The Power Of The People In John Steinbeck's The Moon Is Down

In Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, power struggles are an evident topic in social groups, racial groups and between individuals. Lennie struggles against his ill-equipped mind’s way of viewing the world, Crooks faces discrimination because of the colour of his skin, and three separate people all experience feelings of loneliness and isolation.

History is full of examples of how power affects people's behaviors towards others. Well known examples in history include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler. Kim Jong-Il, Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein are more recent examples of the negative abuse of power. In the novella Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, a common theme throughout the story is the misuse of power. Steinbeck uses the characters Curley’s wife and Crooks to teach the reader that people who possess less power are treated in a more demeaning fashion, but also treat others the same way in search of gaining power.

The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck emphasizes the division in social classes and social structure based on power. The novel and its themes are based around the characters’ interactions and decisions. Their motivations come directly from other characters, and the social construct on the ranch that controls the characters within the novel. Each character has their own journey of giving into the powers that control their society and lives which leads to each of their own inescapable demises.

Steinbeck’s Idea on how people can have a chance at the brief nature of power before it shifts can be summed up into the quote:

Power is defined as “the possession of control or command over others; authority...” (Dictionary.com), and all people have power, whether they notice it or not. Though some employ their power for respectable reasons, often times power is not used in honorable ways. The matter of abuse of authority is prevalent in the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck illustrates that those who have power abuse it exceedingly often, as shown by Curley attacking countless others, including Lennie, a mentally disabled man, Curley’s wife mistreating the men of the ranch, and Curley’s wife making demeaning comments about Crooks, the African American stable buck.

In the beginning of the book, Mayor Orden was very wise and unselfish, he always tried to do what was best for the town; the reader could tell he was capable to run the town from the beginning of the book. Early on in the book, Mayor Orden says to Colonel "Sir, I am of this people, and yet I don't know what they will do. My people have elected me. They made me and they can unmake me. Perhaps they will if they think I have gone over to you. I just don't know”. Colonel wants the people to work in the mines but Mayor Orden tries to defend his people and says they will not want to. Orden also thinks the townspeople will think he's gone over to the opposing side if he starts listening and obeying what they are telling him to do. It's obvious to the reader that Mayor Orden thinks about the town before he makes decisions. In chapter two, Orden says “You won't believe this, but it is true: authority is in the town. I don't know how or why, but it is so. This means we cannot act as quickly as you can, but when a direction is set, we all act together." Orden never put on a show for anyone, from

Power is usually measured through physical power and mental power. Several different kinds of power appear in the book, and Steinbeck shows clearly how each of them carries with it a heavy responsibility,Though not every character is able to measure up to this with success powers. By how the characters act and how they treat each other shows what powers they have.

People got power because they got money. People that don’t got no money have less power.in John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men we also see people with different level of power. In the novel Curley and the Boss and Lennie all have different source of power. In mice and man the the character is the boss he deals with a lot of money. The money help the boss get workers to work for him without the money the worker will leave him.

John Steinbeck shines a light on what he saw during the 1900s. He observed what he saw around him and applied it to the book. It emphasizes how, Crooks, being a colored man was treated differently because of his color. For example, Lennie asks, "Why ain't you wanted?" " 'Cause I'm black," "They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black," Basically, Steinbeck is informing the reader that black people were not allowed in some places.

People facing oppression may be living without specific freedoms and liberties, forced into imprisoned life, or face another hardship. In these situations, people typically act eccentrically and make unjustified decisions. Officers confront Dakin, a leader of the strike in In Dubious Battle, during one of the movements. Dakin challenges the police, “‘He lets out a howl like a coyote and starts for ’em. They shoot him in the leg, but that don’t stop him . . . he just went nuts . . . Dakin bit a cop on the hand’” (In Dubious Battle, 145). The dreadful living conditions and state of life made Dakin, like many other men, go crazy. One misunderstanding led Dakin to a senseless decision and revolt. In another occasion, George is faced with a decision in a hostile situation. Lennie killed Curley’s wife, and Curley is now out to torture and kill Lenny. In a split second decision, George decides to kill Lennie and save Lenny from Curley’s potential harm. Carlson talks with George, “‘You killed him?’ ‘Yeah. Tha’s how.’ George’s voice was almost at a whisper. He looked steadily at his right hand that

The formation of government in the migrant camps is the culmination of the unspoken rules which were obeyed by the settlers. The unspoken rules which eventually turned into laws are based upon mutual respect for one another and hospitality, furthermore making life safer and more enjoyable for all. Steinbeck values government greatly, and sees it as a natural force which is powerful enough to keep citizens in check. Steinbeck concludes that as many families live together, they become one; “the golden time in the West was one dream” (Steinbeck, 264).

Alice Walker, an American novelist, once stated that “the most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” In current society, power is everywhere, and everyone has at least has some control, no matter how ineffective they might feel. In the novella “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, the concept of power is represented on a ranch in the 1930’s. On the ranch, there is a group of outsiders- people who do not fit in- that consists of Crooks, a black stable buck, Curley’s wife, who is married to the powerful Curley, Lennie, a worker with a mental disability, and Candy, and old swamper. These outsiders are isolated and feel powerless compared to the rest of society. However, within this group of outsiders, power structures still exist and everyone has power in one way or another. Steinbeck, through the story of Crooks and Curley’s wife, teaches that no matter how powerless someone seems, they may still wield power over others.

In both John Steinbeck's The Moon is Down and society today, value and abuse of individualism either strengthens or harms a community. Valuing each individuals life creates unison and fire in a community, arming them with power. The Townspeople place importance on the individual

In the character of Lanser, Steinbeck outlines his sociological concept that appeared in the book The Log from Sea of Cortez. Steinbeck presupposes that “over-integration in human groups might parallel the law in paleontology that over-armor or over-ornamentation are symptoms of decay and disappearance” (257). The original purpose of The Moon Is Down is closely linked with this theory. According to Lisca: “The invaders must ultimately fail because the organization which gives them their immediate efficiency also prevents the tendencies toward improvisation and the habit of creation by which alone they can overcome new situations. Like all the herd men, they have a capital without whose direction and coordination they are helpless” (189).

     In John Steinbeck’s “The Leader of the People,” a theme that is portrayed throughout the story is that of the contrast between dream and reality. In the story, Grandfather cannot come to grasp that his dreams of the West and moving across the plains are over and that reality has set in. Another story that contrasts dream and reality is Ambrose Pierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” In this story, Farquhar cannot tell the difference between dream and reality until the very last second, when he is hanged.