dreams. Both disasters were unprecedented, but caused by the fact that George, Lennie, and the Mouse were torn apart by their weaknesses.

Knees pulled to his chest (AbP), Lennie Small lies on his bed in a hot cabin in the Salinas Valley of Northern California and discreetly plays with his newborn puppy. His friend and mentor figure, George Milton realizes Lennie’s flawed actions and turns to the bigger man, instructing him to “get right up an’ take this pup back to the nest” (39). George warns Lennie that he may kill the newborn handling it so roughly due to its extremely small size and young age, foreshadowing Lennie’s accidental murder of the fledgling dog later on. George has an unparalleled insight and understanding into Lennie’s personality, and through George’s admonishments of Lennie, John Steinbeck subtly foretells Lennie’s future murder of not only the puppy, but also of a young woman in his novella, Of Mice and Men. Much like George and Lennie, the characters Willie-Jay and Perry have a similar relationship in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. Willie-Jay, despite his minor role in the story, serves as Perry’s mentor and foreshadows his future violent actions with his insight into Perry’s character, also providing a positive influence to contrast Perry’s partner in crime, Dick.

The story Of Mice and Men was written by John Steinbeck in the year of