Power In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The Adjustments of Power in Of Mice and Men “We were all born with a certain degree of power. The key to success is discovering this innate power and using it daily to deal with whatever challenges come our way” (Les Brown). It is important to realize that an individual’s power can change due to the experiences he or she faces. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck helps the reader to understand that there are different levels of power in society and how those levels can change in different situations. Steinbeck expresses the characters as symbols of power, or lack thereof, to illustrate that it is difficult to make vertical movements within the levels of power in society. Claim: Throughout the novella, Steinbeck uses many examples
Evidence: The lead mule-team leader is named Slim and “His authority [is] so great that his word [is] taken on any subject, be it politics or love” (33). Analysis: Slim is symbolized as the highest level of power in society because all of the men on the ranch look up to him. They do anything he says and they see him as their role model. This can be compared to real life because human beings rely on the hope of god and other authority figures. Establish Evidence: On the opposite end of the ladder, the disabled black stable boy is named Crooks. Crooks represents the lowest level of power of society. Evidence: He has a crooked spine which gives him a physical disadvantage. He is also black, and people of color are not treated fairly in this time period. Analysis: The fact that Crooks is black can be interpreted as a lack of power. The other men on the ranch are white, so Crooks, being the only black man, stands out. Establish Evidence: Another character that is considered low on the power ladder is Lennie. Evidence: Lennie is a mentally disabled worker who has been George’s companion since childhood. Lennie is very dependent on George, so as