The Great Depression's Effect on American People Depicted in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

Steinbeck's novel 'Of Mice and Men' explores the everyday lives of migrant workers during the Great Depression. In this era, American men were forced to leave their families and become 'drifters'. These were people who didn't have a fixed job and continually moved from place to place.

Steinbeck’s character, Lennie, is large and strong, but his mind is weak and slow. His companion through the story, George, looks after Lennie and has plans for a good life for

When discussion moves to the bus tickets and work cards Lennie realises that he doesn’t have his. “He looked down at the ground in despair” which shows that he is ashamed and perhaps a little frightened of George’s reaction, but Steinbeck then goes on to say that George took responsibility for both of the work cards, knowing that Lennie could not be trusted. This, again, demonstrates the balance of power and shows that both George and Lennie are aware of how much power the other possesses.

Steinbeck uses word choice to express the thoughts and emotions of the characters. George is easily angered, for example Lennie had a very bad memory. He could never remember what George told him ande it would make George mad in a heartbeat. For example when Lennie said “Where we goin’, George?” George replied with “so you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard!”(9) Yes lennie can be aggregation but he doesn’t know any better. Lennie has his mind set on one thing, tending the rabbits. If steinbeck would’ve taken out the authentic words he used I dont think it would be as good as it is.

The Great Depression took place in the United States in the 1930s. Northern California, Salinas Valley was affected by the Great Depression. Many farmers lost their properties and were forced to find other work. Banks were forced to foreclose on mortgages’ and had to collect debts. Hundreds of thousands of farmers packed up their families and few belongings, and headed for California. The Great Depression left many people in poverty and caused them to face unpleasant events. This is how life was like for the characters in Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. Mostly all the characters in this novel suffered from loneliness. Some of the men desired to come together in a way that would allow them to be like brothers to one

In 1929, tears swept the nation and gloom bestowed itself upon a once happy place. The Great Depression had started. People lost everything ,so many became migrant workers. Of Mice and Men, a classic novel written by John Steinbeck, emphasizes many sad themes, but gives us a good insight on what life was like in the 1940’s for many people. Although there are other themes, rootlessness, loneliness, and poverty are extremely prominent throughout the novel in many characters.

The novel ‘of mice and men’ was written buy john Steinbeck in 1937.Its about two migrant workers who move from place to place in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in California, United States. These were the time when America was poor and had no money. The banks were all shut down and people became homeless, people struggled, there were beggars everywhere, they would walk miles and miles to look for job that they can settle to work and earn money for the family. Women joined the work force and would do jobs that men previously had held.  These women worked as hard as they could to support their families during this difficult time. Women in the Jacobean Era had to obey their husband‘s /fathers every decision

John Steinbeck’s highly acclaimed Of Mice and Men is a classic American novella that paints a depressingly realistic portrait of America during the Great Depression in the 1930s. In this short read, Steinbeck tackles many issues that plagued the country during that time. His purpose in writing Of Mice and Men was to criticize some of those issues, such as sexism, the poor treatment of people with mental disabilities, and the facade of the American Dream.

As they both begin to converse, it becomes quite apparent that George is the head between the two, while Lennie is the dependent one upon George. This image helps illustrate that George is the parental figure where Lennie is the timid child who is afraid of what is in front of him. This is highlighted when the author says, “Think I’d let you carry your own work card?” (Steinbeck 5). This quote highlights how George acts as the adult figure for Lennie. George knows that Lennie will lose everything because of his asinine mind, and therefore has to look after Lennie’s vital goods.

In the 1930’s itinerant workers were migrant workers who travelled from land to land to find jobs, any occupation available to allow them to fend for themselves and survive in the disastrous world, they were living in at the time. We know George and Lennie are migrant workers due to the period of time the novella is based on. It was a catastrophic world as it was when The Great Depression occurred, unemployment and recession increased vigorously. Bearing this in mind, the way in which Steinbeck’s first description of George and Lennie, at the

We see the interview with the boss, George becomes protective toward Lennie, “I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.”(P43) and when Curley’s wife enters into the attention George is seriously apprehensive about Lennie, “Listen to me… you leave her be.”(P54). Later on, when George finds Lennie in Crook’s, the stable buck’s, room, he looks disapprovingly at Lennie, “George stood framed in the door, and he looked disapprovingly.”(P115), this is very parent like. Steinbeck reinforces the contrast between them and everybody else. Slims says “Ain’t many guys travel around together”(P57)

We'll hear things like "It was fate that brought us together". However, Steinbeck shows us the negative side of fate. He shows us how cruel and uncaring life can be. I think that Lennie's fate is established in the first chapter of the book. George and Lennie are about to go to sleep and George reminds Lennie of what he needs to do if he winds up in any trouble: “'Course you did. Well, look. Lennie—if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.” Lennie's fate is one where he is predisposed to finding himself in difficult situations. He is going to be condemned to live a life where trouble always visits him. Lennie is incapable of living a life where trouble is not evident. For example, George tells Lennie a story about their fate and heavily contrasts it with what they yearn to actually do: ”’Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest of guys. They got no family... no place... but with us it ain’t like that. We got a future... Someday we’re gonna get a jack together and we’re gonna have a little house’...And ‘Live off the fatta the lan’’” (page 13-14). George tells about what all ranch people live like. In those days, if one does not have a ranch of their own, they would never get one, but Lennie and George try to break free of this fate by earning their own farm. They seem hopeful because they think they are different, better,

wouldn't let him tend no rabbits as he was warned by George not to do

The story Of Mice and Men took place during the 1930’s. That time period was very different from today. Race and gender were very important characteristics that determined whether a person had the opportunity to make money. The 1930’s were also a time where people started questioning life and the American culture. Many people like John Steinbeck thought that life was very unfair and questioned whether if life was even worth living. In Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck demonstrates that mans dream is destined to be destroyed by a cruel reality.

John Steinbeck wrote ‘Of Mice and Men’ to show how hard life was for migrant ranch workers during the time of the Great Depression and how they were often exploited by their employers. In showing how George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own piece of land did not come true, Steinbeck explores a wider theme, criticising the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream tells people that there is ‘opportunity for each... regardless of the fortuitous circumstance of birth and position. Steinbeck criticises this as these ranch workers were given few opportunities. Settings play a very important part in the novel as they pinpoint clear times and places giving a sense of realism to the story, but they are also used to create atmosphere.