ThestoryOfMiceandMentookplaceduringthe1930's.Thattimeperiodwasverydifferentfrom today.Raceandgenderwereveryimportantcharacteristicsthatdeterminedwhetherapersonhad theopportunitytomakemoneyThe1930'swerealsoatimewherepeoplestartedquestioninglife andtheAmericanculture.ManypeoplelikeJohnSteinbeckthoughtthatlifewasveryunfairand questionedwhetheriflifewasevenworthliving.InOfMiceandMenJohnSteinbeckdemonstrates thatmansdreamisdestinedtobedestroyedbyacruelreality.
Georgewasaverysmartandablemanwhohadtakenresponsibilityofamentally–challengedman namedLennieGeorgecouldhavefoundagoodsteadyjobforwhichhecouldshowmore content...
Curly'swife'sdreamwasclearlypresentedinthenovelShewantedtobeinthemoviesCurly's wifehadnoname.ShewasalwaysreferredtoasCurly'swife.Shehadnoidentityandjustuntilthe endofthestory,thereaderknewverylittleabouther.ShetellsLenniethatherdreamwastobea famousmoviestar.Shewasaveryprettywomanandthatdreamalmostseemedprobable,butshe wasbornpoorsobasicallyrealitytoldherthatshewastojustbeawifeanddohouseworkorwork onafarmOneday"ashowcomethroughhereandImetoneoftheactors,andhetoldmeIcould bewiththatshow."(88)Hewasobviouslylyingtoherandjusthadtoldherthatstuffsothathe mighthaveachancetohavesexwithher.Shenaivelywaitedfortheletterbutitnevercame. Instead,shejustmarriedcurly,amanshedidn'tlove.Shewasaveryunhappywomanandher dreamscouldneverhavecometruebecauseshewaspooranduneducated.
CrookswastheonlyblackmaninthestoryEveryoneknowsthatupuntilthe1950'swhenthecivil rightsmovementswerepopular,thatblackswerediscriminatedagainstandhadnochanceof becomingsuccessfulpeople.Crookshadworkedatthefarmforaverylongtimeandwasvery lonelyHealsogottreatedworsetheneveryoneelseCurly'swifewasverymeantohimOnetime CrooksaskedCurly'swifeto
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OfMiceandMen
JohnSteinbeck'sbookOfMiceandMenisanextraordinarynovelwithuniquecharacteristics.The novelisaboutanuncommonfriendshipbetweentwoextremelydifferentindividualswhoareliving andworkingtogetherThisstorybelongtothegenrestragicrealisticfiction,historicalfictionand drama.ThelinkingbetweenthenovelandTheGreatDepressionemphasizesthroughoutthestory, whichmakesthenovelveryrealisticanddowntoearth.Theauthortouchesonseveralthemessuch as:theunreachableAmericandream,theeconomicinjustices,loneliness,friendshipandpeople's propensityforcruelty.Inthisbookreview,wewillgetintoadeeperunderstandingofwhatthe actualstorymeans.
AllcharactersrepresentsanactualpersoninAmericansocietyduringthe1930s.Thelinking betweenthebook,charactersandTheGreat
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Someofthesecharactersplayamajorroleintheplotwhileothersrepresentagroupofpeoplethatis discriminated,becauseofraceorgender.GeorgeandLenniearethemaincharacters,whichmakes themmostimportanttothebook'scontent.Theirfriendshipanddreamabouthavinganownfarm aremostvaluableforthestory,sincetheplotisbasedonthesefactors.CrooksandCurley'swifeare ontheotherhandjustasimportantasthepreviouscharacters,buttheyaremoreimportantforthe linkingbetweenthebookandTheGreatDepressionthantotheactualplot.Thesecharactersreflect howthesocietylookedlikeinthepast,whichcreatesaperceptionofreality.Forexample,Curley's wifehasnoname,whichsignalizeherpowerlessnessandpositionontheranchThischaracterdoes alsorepresentasegmentofAmericansocietythatisdiscriminatedagainstbecauseofgender. Crookssymbolizespeoplethatisdiscriminatedbecauseofrace.Thesecharactersareimportant, becausetheystrengthenthebook'saction,link,messageand
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OppositesAttractHaveyoueverreadanovelthatluresyouinfromtheexpositiontotheresolution?
