In the novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck explores many cultural and social issues during the era of the great depression.

In the novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck explores many cultural and social issues during the era of the great depression. Of Mice and Men is a novel about two migrant workers and their dreams which never become true. In this text the learning experience for the reader is that, dreams are unattainable and hard to accomplish. Steinbeck utilises character archetypes to demonstrate the injustice the marginalised suffer in society.

The reader incorporates from this novel that the marginalised in society have dreams which never come true. George and Lennie are two itinerant workers who have a dream to be, “living of the fatta the lan”, and to be independent. Candy was also involved in the dream to buy land as was Crooks. At first Crooks disregarded it but then he became allured by this dream. All these characters could now see their dream getting closer until Lennie, accidently kills Curley’s wife. A question brought up by Candy shows his uncertainty of achieving their dream, “You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? Can’t we?”  Even though these characters put in effort to save up money, to be able to buy land, they were unable to achieve their dream because of the lack of opportunities available for the marginalised in society. The author foreshadows their dream as he gave away slight hints earlier in the novel which hinted to the readers that the characters were never going to achieve their dreams. An example of foreshadowing was when the author depicted that Lennie killed mice and then, ‘graduated’ to killing a dog, after this it could be seen the novel would not have a pleasant ending.