Category: John Steinbeck

The book, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is very controversial because it includes text about racism, sexism, and even targets those with special needs, because of this, many people think the book should be banned altogether. However, the book should be read by students who are mature enough to handle the content of it . The book is about Lennie and George, George is the brains of the two, he’s the smart one and is the caregiver of Lennie. Lennie is very cumbersome and is not very smart. Lennie and George are forced to leave their home after an incident, caused by Lennie. They stumble upon a farm and decide it would be a great place to work and make some money for their future dream, their own ranch. This book should be read, although it is very controversial, it helps the readers understand and get a feel to the characters daily life, it also helps us think before we act, and give us some insight on reality. Therefore, it should be read by those who are mature enough to handle it.

One reason Of Mice and Men, should be read in schools and not banned is because it helps readers get a feel as to what ridicule people, such as Crookes received daily, “Well, you keep your place then, nigga. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t funny.” (Steinbeck 81). This text gives us a feel as to how horrible some characters were treated in the book. When we hear all the rude and negative remarks it makes us want to be better people. Therefore, the book should not be banned because it helps us to become better people.

Another reason the book should not be banned is because it helps readers to think before they act. In life, readers react before they actually think. In Of Mice and Men, when George kills Lennie he wasn’t really thinking, he was just acting. He didn’t realize that what he would do would have to stay with him forever. “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the mussel of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger.” ( Steinbeck 106). This book helps readers learn that sometimes taking a second to think can help, so it’s another reason the book should not be banned.

One more reason Of Mice and Men, should not be banned is that the book helps readers get a view as to how terrible life was back in the Great Depression. The book gives readers a closer look into history, instead of hiding it. ‘He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.’ (Steinbeck 81). During the Great Depression many people’s dreams were crushed, such as Curley’s wife’s. Learning from the past gives us wisdom to avoid making the same mistakes In current times. These are my reasons for thinking Of Mice and Men should stay in schools.

One of the main reasons that books are banned across America is because of the numerous racial slurs, vulgarity, and treatment of women used in books. Is this enough to ban them? Some parents agree with the use of these things in “Of Mice and Men” while others do not. American Experiences said that it teaches ethical and moral issues, they have noticed at their school, they have kids that are protective over those who have special needs. Other parents disagree highly, The Guardian shares a story from Idaho parents pushing for the banning of “Of Mice and Men” in their school because it is unsuitable for 14-year-olds for using profanity words such as “Bastard” and “Goddamn”. “Of Mice and Men” was banned because of vulgarity, racism, and the treatment of women.

The use of racism in “Of Mice and Men” was seen offensive to many. A black and white world in “Of Mice and Men” was set very clear by Author, Steinbeck. Crooks, being the only black man on the ranch, he faces a lot of racial comments and discrimination throughout his part in the book. Racial slurs in “Of Mice and Men” were offensive and were believed to promote euthanasia. BBC Bitesize says “Racial slurs are used to describe Crooks frequently on the ranch.” (GCSE). Crooks is an outsider in “Of Mice and Men” and it was noticeable that he was lonely. In the book, Crooks is told to sleep outside by himself while the other men share bunkhouses, this is promoting friendships while Crooks is excluded. When Lennie slowly shows friendliness towards Crooks and expresses his loneliness by saying “A guy goes if he ain’t got nobody” Crooks begins to open up more to Lennie and George afterward. Carlson kills Crooks dog because he was old and sick, he was trying to put the dog out of his misery but this was lead to be known as mercy killing. Towards the end of the book, George found out about Lennie killing Curley’s wife, as a result, George kills Lennie because George wanted to save him from Curley.

The treatment of women in “Of Mice and Men” was elaborated mostly by Curley expecting so much of his wife. One of the main characters in “Of Mice and Men” was not given a name but simply called, “Curley’s Wife”, the only woman that plays a part in the book. Curley’s wife is very social and spends a lot of time talking to other men on the ranch. eNotes says ”Her only weapon is her beauty and flirtatiousness, which she uses to make her husband envious.” (eNotes paragraph 2). Before Lennie kills her in the barn, she opens up to him about how alone she is. In “Of Mice and Men” Curley’s Wife is treated badly by Curley, and he expects a lot from her in many ways. Throughout the book, you quickly see how Curley is possessive regarding his wife which is why she presents herself as Curleys belonging instead of being herself. Curley’s Wife is desperate for affection and attention, this is brought on by the treatment by Curley. Bartleby Research says ”Throughout the novella Steinbeck represents women to be lower in society than men.” (How does Steinbeck paragraph 1)