OfMiceandMenisthatexactnovel.ThiscaptivatingbookintertwinesGeorgeandLenniewhoare completeoppositesintoafamily.EventhoughitcouldbearguedthatGeorgeislenientand nurturing,George'sobligationtoLennieleadsGeorgetowanttocontrolhim.Tobegin,George feelsobligatedtowatchoverLennieInchapterone,GeorgeinamomentofragetellsLenniethat troublewouldcometoLennieifGeorgewasn'twithhim.Georgesays,"'Iwantyoutostaywithme, Lennie.JesusChrist,Somebody'dshootyouforacoyoteifyouwasbyyourself'"(Steinbeck,13).
GeorgeshowshisfeelingofbeingaccountableforGeorgethroughshowmorecontent Inchapterone,GeorgetellsLennienottobringbackamousebutLenniedoesanyway.Lenniealso precedestolieaboutit.Thebooksays,"ButLenniemadeanelaboratepantomimeofinnocence" (8).Tofollow,directedtoGeorgeLenniesays,"'Whatmouse,George?Iain'tgotnomouse'"(8). GeorgeshowshislackofcontrolbyhearingLennietellhimablatantlie.Throughoutthebook, George'slossofcontroloverLenniecanbeviewedWhenpeopleloosecontrol,mostpeopleendup cravingitmorejustlikeGeorge.Asstatedbefore,GeorgehasfullcontroloverLennie.Lennielooks toGeorgebeforedoinganything.Inchapterthree,LennielookstoGeorgetotellhimwhattodo. Thebooksays"LennielookedhelplesslyatGeorge"(62).Inchapterfive,Lenniedevisesaplanto hideapuppythathekilledandlietoGeorgeaboutit.Thebooksays,"Hescoopedalittlehollow andlaiditinthegroundandcovereditoverwithhay"(85)TofollowLenniesays,"'I'lltellGeorge Ifoun'itdead"'(85).Lennieshowsthathecannotbecontrolledbymakingaplanandlieup,solet Georgewillneverknow.Allthroughthebook,George'slossofcontrolcanbeseen.Peoplewho losecontrolcansometimesturnbitter,like
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TheCharacterofLennieinOfMiceandMenInmyopinion,LennieSmallisthemostinteresting characterinSteinbeck'snovelOfMiceandMen.Steinbeckdoesaverygoodjobdescribingand characterizingLennie'spersonality.Lennie'scharacteris,indeed,quiteunique.Alargemanwith enormousstrength,yetkindandchildlike,heseemstofindjoyinsimplelifepleasureslikepettinga furryanimalandmakingthewaterrippleLennie'sgreatestdifficultyseemstoberemembering;and itisthelackoftheabilitytorememberthatultimatelyleadstohistragedyattheendofthebook.In thenovel,SteinbeckseemstoreinforceLennie'scharacteristicsofstrength,kindness,childlike manner,andsomewhatanimal–likepersonalityshowmorecontent
Godalmighty,Ineverseensuchastrongguy".ChildlikeLennie'scharacterexhibitsarather childlikemanner.Heseemstodoandseethingslikeachild.Hispleasuresarethoseofaninnocent youngster.Forexample,inthefirstchapter,hedelightsinmakingthewaterripple,andheiscontent topetadeadmouse.Inaddition,Lennie'schildlikemannerisportrayedinhisdependencyon GeorgeHelistenstoeverythingGeorgetellshimanddependsonhimfornecessitiessuchasfood andwater.Infact,itseemsthatwithoutGeorgeLenniewouldbeunabletosurvive.Animal–LikeIt seemsthatLennieoftenresemblesananimal.Infact,hisresponsestolifearemuchlikethoseofan animal.Forexample,likeapetdog,hegiveshiscompletedevotiontohisfriendGeorge.Lennie