Not many workers could say they had a permanent place this why George and Lenni had to travel to find work, follow what work the season has to offer. This was common with farming. But at times when ever Lenni got George in trouble they would have to travel. George is not as strong physically compared Lenni, but what he is lacking physically he makes up for in his mentality. Lenni, on the other hand, is physically "strong as a bull", according to George, but mentally is a weak as George is physically. Together, as they travel from place to place looking for their chance at making their dream a reality, they use each other's strong points to help them. George and Lenni have spent most of their adult life’s and childhood life’s together with gorge constantly looking out for Lenni, Lenni has the mentality of a four year old he does know his own strength and panics this leads him self and George into trouble. Life working is hard and because of this all the characters of the book share dreams or have dreams of there own. That dream is of having “a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs an' live off the fatta the land”, where Lenni can take care of the rabbits.
The idea of this dream was too good to believe and for now they could only dream about it, but when Candy overheard George and Lenin’s conversation he to wanted to be part of it. Candy was an old man this was his last chance of being part of something. Candy had no family no wife and no property like most of the men on the ranch. The only possession Candy had been his old dog. George and Lenni agreed to let Candy be part of their dream because with him being part of the dream it brought every thing closer to happening. The farm cost $600 and Candy already had $350 needed.
Candy’s dog was shot by Carlson; it was the right thing to do according to him. 'Look Cand. This ol' just suffers himself all the time.' this pressure that Carlson put Candy under shows the power the younger workers have over the weaker older workers reflecting the working life of 30’s America socially. “Guys like us, that work on ranches are loneliest guys in the world…no family…don’t belong…no thing to look ahead to…guys get in jail, they can root for all anyone gives a damn”
George and Lennie hardly own anything at all; they only own things such as soap, razors, talcum-powder and playing cards. They own no luxurious belongings. This shows that the 1930’s were hard times when not many people could afford luxurious items. But this applied to every one Crooks, and Candy. Unlike the other men when they go there $50 a month rather than waste it at the local brothel they would save up for the farm. Working Conditions for workers like Gorge and Lenni basic for example the bunkhouse I thing reflected conditions across most of America. In the bunkhouse it was simple Mattress, blankets, simple possessions, nothing different from the labor intensive work “I seen thrashin’ machines on the way down. That means bucking grain bags, bustin a gut.” Other workers on the ranch find it hard to believe the loving relation ship between George and Lenni “Never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.”
Lenni as I mentioned earlier has the mentality and ‘is strong as a bull’ but with his child like brain he does not know his own strengths physically the is shown when he finds a mouse. ‘Lenni likes to touch things’ especially small, soft, or pretty looking things and he likes to pet animals like rabbits, and mice when Lenni found a mouse he stroke it so hard that the ended killing it. George knowing Lenni so well knows when he’s got a animal a tries to take them away from him because he knows that they always end up dying but not because Lenni does not know his own strength. Lenni’s way of socializing so to say is with the small animals.
“What you got in your hand – hidin’ it?”
“I ain’t got nothin’, George. Honest.’”…
“It’s on’y a mouse, George.’”
“A mouse? A live mouse?...”
George knows the way Lenni is he asks him straight way if it’s dead or not. The pattern of killing accidentally is followed through until the end both with the puppy and curly’s wife lenni doesn’t know his strengths and when curly’s wife panicked all he knew was to hold on tight so that he wouldn’t get into trouble or hurt the woman. Curly’s wife didn’t was never referred to have a name of her own I fell this was typical of 30’s America because this was a time when women were seen as house wife’s and the men were seen as the breadwinners. Through the time of the depression women were seen as the house wife’s and the family makers whilst men were seen as breadwinners. From the start until the end of the story, Curleys wife has no proper given name. Her status is low and a s she is only called 'Curleys Wife' it is as if she was a possession of her husband's. Curley's wife however doesn't stay at home and be a housewife but is portrayed as a flirtatious, but the workforce see her as a threat to them as Curley has a higher status of power, ' You got a husband`. You got no call foolin` around with other guys.' Although Curley's wife's status was low, the story still shows us that black people were treated worse than white women.
Overall in the story’ Of Mice and Men’ it covers all aspects of life for workers and people who are married to workers in 30’s America, socially, racially, economically, and in ambitions and dreams. And it show how relationships with George Lenni curly’s wife
“Life In 30’s America” Page of