The use of vulgarity in Of Mice and Men was demoralizing and negative. The vulgar language in “Of Mice and Men ” was showed when George spoke to Lennie. Conversations had between Lennie and George were at times very graphic or vulgar George is very close to Lennie and he doesn’t want to lose him. In the book, George tells Lennie, “No–look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your Aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself, even if she is dead.” (Steinbeck chapter six-page-1) One other main uses of vulgarity in “Of Mice and Men” is when Lennie repeatedly kills mice throughout the book but doesn’t understand why he can’t tend rabbits yet. Smore released an article, “Sheppard- Of Mice and Men” of George tells Lennie, “Trouble with mice is you always kill ’em.” He paused. “Tell you what I’ll do, Lennie. First chance I get I’ll give you a pup. Maybe you wouldn’t kill it. That’d be better than mice. And you could pet it harder.” (Excerpt from the opening section paragraph 1)

Throughout the book “Of Mice and Men” the use of racial slurs, vulgarity, and racism in many different varieties and quantities being the main reason it was banned in 1953. Racial slurs were offensive and promoted euthanasia as seen with one of the main characters, Crooks and his dog. As for vulgarity, it was demoralizing and negative, which was very clear to readers with the amounts of murders concerning Curley’s wife. Lastly, the treatment of women, Curly expected a lot Curley’s wife, having no name and being the only woman in the book also the fact that she was very alone and sought a lot of attention. All these things together were set in place by Steinbeck and are just enough for the book to be banned in some schools.

In the 1930s during the height of the Great Depression, mental disabilities were seen as a burden on an already struggling society. This was during a time when America did not have the time or resources to commit to people who were not deemed fit, and as such were treated less than human. John Steinbeck portrays this very well in Of Mice and Men through the character Lennie, who has to prove to the society around him that he is not a burden and can perform despite his limitations.

When Steinbeck first introduces us to Lennie, he shows the reader that Lennie relies on George in order to communicate with the society around him. When the two men start talking about their new job, George says, “You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk we’re set. Ya got that?”. Steinbeck is showing that Lennie, a mentally disabled person, needs to prove his worth to the world around him. To give more insight as to why Lennie needs to do this, an article on ‘the balance’ by Kimberly Amadeo states “By 1933, unemployment was 24.9 percent. Almost 15 million people were out of work.” Lennie has to prove his worth because he is competing with a pool of 15 million other people, most being people who are not mentally disabled. Employers at the time needed reliable workers, not someone like Lennie who has shortcomings.

Steinbeck gives us further insight of the attitudes towards people with mental disabilities at the time by showing how other people interact with Lennie. George can be constantly seen harassing Lennie with very harsh and angry words, even going as far to say “If I was a relative of yours I’d shoot myself.” This is a just a small peek into how people with mental disabilities were thought of by society during the 1930’s. Society was cruel in their treatment and feelings towards the mentally disabled, treating them as sub humans. To get a better understanding of what societies attitudes were, you have to know how they treated the mentally disabled. They were often disowned by their families and sent to asylums where they would suffer. According to an article on the history of mental illness by Tricia Hussung, common practice during the time included “Physicians deliberately put the patient into a low blood sugar coma because they believed large fluctuations in insulin levels could alter the function of the brain.” Society went so far as to deliberately put the mentally disabled in comas, effectively killing them, just further proving the point they thought of mentally disabled as sub-human.

In conclusion, John Steinbeck illustrates a very accurate picture of how people treated mentally disabled were treated during the setting of ‘Of Mice and Men’. He utilizes the environment around Lennie to show how society conflicts with him, and also utilizes the interactions Lennie has with other people to show how they treat mentally disabled people.

Citations

1. Amadeo, Kimberly. “How the Lows of the Great Depression Still Affects Us Today.” The Balance, The Balance, 10 Jan. 2019, www.thebalance.com/effects-of-the-great-depression-4049299.
2. Hussung, Tricia. “A History of Mental Illness Treatment.” Concordia University, St. Paul Online, Concordia University, 14 Oct. 2016, online.csp.edu/blog/psychology/history-of-mental-illness-treatment.

Introduction to Steinbeck and Symbolism

John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California in 1902 and is the author of many famous novels such as The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men and he is known as one of the greatest storytellers of the 19th century. His novels are known for their social criticism, including the addition of economic problems and social class. Most of Steinbeck’s novels take place in rural areas and tend to consist of the lives of migrant farmers in a poor social class. The central element of this novel is its symbolism. This book has plenty of symbolical forms, such as: people, dreams, and the animals.

The Bond of George and Lennie: A Strategy for Survival

Through the use of symbols Steinbeck shows the futility of the American dream. George and Lennie are members of an underclass, the migrant farm workers of the thirties. Their lives are very insecure, supplying that they suffer from economic exploitation. By staying together, George and Lennie show us a strategy for survival under pressure. Because George is at heart, a good, compassionate, and decent man, and Lennie an innocent one. Throughout Of Mice and Men they are able to form an iron bond which keeps them united. They wander the country together, sharing each other’s fate and not knowing when things could take a turn for the worst. I DID THX George is somewhat sheepish about this bond and, at one point, he suggests that Lennie is so much trouble to him.