trustsGeorgeand,likeanaffectionatepuppy,triesveryhardtodothingsthatpleaseGeorge.Inhis writing,SteinbeckliterallycomparesLennietoanimalsForexample,theauthorassociatesLennie's strengthtothatofahorse.Furthermore,inthescenewhenafterkillingCurley'swifeLenniefleesto thegroveneartheriver,asGeorgehastoldhimto,SteinbeckdescribesLenniemoving"assilently asacreepingbear"anddrinkinglikeawearyanimalSteinbeckfullydevelopstheanimal comparisonattheendofthenovelbydrawingaparallelbetweenCandyandhisolddogandGeorge anddog–likeLennie.LikeCandy'suselessolddog,aftertheincidentwith
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OfMiceAndMenisaclassicnovellawrittenbyauthorJohnSteinbeck,whoisrenownedforhis masteryofrealisticandimaginativewritings.Heismostwellknownforhisnovelette,OfMiceAnd Men,astorywhichfollowsGeorgeMiltonandLennieSmall,twotravelinglaborerswhoworkin ordertomakemoneytopurchasetheirownfarm.Georgeischaracterizedassmartandhavinga one–trackmind,whileLennieisslowbutfriendlyThisbookisconsideredaclassicbymany, however,thebookshedslightontopicsthatdeemeddistastefulorabhorrentbymany.Though SteinbeckisprotectedbytheFirstAmendment,hismostnoteworthywork,OfMiceAndMen, shouldbebarredfromtheeducationsystembecause,itdisplaysableism,depictsthemurderof animalsandhumansand,featurestheN–word.Actionswhichteachersand...showmorecontent... ThoughSteinbeckusestheword17times,heusesitinsituationswhichhavecharactersusingthe wordwithcontempt."WherethehellisthatGoddamnnigger?"(Steinbeck14).Byusingtheword withanger,itexhibitsasenseofhatredandbigotrybothqualitieswhichshouldnotbetoleratednor taughttoyouthsinschoolTheuseofthatword,reallyanyracialslur,shouldn'tberelayedto students.Notonlyistheuseofracialslursliketheonesusedinthebookrude,butalsohaveeffects ononespsychologicalhealth."EthnicityandHealthinAmericaSeries"israisingawarenessabout thephysiologicalandpsychologicalimpactofracismanddiscriminationasitrelatestostress" (Physiological&PsychologicalImpactofRacismandDiscriminationforAfrican–Americans)SeeingasonesschoolenvironmentMaycontributetostress,racialslursfrombooks shouldnotbeallowedtocontributetoit.Thoughtheword'nigger'isusedasaninsulttothoseos African–Americandescent,italsoconjuresunsettlingfeelingstobothteachersandstudentsofall
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OfMiceandMenExpositoryEssayJohnSteinback'sOfMiceandMenisabookthatdescribesthe chaseoftheAmericanDream.AlthoughachievingtheAmericanDreamisagreatdesireforall, seldomdoesitactuallycometrue.GeorgeandLennie,thetwomaincharactersinthebook,havea goalofpursuingtheirversionoftheAmericanDream,asdomanyothercharacters.However,dueto relationshipsandotherconflicts,thatdreamisnotachievedAlmostimmediately,Steinbackposes thequestionofwhetherornotcompanionshipleadstofailureoftheAmericanDream.Forexample, Georgesays,"'Guyslikeus,thatworkonranches,aretheloneliestguysintheworld.Theygotno familyTheydon'tbelongnoplaceTheycometoaranchan'showmorecontent Throughtheseexamples,andothersfoundthroughoutthebook,Steinbacktellsthereaderthatno goalisaccomplishedthroughisolation.Ifisolationdoesnotmakeforgoodoutcomes,thanitwould seemthatitsopposite,companionship,should.Forinstance,GeorgeandLennie'sdreamonlyseems possiblethroughtheircompanionshipandwiththehelpofanotherfriend,Candy.Thisis demonstratedwhereSteinbacksays,"TheyfellintoasilenceTheylookedatoneanother,amazed Thisthingtheyhadneverreallybelievedinwascomingtrue."