Of Mice and Men - Lifestyle of the Average Itinerant Worker in America During the Great Depression
Diverse Cultures - English Coursework
What have you learnt about the of 1930’s, as depicted by Steinbeck in “Of Mice and Men?”
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic breakdown. 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, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of people redundant and hopeless. With limited options, many men left their families and travelled a lonely road in search of work. The novel “Of Mice and Men” is a reflection of the suffering itinerant workers faced due to the physiological strain of loneliness and how this affected mood and behaviour.
Firstly, the title of any novel can hold great significance. Initially, the title “Of Mice and Men” seems ambiguous until you analyze the story and understand the reasoning behind Steinbeck choice of title. Mice are small, fragile creatures that require protection; a description that could also define characters such as Lennie, Curley’s wife or Crooks – the “mice”. The novel deals with a lot of death, however, ironically a mouse is the first creature to be crushed by Lennie’s hands. This again suggests the “mice” in the novel would not be smart or strong enough to survive the Depression. In contrast, the tough, smart characters such as George and Slim are the “men.” The Great Depression could be seen as the survival of the fittest; the weak against the strong – the “mice” vs. the “men.”
Steinbeck’s choice of setting further emphasises the theme of loneliness, our main characters, George and Lennie travel to a ranch “near Soledad.” The lexis “Soledad” means solitude and the card game “Solitaire” – which means by ones self. This gives the readers an early indication that loneliness will be a key idea in the novel.
What have you learnt about the of 1930’s, as depicted by Steinbeck in “Of Mice and Men?”
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic breakdown. 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, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of people redundant and hopeless. With limited options, many men left their families and travelled a lonely road in search of work. The novel “Of Mice and Men” is a reflection of the suffering itinerant workers faced due to the physiological strain of loneliness and how this affected mood and behaviour.
Firstly, the title of any novel can hold great significance. Initially, the title “Of Mice and Men” seems ambiguous until you analyze the story and understand the reasoning behind Steinbeck choice of title. Mice are small, fragile creatures that require protection; a description that could also define characters such as Lennie, Curley’s wife or Crooks – the “mice”. The novel deals with a lot of death, however, ironically a mouse is the first creature to be crushed by Lennie’s hands. This again suggests the “mice” in the novel would not be smart or strong enough to survive the Depression. In contrast, the tough, smart characters such as George and Slim are the “men.” The Great Depression could be seen as the survival of the fittest; the weak against the strong – the “mice” vs. the “men.”
Steinbeck’s choice of setting further emphasises the theme of loneliness, our main characters, George and Lennie travel to a ranch “near Soledad.” The lexis “Soledad” means solitude and the card game “Solitaire” – which means by ones self. This gives the readers an early indication that loneliness will be a key idea in the novel.