Lennie is physically powerful, but mentally retarded and in some situations suggest that George ought to abandon him. However, this is merely bad temper and he understands that their relationship is not just a case of him taking care of Lennie, but that the survival of both of them is helped by their friendship. George says to Lennie, “We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us” (13-14). George shows mixed emotions about their relationship but continues supporting Lennie to keep his hopes high because of his emotional stability. Lennie broke in addressing George’s negativity saying, ‘But not for us! An’ why? Because. . . because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why” (14). However, in the long run, there is love between them and when faced with an impossible situation, George has to kill Lennie. Ultimately, George says to him and the reader, “I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ‘ya to know” (4).

George has to kill Lennie to protect him from his worst fate. It serves as an act of love, sparing Lennie from the harsh world around him. Steinbeck tells us something about the necessity of love for survival, the strength of the bonds it can create, and the need for commitment among men. He is telling us also that it will improve our life if we find it, but that life can not only deprive us of those we love, it may even, cruelly, force us to be the instrument of their death. These are universal themes. A vital symbol in Of Mice and Men is that Lennie and George had a dream of a farm. This dream symbolizes the dream of each worker of those hard times to work and produce food for living and to be happy by being free from the oppressions surrounding them.

Hope and dreaming gave George and Lennie strength to keep going. George and Lennie’s dream is of their ideal life which was to live on a farm and to be their own bosses with no rules or restrictions, unlike they have now meaninglessly working on ranches. However Lennie’s dream also includes that of rabbits. ‘I remember about the rabbits, George’ (18-19) which he talks about constantly, ‘To hell with the rabbits. That’s all you can ever remember is them rabbits’ (18-19). Steinbeck chooses to show Lennie’s desire for the rabbits as it strengthens the vision of the dream for the readers, as it evokesthe childish part readersof what it was like when they were young, ignorant and naive. Although the two characters have contrasting personalities they share a common goal to ‘live off the fatta the lan” (57), and through this dream, Lennie completes George. Both George and Lennie’s dreams illustrate the American dream of buying their very own ranch.

The dream shared between the three friends acts as a diversion from the days of hard labor. However this dream is unattainable, and ultimately they need each other in their lives to attain their dream and keep eachother company. George provides hope to Lennie saying, ‘guys like us that live on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world’ (13-14). He preaches to Lennie that it is important to continue on their track towards their very own paradise. George tells Lennie that althoughthey have no family, they have each other. As his despair at the end of the novel shows, George ultimately needs Lennie’s innocence and child-like dreams just as much as Lennie depends on George’s experience and protection. However, this dream is only an illusion since it will never be attainable due to the harsh circumstances that George and Lennie live inthe Great Depression of the 1930’s. The dream seems to be a sanctuary from the cruel world in which they live. Both George and Lennie find sanctuary in the dream of the farm which is shown whenGeorge tells Lennie the story of the dream before he goes to sleep to give him peace of mind that tomorrow will be a better day. George provides light to Lennie’s life by telling him “’we’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll say the hell with goin’ to work. . .” (14-15). This shows how much George cares for Lennie, although in the end he has to kill him, leaving Lennie with hope like he does every night.

The Role of Animals: Symbols of Strength and Innocence

George kills Lennie out of love to save him from a painful death at the hands of Curley, whose wife Lennie accidentally kills However, it is also a reinforcement of the theme that the American Dream is an illusion, shown by his death. Lennie is the closest to the dream because he is picturing it when he dies. On the contrary, George returns back where he started, no closer to the dream as he was in the beginning. Lennie is both an asset to George as well as holding him back. By his death, George could no longer attain the dream because he only had one source of income. However, Lennie also held him back due to his mental weakness and him making them need to move due to things happening such as seen throughout Of Mice and Men. George knew, ‘If I was alone I could live so easy’ (11). This reinforces the fact that the dream will never be attained because no matter what George does with Lennie, he will not be able to reach the dream of owning his own farm with their own animals. Animals also play important roles as symbols in Of Mice and Men. Lennie’s puppy, for example, serves as a symbol of how the strong can destroy the weaker things in the world such as their very own dream.

The Salinas River and Sycamore Tree: Symbols of Freedom and Sanctuary

Lennie is physically strong, so he easily crushes his puppy by accident. The death of this innocent puppy foreshadows the death of Lennie, who is also innocent because he lacks the intellectual capacity to understand the effects of his actions. The rabbits in Of Mice and Men represent Lennie’s innocent side. The rabbits also release some positive energy into the book, especially towards Lennie. When the setting is first described in the beginning of the novel, the rabbits appear to be symbols of positive energy describing how the “Rabbits come out of the brush to sit on the sand in the evening” (1). The rabbits also act as a symbol to Lennie’s innocent side, because the rabbits do not mean to harm anyone and are only there to comfort Lennie’s caring side. This conflicts how Lennie does not mean any harm toward anyone, showing the readers that he is just a gentle giant. Another symbol in Of Mice and Men is the Salinas River. The river, a place outside of the hell in which they spend their lives, symbolizes freedom for George and Lennie. At the beginning of the novel, George and Lennie sit by themselves, sharing a can of baked beans while taking a brief rest from a life of never-ending toil. In fact, it is as close as they ever come to their desired farm, their land of milk and honey, a common dream among most ranch workers of the time. Like the farm they dream of, this acts as a safe haven for the two of them. Steinbeck’s major importance on the riverbank also foreshadows more events to come. George repeatedly tells Lennie that if he ever gets in trouble while at the ranch to come back to the riverbank and wait for George to come back for him.

