In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the following themes are prevalent. Loneliness, and isolation, the pursuit of the American dream, friendship, companionship, and prejudice. Crooks is lonely because he is the only black man on the farm, he has no one to relate to because he is a black man. For example, when Lennie asks Crooks why isn’t he allowed to play cards he responds, “Cause I’m black” (68). Crook’s is discriminated against because of his race. The men in the barn are prejudice, and because of that Crooks isn’t allowed to do a lot of things, including playing cards. In addition, Crooks isn’t respected because he is a colored man, and proves it when he says, “If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin it” (70). Crooks opinion taken into consideration because of the men’s prejudice views of men. Even as a grown man, he is not taken seriously or even respected. Being ridiculed and lonely, Crooks live in isolation from the rest of the men on the ranch.
Lennie and George’s dream affects them because it motivates them to be able to have and live a better life. For example, when Lennie asks George how their love are going to be, George responds, “We got a future” (14). George believes that they aren’t like other ranch guys that have no family and don’t belong somewhere, but that they have somebody or something to live for. This is George’s and Lennie’s dream that they have a future, because they have each other. In addition, when Lennie asks George how things are going to be when they get their ranch he says, “We’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acre’s an’ a cow and some pigs” (14). George tells Lennie that they have something to look forward too that they are going to be somebody, and not nobody’s. George and Lennie’s dream is important because it lets them know that they have a better life ahead of them. George and Lennie’s dream is a motivator to them, to keep moving forward to their American dream.
George and Lennie’s relationship is dangerous, yet eventful because of Lennie’s child-like persona, and George’s quick temper. For example, when Slim asks how they got in trouble in Weed George tells him, “Dumb bastard, he wants to touch ever’thing he likes” (41). Lennie shows his childlike qualities because like a child, he likes to touch everything he likes. Lennie not only possess a child-like persona, but also does not know his own strength. In addition, when Lennie tells George about how pretty Curley’s wife is, George gets angry and says, “You leave her be” (32). George tries to protect Lennie because he knows how Lennie is. George is the more mature, smart one because he not only takes care of Lennie, but of himself as well. George and Lennie’s relationship is a close relationship,
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Of Mice and Men Summer Reading Project Novel by: Jhon Steinbeck 9/24/13 P. 6 By: ZacMayle Of mice and men is a story about two men, A brainy but scrawny man named George and a tall but slow thinking man named Lennie, in search of work. The story starts of as the two escape from a search party for an unknown issue. After getting their work cards, they take a bus from weed (the area they where previously in) to a farm in an unknown location south of weed. They get off a few…
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The two aspects of context in Of Mice and Men that I will be discussing are race relations and the treatment of the mentally impaired. Race relations and the management of the mentally disabled were two severe issues in society during the Great Depression. Both of these groups were minorities hence the majority of society felt that they were in a dominant position to these people. In the novel Of Mice and Men, Crooks exemplifies racial prejudice and Lennie was an illustration of the preconceived…
Eric Wright Mrs. Raterman World Studies English October 30, 2013 Theme of Loneliness in Of Mice and Men “Of Mice and Men” is a powerful and moving novel by John Steinbeck, telling of two men following their dream of independence in the midst of the Depression. The theme of Loneliness is particularly prominent in this novel and is demonstrated clearly by many aspects of writer’s craft. The most noticeable of these are word choice, symbolism and tone. “‘We travel together,’ said George coldly…
present in everyone’s lives. Everybody need somebody: loneliness and isolation can cause people to become bitter or depressed. As migrant farm workers, George and Lennie struggle for survival during the Great Depression which helps foster the understanding of loneliness and isolation existent in the novel. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, this theme is portrayed through the setting of The Great Depression and the characterization of Crooks. Crooks is a clear example of loneliness and the impact…
Friendship of George and Lennie Have you ever wondered what it’s like to loose your best friend? In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, friendship is an important theme. The friendship of George and Lennie is especially displayed. George and Lennie are best friends and are traveling together. They have known each other for a long time. George knew Lennie’s Aunt Clara before she died. After Lennie’s Aunt Clara died George became Lennie’s caretaker. The friendship of George and Lennie is displayed by Steinbeck…
other uses, see Of Mice and Men (disambiguation). Page semi-protected Of Mice and Men OfMiceAndMen.jpg First edition cover Author John Steinbeck Cover artist Ross MacDonald Country United States Language English Publisher Covici Friede Publication date 1937 Pages 187pp. Of Mice and Men is a novella[1][2] written by Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced…
Tammy Truong Period 4 10/11/2011 Mr. Sabbagh In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, he introduces his audience to a band of characters that all want one thing: “The American Dream.” In this 1950s, the American dream was owning a house, having a dog, two kids, and a loving wife. During the 1930s, the dream was quite different –surviving was the dream. Using characters such as Lennie and George, as futile as it is, is extremely powerful because even though there is no chance that they can fulfill their…
work tickets, but you aint gonna say a word.” Prejudice plays a significant role in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. In many instances, characters are pushed aside. Some characters who are pushed aside are Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Lennie. Prejudice destroys people’s lives. In the novel, Curelys wife is discriminated because of her gender. During this time period, women are basically nothing to the men on the ranch. Steinbeck does not even give her a name. This woman is just simply known…
Of Mice and Men 1.1 The Great Depression The novel is set during the Great Depression, but what was so bad about it? Millions of people out of work People had to travel round the country looking for work, sometimes living in tents or cars No state benefits 1.2 John Steinbeck Born in 1902, died in 1968 Grew up in Salinas Valley, CA – where the novel is set Very concerned with the lives of the poor Many of his books were banned in schools in the US because of their subject matter Won the noble prize…