(60).Thisquoteshowsthatthe"thing theyhadneverreallybelievedin"couldhappenthrougheachother'scontributions.Through companionship,eachpersonwouldhavetoraiselessmoneyandthereforethedreamcouldcome true,andcouldcometruefaster.Thingsareofteneasier,quicker,andlesspainlesswhenonehasa partnertohelpthemItisonlythroughtheircompanionshipthattheirdreamseemspossibleOnce oneofthemisgone,thedreamdies.Thisisshowninthepassagethatsays,NowCandyspokehis greatestfear."Youan'mecangetthatlittleplace,can'twe,George?Youan'mecangotherean' livenice,can'twe,George?Can'twe?"BeforeGeorgeanswered,Candydroppedhisheadand lookeddownatthehay.Heknew.Georgesaidsoftly,"–IthinkIknowedfromtheveryfirst.Ithink Iknowedwe'dneverdoher.Heustaliketo
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OfMiceandMenPersuasiveEssay
Death,theonethingallofhumanitywilleventuallyface,couldbeseenasanendoranentrance. Whatisyourextentofafriendship?Howfarareyouwillingtogotohelpthepersonyoucarefor? Fornumerousreasons,abroadamountofpeoplethinkmurderisimmoral–especiallyifitwasyour ownbestfriendButsometimeswemayhavetogototheextreme,aslongasweknowitwasthe rightthingtodofromtheheartbecausethat'showmuchyouknowyoucare.InthisstoryOfMice andMenbyJohnSteinbeck,IstronglybelievethatGeorgewasrighttokillLennie.
WecanallarguebackandforthwhetherGeorgekillingLenniewaswrongornot.Butthefactofthe matteris–therewasnoescape,ortimeshowmorecontent
GeorgeandLenniewerebestfriendsforalongtime–morelikebrothers.Lennieisn'tthebrightest bulbinthebox,soGeorgecouldn'treallygetmadathimwhenheaccidentallykilledCurley'swife, duetothesoftfeelofherhair–whichhetrulyadoredtoomuchthathekilledherbyaccident"'I ain'tmad.Ineverbeenmad,an'Iain'tnow.That'sathingIwantyatoknow'"(101).Thetwohad plannedafuturetogether–afutureintheirowndreamranch.Aranchwherenotroublethey'dcross orcrossthem.RightbeforeGeorgeputhimoutfromthebackoftheheadwiththeLuger,hemade Lenniethinkoftheirfuturehome–theirranchandtherabbitsLenniewouldtend."'You...an'me. Ever'bodygonnabenicetoyouAin'tgonnabenomoretroubleNobodygonnahurtnobodynor stealfrom'em'"(101).ThisshowsyouhowmuchGeorgecaresforLennie,nomatterhowbigthe crimeis.He'dalwaysbetheretohelpLenniegetrightbackuptohisfeet,makehimforgetallhis worries,andmoveonlikenothinghappenedIherebystatethatIstronglybelieveGeorgewasthe rightpersontokillLennie,thereforemadetherightdecisionto,ratherthantolethimsufferinthe handsofCurley.
Alright,somaybeGeorgeandLenniecould'veescaped.Iftheypickedtheirroutequicklyand carefully,theycould'vegottenatightchanceofescapingButifyouthinkaboutit,Curley ...Getmorecontent...