Steinbeck’s Perspective: Undermining Traditional Values

George telling Lennie this so many times concludes that something bad will happen and that he will have to return here. This, however, is the setting of both the beginning and the ending because he wanted to focus on George and Lennie’s friendship throughout the book. This occurs because they are the only two people in both the first and the last scene. Near the Salinas riverbank is also a large sycamore tree, a symbol linking readers to the Garden of Eden. Their dream of the farm also relates to the Garden of Eden by showing how effortlessly the two will live. Steinbeck links the two together in order to help foreshadow the good and evil events that come in throughout the story. The sycamore tree is part of George and Lennie’s safe place they can go to, but tragically ends with the death of Lennie here at the riverbank, their safe spot. Throughout Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck undermines the traditional Christian-based values of good and bad, right and wrong (Goldhurst 57). Even the working title that he used for the text,

Something That Happened, illustrates Steinbeck’s unwillingness to categorize people and events on the basis of their social class (Fontenrose 36). For instance, Lennie, the character whom Steinbeck chooses to portray in-depth, is regarded by society as a sex offender and an outcast among the world. By resisting the accepted practice of the explicitly detailing Lennie’s thoughts, reasoning, and motivations Steinbeck forces readers to ponder the moral significance of Lennie’s actions on their own terms. In fact, by paralleling Lennie’s death with that of Candy’s dog, Steinbeck presents readers with the exact opposite of the meaning of free will, a kind of set predestination. Both Lennie and the dog were removed when the inconvenience of their impairments came to outweigh the positive benefits of their continued survival and moral judgments and through this Steinbeck contends that they cannot rightfully be imposed on acts of nature.

Of Mice and Men (1937), a quintessential masterpiece of American literature. Have you read it? Didn’t think so. It’s a rarity to find someone who’s an avid fan of classics, they’re usually just too boring for mainstream audiences, but here’s the thing: Of Mice and Men is different from all the self-proclaimed ‘classics’ because it’s actually interesting. The concerns tackled in John Steinbeck’s novella are numerous, intriguing and extremely relevant to a modern audience. It explores issues like racism and loneliness (topics that were not generally touched upon in Steinbeck’s time).

Even now, in a world desperate for equality, there are still many instances of racism. Even in this technologically evolved planet, thousands remain lonely, likely suffering from mental issues or isolation. It’s through these issues that Of Mice and Men manages to retain its claim as a worthy text as it addresses issues that have somehow remained prevalent in society for generations. Now, join me as we delve deeper into the fascinating story of loneliness and segregation, painted vividly in the novella by the ingenious mind of John Steinbeck.

First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men is a novella written by John Steinbeck (East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath). It explores the relationship between Lennie Small, an oafish man with a childlike mind, and George Milton, a short but clever man who only wants to work hard. This odd couple travel across California farmlands during the Great Depression and are the closest of friends, a rarity for a time when relationships between migrant workers was basically nonexistent. They move about from place to place, working on ranches for little pay and keeping to themselves as best as possible. However, Lennie often gets himself into all sorts of trouble that George has to get them out of and it is their arrival at their latest job that proves the most testing and threatens their dream of one day owning their own land.

Do you ever look at someone and immediately judge them? Have you ever felt alone, scared or isolated? If the answer is yes, then you might relate to the characters in Of Mice and Men. They are flawed, and each have their own personal issues but one character, Crooks, is more memorable than the rest.

Crooks is not the nicest guy, yet you’ll sympathise with him because of the conditions he’s forced to live under. As an African-American living in Southern California during the early 1900s; he’s treated as less than human, made to live in a rundown stable amongst hay and manure and is forbidden to come in contact with any of the other ranch workers.

During the later stages of the novel, Candy tells Lennie, ‘I been here a long time, an’ Crooks been here a long time. This’s the first time I ever been in his room.’ In response Crooks states, ‘Guys don’t come into a colored man’s room very much.’ This revelation emphasises the severity of the issue and proves that as much as people want racism to end, there are still those who mistreat others because of race. For example, there is a hotel which was recently exposed for giving it’s indigenous guests rooms in worse conditions than its white guests. This is alarming but proves that the issues shown in Of Mice and Men is more relevant today than ever before.

According to ‘ABC Life’, an entire quarter of the population are experiencing loneliness and that statistic is only growing. What’s truly sad is that this is not a new problem, as is evident by the loneliness seen in the migrant farmers of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, who spend their lives working in isolation on a rural ranch in California.

It’s well-known that the men of this time typically travelled alone, trying to make their way from job to job without others holding them back, and it was near impossible to truly form a close relationship. With such dire living conditions, it’s understandable that many people felt alone during this time, but how does that explain the large proportion of society who still feel lonely today?

