A comparison of the heroic figures within Of Mice & Men (John Steinbeck, published 1938) and The Sexton's Hero (Elizabeth Gaskell, 1950s)

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Although both Of Mice & Men (John Steinbeck, published 1938) and The Sexton’s Hero (Elizabeth Gaskell, 1950s) contain story lines, & references that emphasise heroism, they are both set in very different locations & time periods, so their only apparent link is heroism.

Of Mice & Men is set in California within the 1930’s during the time of the depression. During this time many people lived in poverty, struggling to find employment, and had to resort to travelling from ranch to ranch in search of it. Unemployment had risen to 25% in the United States. At this time the ‘American dream’ that so many had sought after out had become nothing more than a lost dream.         

The Sexton’s Hero is set around 1850. The story has a Christian influence. Of Mice and Men begins in the Californian countryside and then moves into the setting of the Ranch and finally at the end of the story the characters are taken back into the countryside. The Sexton’s Hero also features a mix of countryside and village settings. The story begins in the Churchyard and moves into a village in Lancashire, North England. Of Mice and Men is written in the third person and is told chronologically whereas The Sexton’s Hero is written in a more recollective, third person form (person at the church yard and then the Sexton remembering).

In both Of Mice and Men and The Sexton’s hero, there is a singular ‘hero’ that the story focuses on. Although both characters are both seen as heroes they are very different people, with very little in common. The stereotypical hero that many of us are used to today through watching television and films would be a character like Superman or Spiderman, a person who is typically strong, fearless, brave, and has some sort of special power. They also end up catching the villain and saving the girl. We can see from the example of Gilbert and George that this stereotype of a hero does not always apply to all heroes and that Gilbert and George are not stereotypical heroes, although both do share certain aspects of the stereotypical hero.

 The theme of heroism is introduced very differently in each story. In Of Mice and Men it is introduced implicitly to the reader. Readers look at the characters and their relationships with others and decide for themselves what a hero is. In The Sexton’s Hero the theme of heroism is introduced to the reader quite strongly. The author shows the reader what her definition of a hero is so explicitly that a character actually says, “What is your definition of a hero?” In The Sexton’s Hero there is a very Christian approach in showing what a hero is. It shows Gilbert Dawson, the hero, sticking to his beliefs in the bible even in the most testing of times. Both Gilbert Dawson and George display typical and unconventional heroic traits. Typical heroes always stick to what they believe in and have a strong sense of duty. George displays typical heroic traits such as his loyalty and responsibility, but does not stand out as your typical hero. Gilbert displays more typical heroic qualities such as his large physical build and strength, his intelligence & schooling, loyalty, sense of duty and responsibility, bravery, and more. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Gilbert is more of hero than George is as we have looked at only stereotypical heroic traits. George stands out more as a hero for more unconventional reasons. Although George does not have the physical prowess and size to be a typical hero he does have the caring, respectful mind. George looks after Lennie, but does not step in to help Lennie until the end of the story. For example when Lennie gets into a fight with Curley, George doesn’t get physically involved, he shouts instructions to Lennie. At the end of the story, George does finally get involved and help Lennie by bravely sacrificing Lennie’s life for Lennie’s own good.

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George and Gilbert are very similar in many ways but also differ greatly in many others. George is not strong but is presented to be “small and quick”. Gilbert on the other hand differs greatly from George. Gilbert is presented to be a strapping chap who was about six feet tall. The Sexton says “He were about as strapping a chap as I was (I used to be six feet high)”. Both George and Gilbert are intelligent but in different ways. Gilbert went though professional schooling. He gained a great deal of knowledge through his education. Gilbert finds his knowledge ...

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