AlthoughOfMiceandMendefinitelyteachesyoungstudentsabouthowthesettingwassetupback then,thethemesofabuseanddeathincludedcouldbefoundhighlyinappropriateoroffensiveto youngstudentstoday.Thesethemesarisefromthemultipleabusiveandgorydeathsofcharacters throughoutthenovel.Forexample,thenovelincludedareoccurringsceneofmurderofinnocent animalsbyLennieincludingmiceandpuppiesSomereadersarenotabletohandlesuchgrimness, thereforefindingitrepugnantorsimplyunacceptable.Readerswiththeirownpetsmayalsofeela terriblesenseofguiltandrepulsivenessbysimplyreadingthenovel.Anotherexampleisportrayed whenLennieviolentlykillsCurley'swifebyshakinghertodeathshowmorecontent Duetothediversityofcharacters,eachderogatoryphraseusedcouldhavebeenhighlyoffensive. Forexample,beingtheonlyblackmanontheranch,Crooksisfrequentlycalledbythename "nigger".Usingthistermasanormalphraseteachesstudentsthatitmayalsobepermitted. However,usingphrasesorwordssuchasthiscouldterriblyhurtsomeoneorcauseserious consequencesMoreover,Curley'swifeisconstantlyreferredtoasa"tart",meaningshedresses teasinglyandprovocatively.Portrayingtheonlyfemalecharacterasa"tart"isanotherwaytolessen women.Manyfemalereadersmayslowlydegradetheirself–confidenceasstrongwomenandcould easilybenegativelyinfluencedbythesephrases.Lastly,Lenniebeingconfusedandslowmostof thetimeismadefunofmultipletimes,withnamessuchas"bastard"or"cuckoo".Thisisanother exampleofthenovelmakingitmoreacceptableforstudentstousethesetermsintheirdailylives Studentswhoreadthisnovelareeasilyinfluencedteenagerswhocouldsimplybeginunnecessary bullyingwithoutknowledgeusingphrasestheylearnedinclass.Inconclusion,notonlywouldOf MiceandMenbedetrimentaltostudents,butitwouldalsocausereal–lifeconsequencesinstudents'
Discriminationifoftenbasedonmanyqualitiesandabilities.Someofthemostclearlyshown examplesinJohnSteinbeck'snovelOfMiceandMenaregender,ageandracialdiscrimination.The victimsofthesetypesofdiscriminationareCurley'swife,whoisunhappyandbitteraboutherlife, Candy,theold,disabledswamperandCrooks,theblackstablebuck.Throughoutthenovel,these threecharactersfacemanyhardshipsbecausetheyareharshlyjudgedandoftenmisunderstood Curley'swifeisprobablyoneofthemostmisunderstoodcharactersinthenovel,oftenbeinglooked downupon,ortalkedbadlyabout.Sheistheonlywomanontheranch,andwhoappears consistentlythroughoutthenovelAtonepoint,someoftheworkersareshowmorecontent Candyisafraidofbeingjudgedforhisage,andisworriedofhowhe'llliveoncehecan'twork anymore."ButI'llbeonourownplace,an'I'llbelettoworkonourownplace."Candyisasking Georgetolethimworkattheirfutureranch,becauseitwillbeeasierforhimtoworkthere,sincehe candothejobsheknowshecantstilldoandworkathisownpacewithouttheconstantthreatof beingfiredloomingoverhisheadCandyisbeingjudgedforhisage,andknowsthatsoon,he'llbe fired,onlybecausethebossmightfeelhatCandyisn'tyoungenoughtoworktherewiththeenergy needed.Candyishavingtroublekeepingajobduetohisage,andknowsheprobablywon'tbeable tofindanotherone,becausenoonewillacceptaworkerhisage.Crooksistheonlyblackmanon theranch,andisoftendiscriminatedagainstbyalltheotherworkersattheranch.Heisusually excludedfrommanyactivitiesthatalltheothermenparticipatein,andisignoredbymostofthe workers."Iain'twantedinthebunkhouse...causeI'mblack..."Thisquoteshowshowtheothermen whoworkattheranchrejectandisolateCrooks,andhowheisforcedtohavehisownbunkhouse, sinceheisn'tallowedtoresideinthesamebunkhouseastheotherworkersCrooksleadsaharsh, lonelylife,onlybecausethe