According to Slim, who acts as the voice of reason in the novel, it’s because, “Ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.’ Clearly Slim is someone who’s quite mature, despite living in a society that’s not aware of it’s issues, and he’s capable of understanding that a close relationship, such as the one that George and Lennie have, is something special. After all, relationships are the foundation for human happiness.

Overall, Of Mice and Men is a worthy read that gives a unique insight to the issues that have plagued society for generations. The 1937 novella is well ahead of its time and hasn’t grown tiresome with age. Steinbeck’s understanding of racism and loneliness and its effect on the human spirit allows him to toy with your emotions in a way that can make you both furious and angry. The backdrop of The Great Depression also provides a setting through which these issues can be further investigated. So, the next time you’re in your local bookstore, be sure to pick up a copy of Of Mice and Men, you might just be surprised.

Pity is very complicated. Steinbeck has a pitiful tone towards both of his major characters when they go through difficult times.

Steinbeck shows his pity for the character of Lennie as he struggles and fails to stay out of trouble at his new job. When Lennie is first introduced, it quickly becomes clear that even though he is a grown man, he does not have a complete understanding of what is appropriate in society and what is not. The very first thing we see is Lennie not understanding why it is not okay to keep a dead mouse in your pocket. Steinbeck writes, “‘I’m sorry George. I just wanted to keep ‘im to pet ‘im a little. I didn’t mean no harm” (page 20). He is just like a child. Later Steinbeck writes, “He didn’t know what he was doing. He had just wanted to touch the soft fabric on the lady’s dress. He could not understand why she was screaming so loudly and he got scared” (page 133). Inevitably, Lennie finally gets into trouble again, but, because of his lack of understanding, he is helpless to get himself out of the situation, which is very pitiful.

Candy, a character that Lennie and George meet at their new job, is also portrayed as being pitiful when his dog dies. Before Candy’s dog dies, it is described as being very old and smelly. It hobbles around and spends most of its day laying around, but despite this Candy loves his dog very much: “I had ‘em since he was a pup. He ain’t got nobody but me and I ain’t got nobody but him” (page 34). Because he has had the dog so long, the two of them have a very special bond. This, however, makes Candy all the more pitiful when the time comes to put the poor dog out of his misery. “No! He’s all I got! I won’t shoot him! He’s all I got!” (page 124). Here Candy is desperate to keep his dog despite the urgings of others to put him down. He sounds especially pitiful as he repeats, “He’s all I got!” Without the dog, he will be all alone, which is really sad.

At the end of the book, even George becomes pitiful. When George heard that Lennie was in trouble again, he is very sad. Steinbeck wrote, “When he heard the news, he turned away so the others couldn’t see his face. His head hung low and his hands shook without him telling them to” (page 142). Automatically, at finding out what had happened to his friend, George hangs his head and begins to shake. He is so upset that he no longer has control over his own body. This continues when he goes to find Lennie. “George tried to steady his hands and his voice, ‘You wanna… hear about the… the place we gonna get someday? I… I know you like to hear ‘bout it” (page 152).

In conclusion, Steinbeck describes his characters as being very sad and pitiful.

In the novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, human beings are portrayed to no longer work hard enough to acquire long-term desires or dreams that they have set. This idea is proven in multiple instances for the duration of the story. It starts with Lennie and George wanting to purchase their farm. In order to obtain their goal, they will want to make enough money to get the farm started. Others show no effort to make development on this dream many of the workers had. They would often spend all the money they make on women and beer. Lennie’s goal is to take care of the rabbits on the farm they hope to one day own, his hassle is that he has trouble with animals. When Lennie pets an animal, he usually ends up killing it, and he is unable to show more care for the poor creatures. Curley’s spouse additionally had a dream to turn out to be a movie big name; however, she did not now due to the fact she decided to marry Curley instead. People now are very similar if not exclusive at all. Today people still have dreams and long-term goals that they give up on or don’t work hard enough to acquire it due to the fact they are so worried about the future that they miss things going on in the present.

Those who believe in making goals along the way make you more productive and make you more self confident. Self confidence is a complex topic and usually tends to vary between people but one thing is for sure the feeling of completing a task is extremely fulfilling. I am not the only one that finds that by completely the goals I have set for myself very rewarding, a self confidence blog writes, “By setting goals, trying more things, engaging in more activities, and exploring more opportunities, your probabilities of success increase dramatically. The only real limiting step that you might have is your level of self-confidence. When you reach the point at which you believe in yourself absolutely, the barriers that exist in your external world will not stop you.” life is a series of events that lead you to the next problem or challenge, and they more you enjoy overcoming those challenged the more rewarding your life will be. Setting goals and going out and completing them are two different things, but once you get over the human kryptonite of procrastination the quicker life will be what you want it to be.

