Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck was interested in the suffering of ordinary people and of social outcasts. He exposes

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Nicole Martin 10YNT

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck was interested in the suffering of ordinary people and of social outcasts. He exposes this suffering throughout ‘Of Mice and Men’. Steinbeck uses animal reference, similes, metaphors and nicknames he gives characters. Steinbeck sets ‘Of Mice and Men’ in America during the 1930s, America was suffering a Great depression during this time, due to the stock market prices. The majority of America was unemployed during this time, the majority of men left home in search for work, they generally moved towards the west of the country. Steinbeck sets the scene near Salinas Valley because,

The main themes of this book are; suffering during the Great Depression, discrimination and friendship. The main characters of the novella suffer a vast amount, they are unemployed and looking for work, but the book shows that there is more to life than just work and friendship is the greatest power of all. The two characters set out in search of the ‘American Dream’. The American Dream was to live on their own piece of land, and live off their own crops and animals, basically live their own life, with no rules.

In the novella there are six characters that suffer; they are; Curley, Curley’s Wife, Crooks, Lennie, George and Candy.

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Crooks suffers racial abuse, physical and mental abuse, segregation, disability and loneliness. Crooks is the only black man on the ranch. During the 1930s there were laws enforcing segregation. Crooks, has his own room in the bunkhouse, a small room leaning off the barn. During the 1930s black people were openly expressed as ‘niggers’. Such racism is no longer tolerated. In Crooks’ past he has been beaten by white people, this just shows how whites believe they are superior to other races. Crooks was given his nickname because he has developed a crooked back due to his past experiences ...

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