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CompareandcontrastessayOfMiceandMen
TheStoryOfMiceandMenisabouttwobuddiesthatgoontofindworkoranykindofincome. Theonlyproblemisthatlennie,oneofthemaincharacters,hasamentaldisability.Thankfully George,theothermaincharacteralsolennie'sbestfriend,isaroundtohelplennieInthestorymore characterscomeintoplayincludinganiceoldmannamedcandywhohasbeenworkingonthefarm formanyyears.LikeGeorgecandyhastotakecareofhisolddogthatheraisedfromapup. UnfortunatelyoneofCandy'ssocalledbuddiestookthedogoutandshothimforthedogsown good.IntheendGeorgealsoloseshisclosestpal.ThroughthestoryGeorgeandcandyhavesome similaritiesandshowmorecontent
NowinthestorytherearemanysimilaritiesbetweencandyandGeorgebesidesthereneedtoget awayanddealwithhardchoicesinlife.Butnomatterwhatcharactertherearealwayssome differencesOneofthedifferencesbetweenthecharactersGeorgeandCandyisthatcandylikesto thinkaheadandplanforhisfuturewhileGeorgeontheotherhandwouldrathermakeadreamand fulfillitassoonaspossible.AsamplewouldbewhenGeorgefirstproposedtheplanthattheyshall liveontheirownfarmmakingtheirownmoneyCandythoughtGeorgewascrazy.ButwhenGeorge showedthathewasseriousCandyjoinedrightonboard.ShowingthatIttooksometimeforCandy toagreebecausehethoughtabouthowitwouldaffecthislifewhenGeorgejustwentonthesame roadtillhisdreamwasfulfilled.
IntheendtherearesomesimilaritiesandsomedifferencesjusthowitwasmeanttobeNothingwill everbetheexactsamenomatterwhatyouarecomparing.AnythinglikecomparingCoketoPepsi orflatscreenandatubeTVnothingwilleverbetheexactsame.IntheendIguessthatthe charactersaremorealikethandifferentortheoppositedependingonhowyouareviewingthem. OverallthoughCandyandGeorgelookliketheywillhaveabrightfuturetogethernomatteronhow alikeorhowdifferentthey ...Getmorecontent...
AnalysisofOfMiceandMenbyJohnSteinbeck
OfMiceAndMen'byJohnSteinbeckisaclassicnovel,tragedy,writteninasocialtone.The authorialattitudeisidyllic,however,asthestorydevelopsitchangesintoskepticItisevidentthat Steinbeckknewthesettingandplacesheiswritingabout.InmyopinionSteinbeckdrewthesubject matterfromhisownexperienceofworkingonranches,hewasinterestedinspecialkindsof relationshipsamongmenworkingonshowmorecontent
Themeninthenovelwanttobelikebrotherstooneanother.Theywanttoprotecteachotherandto knowthatthereissomeonetheycanrelyon.However,theworldistoocrueltosustainsuch relationships.LennieandGeorgecameclosesttothisidealfriendship,buttheyareforcedto separatetragically.Withthis,ararefriendshipvanishes,buttherestoftheworld–representedby CurleyandCarlson,whowatchGeorgeleavinghisfriend'sdeadbody–failstoacknowledgeit
Thelastthemeistheimpossibilityofdreams.Mostofthecharactersdreamofa Motifs,whicharerepeatedinthenovel,areloneliness,friendship,strengthandweakness.Menlike GeorgewhomigratefromfarmtofarmareoftenaloneAsthestorydevelops,Candy,Crooks,and Curley'swifeallconfesstheirdeeploneliness.Eachofthesecharacterssearchesforafriend, someonetohelpthemmeasuretheworld,asCrookssaysForGeorge,thehopeofsuchfriendship dieswithLennie.Steinbeckexploresdifferenttypesofstrengthandweaknessthroughoutthenovel. Thefirst,andmostobvious,isphysicalstrength.Asthenovelopens,SteinbeckshowshowLennie possessesphysicalstrengthbeyondhiscontrol,whenhecannothelpkillingmicePhysicalstrength isveryimportantformenlikeGeorgeandLennie.Curley,asasymbol
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