“By every measure, you have more talent and ability than you could use in 100 lifetimes. You, too, can step on the accelerator of your own potential and begin moving forward at a speed that will amaze you by setting SMART goals. Your ability to identify your limiting step is one of the best demonstrations of your intelligence and a set towards building self-confidence. Your capacity to eliminate this limiting step is one of the best demonstrations of your overall competence in achieving anything you want.”

Creating goals and completing them is a step towards self confidence and building of your character. The more you complete your goals the more confident you will be to conquer more and bigger goals in the future. So it doesn’t matter how big your goals are you conquer them at your own speed and in turn you will be able to conquer bigger more advantageous goals. People who set goals and look towards the next step and not the whole stressful picture at once. Many people lack the aspiration to continue on with their goals, many experts such as ones from the huffington post see that goal setting is a way to set yourself up for success in the future. “Goal setters see future possibilities and the big picture,” says Rick McDaniel from the huffington post.

He discusses the important difference between being a goal setter and problem solver, the latter often getting bogged down in roadblocks. “Goal setters,” he says, “are comfortable with risk, prefer innovation, and are energized by change. There are also study’s that show that even writing your goals down help you achieve your goal “A study at Dominican University in California found those who wrote down their goals had a 42 percent increase in goal achievement. So having goals and writing them down is clearly the pathway to dreams coming true.” Goal setters are 42% more likely to achieve their goals. Consciously thinking of your goal helps you achieve them.

Throughout Mice and Men all the characters in the novel have goals and desires they all wish to attain but its like they just assume them to happen but we never them having to put in any work themselves. Both Lennie and George have dreams of their own they prefer to achieve however aren’t willing to put the difficult work and effort in to acquire them. Like Lennie and George, humans nowadays are still ambitious; we all have dreams we choose to acquire; however, we fear more about what’s coming next than what can be executed in the present. This is why the “American Dream”often never comes true, humans assume their desires to simply “poof” and come true. They don’t comprehend that you have to put effort and work into something to obtain and accomplish it.

People these days are very similar if now not different at all. Now humans still on route have desires and goals but supply up on them due to the fact they aren’t willing to work challenging enough to gain them. This is due to the fact first off most human beings are just lazy however due to the fact we are so involved and obsessed about the future that we leave out things going on in the present. It begins with something traumatic about the little things, “When is this classification gonna be over”, or “I can’t wait until college is out”. When we are young we worry more about getting out of faculty than reaching the things we need to be whilst in it. Then when we are out of school and we get a job we can’t end traumatically when our day of work will be over. and it never stops until you die.

Steinbeck’s use of the word “silence” plays a vital role in communicating the characters’ difficulty with emotional commitment during this period in time. The many characters in the book, Of Mice and Men, all face forms of alienation and loneliness. Steinbeck associates sound with an activity that allows hope to happen. For George, the sound of the dream of owning his own farm. For Lennie, the sound of the animals. The characters in this novel all struggle with poverty. The financial conditions that characters like George, Lennie, or Candy undergo are tiring. Steinbeck also displays how poverty can be very emotional. This emotional poverty inhibits the characters from supporting one another. Steinbeck shows emotional poverty is just as crippling as financial challenges.

Steinbeck brings light to the word “silence,” in chapter three. This is when Carlson proposes the idea of shooting candy’s dog. Carlson believes the dog is of no effective use and it smells. In this moment Candy looks to the rest of the men in the bunkhouse for support and advice on what to do. The men in the bunkhouse fall silent and show no emotional support toward Candy and his longtime best friend. The silence could show a lack of emotional grounding. These men don’t know how to communicate their feelings, because they have become so lonely, moving from ranch to ranch. This makes Candy feel alone and alienated. The impending doom of waiting to hear the gunshot also shows how Candy feels weak and vulnerable. The men around when Candy’s dog is shot, all struggle with poverty. Steinbeck shows how emotional poverty stops the men of the bunkhouse from supporting one another, by revealing how the men do not stick up for Candy. Although the shooting of Candy’s dog is an obvious event where silence plays a vital role in the developing the morale, Crooks’ character may be an even better example.

Crooks’ life is a notable example of Steinbeck using the word ‘silence’ to develop a sense of loneliness and alienation. Through the description of Crook’s room, his past life, and his current life on the ranch. Steinbeck continually enforces his theme of loneliness and barriers between people. Crooks’ world is silent because of his lack of connections with other people. At most times Crooks feels isolated from the others at the farm. Crooks suffers because he is treated as an outcast and forced to play card games and read books by himself instead of socializing with the other workers. Crooks is the unfortunate victim of racial discrimination and is forced to live separately from the other workers, which is the main reason he is lonely. When Lennie finds Crooks, he is alone. He is surrounded by many items that signal his loneliness and alienation. For example, much of his room is filled with boxes, bottles, harnesses, leather tools, and other accouterments of his job. It is a room for one man alone. This signifies his loneliness, thus fulfilling Steinbeck’s theme. When Crooks is being yelled at by Curley’s wife, he falls silent, barely saying a word. In this moment, he realizes he is alone, and he will always feel alienated in this environment because of his race and social status. Both before and after Lennie and George reside at the farm, Crooks’ life is silent.

Furthermore, the lonely feeling at the farm originates largely from how little the men talk to each other about meaningful things, like how George was afraid to tell Slim the events that kicked him and George out of Weed, “‘Like what happened in Weed-’ [George] stopped… looked alarmed and peered over at Slim” (Steinbeck). Every character tries to keep to themselves and be incredibly secretive. When all of the men are in the bunkhouse, George “rippled the edge of the deck nervously, and the little snapping noise drew the eyes of all the men in the room, so that he stopped doing it. The silence fell on the room again.” (Steinbeck). The symbolism in this quote is aimed at showing the readers why none of the men dares to break the silence. The “little snapping noise”, is representative of one of the men being open and talking about themselves, which results in “drawing the eyes of all the men in the room, so that he stopped doing it.”. When George tried to break the silence, the other men quickly made him feel self conscious until he stopped. The men on the ranch fear the same will happen to them if they open up to each other. Additionally, Due to his distrust of the other workers, he is unable to communicate and have a proper conversation with them, “George fell silent. He wanted to talk… he just sat back quiet and receptive.”(Steinbeck). George’s silence is caused by fear. He is afraid to connect with the other workers since he will eventually have to leave to escape trouble or find better work. Communication also caused fear to be instilled in George because he is afraid of saying too much and endangering himself and Lennie. Also, George’s danger and fear of communication connects to Lennie as well. George is afraid if he talks to Lennie while the others are around, he will unveil Lennie’s mental disability and get the pair fired, “When Whit and Carlson were gone and the door closed after them, George turned to Lennie.”(Steinbeck). George cautiously talks to Lennie when others are not around to ensure they do not find out about his obvious disability. If the others were aware of Lennie’s mental disability, they may take advantage of him or even hurt him.

Adding to this, Lennie’s character is literally silenced. As some of the men were verbally attacking Curley, “Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch” (Steinbeck). Since Curley took Lennie’s actions as a sign of disrespect, Curley decided to silence him. Without a chance to speak and defend himself, Lennie was forced to deal with the consequences. This forces Lennie to believe he is doing many things wrong and lowers his self-esteem. Also since George only came to Lennie’s aid after the whole thing was over, Lennie may begin to question George. And Lennie’s guilt from standing up for himself only complicates his already messy situation. The whole ordeal forced Lennie to view things differently than he had before. This also affected how Curley viewed Lennie during their time at the farm.

To elaborate, Curley, surprisingly, is also affected by the word silence to show loneliness and alienation. After Curley took a beating from Lennie, Slim explains to him, “if you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to. But you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh” (Steinbeck). Using blackmail, Slim offers Curley a chance to escape humiliation and trouble. With his reputation of a fierce and fearless man who can knock out anyone he encounters, Curley knew news of his defeat would hurt him, and this fear scared him into silence. The event itself also silenced Curley with both the pain he felt and a new fear of Lennie he created. As he witnessed Lennie’s power compared to his own, Curley realized he had finally been defeated, and there was nothing he could do about it. Curley’s silence is actually his submission to Lennie and his decision let him be, at the time being. The silence Curley has been trapped by is a result of his fear of Lennie, and the fear that he will hurt him again.

Additionally, Curley’s wife is one of the many characters that are being silenced throughout the book. Curley gets incredibly jealous whenever his wife talks to one of the men living in the bunkhouse. When she is found by Curley, speaking to another man, she is silenced by his jealousy. It seems whenever the wife wants to do something, Curley manages to show up at the right time and silence her from what she wants to do. To the other men of the bunkhouse she is dangerous because she can get them into trouble with Curley. So it is not just Curley silencing her, but all men, “She’s gonna make a mess” (Steinbeck). This quote shows that the men want nothing to do with the wife of Curley. They are scared of what could happen if Curley finds one of them involved with his wife. They are essentially silencing her by ignoring her. She seems to be very dependent on Curley and his father for everything. She has no female friends to support her and give her a voice, since many females generally share the same ideas for life. She is married but is always alone and sad. She didn’t follow her dreams or marry out of love. Instead, she settles for a ring, a roof over her head, and a man she didn’t know well enough to make that sort of connection with. She wanted love like most characters, but ended up with isolation, loneliness, and silence. Had she not married Curley, she may have had a bigger voice and not be silence by the world of men.

In conclusion, Steinbeck’s use of the word “silence” plays a vital role in communicating the characters’ difficulty with emotional commitment during this period in time. All the characters in the book, Of Mice and Men, face forms of alienation and loneliness.

John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ opens with a vivid scene that sets the stage for the complexities of human relationships and the harsh realities of the Great Depression era. This critical essay explores the significance of the opening scene, examining its thematic depth, character introductions, and foreshadowing elements.

Steinbeck’s choice to begin the novel with a detailed description of the Salinas River Valley landscape immediately immerses the reader in the setting, establishing a sense of place and atmosphere. The serene imagery of the natural world contrasts sharply with the subsequent introduction of George and Lennie, two itinerant ranch workers whose lives are marked by instability and disenfranchisement. This contrast highlights the tension between the idyllic ideal and the harsh reality, a theme that permeates the entire novel.

The introduction of George and Lennie in the opening scene serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it establishes the central relationship of the novel – that between George, the savvy and pragmatic leader, and Lennie, the gentle giant with limited mental capacity. Their juxtaposition as they walk along the riverbank immediately showcases their differences in personality and intellect. Secondly, it foreshadows the recurring motif of loneliness and companionship, as George and Lennie’s bond stands out in a world characterized by transience and isolation. Additionally, George’s admonition to Lennie about not drinking from the river hints at the dangers and challenges they will face in their journey.

Moreover, the encounter with the dead mouse in Lennie’s pocket provides insight into Lennie’s character and sets the stage for the theme of innocence and vulnerability. Lennie’s childlike fascination with soft things and his inadvertent tendency to harm them foreshadow tragic events later in the novel. The dead mouse symbolizes the unintended consequences of Lennie’s actions and serves as a precursor to the greater tragedies that unfold.

Furthermore, the opening scene introduces the recurring motif of dreams and aspirations, particularly through George and Lennie’s conversation about their shared goal of owning a piece of land. This dream represents the pursuit of stability, independence, and dignity in a world defined by economic hardship and exploitation. However, even in their aspirations, there is an undercurrent of skepticism and resignation, as George acknowledges the unlikelihood of their dream coming true. This juxtaposition of hope and despair sets the tone for the novel’s exploration of the American Dream and its elusive nature.

In addition to character introductions and thematic groundwork, the opening scene also establishes the social and economic context of the novel. The mention of the Great Depression and the widespread unemployment underscores the precariousness of George and Lennie’s situation, as they struggle to find work and maintain a semblance of agency in a society that offers them little opportunity or security. The presence of migrant workers like George and Lennie highlights the plight of the marginalized and disenfranchised, whose lives are defined by uncertainty and exploitation.

In conclusion, the opening scene of ‘Of Mice and Men’ serves as a microcosm of the novel’s themes, characters, and socio-economic backdrop. Through vivid imagery, character introductions, and thematic foreshadowing, John Steinbeck lays the groundwork for a profound exploration of human relationships, aspirations, and the harsh realities of the Great Depression era. As readers delve deeper into the narrative, the significance of this opening scene reverberates throughout the novel, enriching our understanding of its complexities and enduring relevance.

Introduction

Naturalism in literature is characterized by a focus on depicting the harsh realities of life, often emphasizing determinism and the influence of environment and heredity on human behavior. John Steinbeck’s novel, “Of Mice and Men,” exemplifies naturalistic elements through its portrayal of characters, settings, and themes. Steinbeck’s own experiences as a migrant worker during the Great Depression contribute to the authenticity and depth of his exploration of naturalism in the novel.

Naturalistic Elements in Characterization

In “Of Mice and Men,” Steinbeck depicts characters with harsh realities and bleak outlooks on life. Characters like George and Lennie face constant struggles and setbacks, mirroring the hardships faced by many during the Great Depression. Examples of characters trapped by their heredity and environment abound in the novel. Lennie, for instance, is mentally challenged and unable to fully comprehend the consequences of his actions, leading to tragic outcomes. His fate is ultimately determined by factors beyond his control, highlighting the deterministic nature of naturalism.

Realistic Setting and Atmosphere

Steinbeck creates highly realistic settings reflective of the time period and his own experiences as a migrant worker. The descriptions of the riverbank, bunkhouse, and barn evoke a sense of authenticity and immersion in the world of the novel. These settings serve as microcosms of the larger social and economic struggles faced by individuals during the Great Depression. Steinbeck’s use of literary devices, such as vivid imagery and sensory details, enhances the atmosphere of the novel, juxtaposing moments of freedom and joy with tragedy and despair.

Exploration of Depressing Themes

“Of Mice and Men” delves into depressing themes prevalent in society during the Great Depression, including loneliness, isolation, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Steinbeck portrays the depression and madness that pervade the lives of the characters, illustrating the toll of economic hardship and social inequality. The novel’s depiction of the gruesome realities characters must endure, such as the exploitation of migrant workers and the prevalence of violence, reflects the harsh truths of life during this tumultuous period in American history. Additionally, Steinbeck employs foreshadowing and themes of fate and inevitability to underscore the deterministic nature of human existence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Of Mice and Men” exemplifies naturalism in literature through its portrayal of characters, settings, and themes. Steinbeck’s use of naturalistic elements effectively captures the harsh realities of life during the Great Depression, offering a poignant exploration of human behavior and the influence of environment and heredity. Through his masterful storytelling and authentic depiction of the time period, Steinbeck leaves a lasting impact on readers, inviting them to reflect on the enduring relevance of naturalism in literature and its portrayal of the human condition.