The Outsider (Of Mice and Men)
The Outsider Of Mice and Men is a classic novel written by one of the world's most illustrious writers, John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck wrote a naturalistic novel which dealt with many powerful and universal themes including the value of dreams and goals, friendship and also "outsiders", which means individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel also illustrates the significance of moral responsibility, the veracity of social injustice and also solitude. His novel "Of Mice and Men" is a story taking place around the 1930s during the Great Depression in California where the New York Wall Street stock market collapsed, and the rate of unemployment was very high. The great depression affected everyone, including both the rich and poor, industrial workers, farmers and so on. This novel however, portrays the life of two farmers, George Milton and Lennie Small. The themes of the novel are important because they depict human life in a remarkable and comprehensible way relating to the dreams and constant struggles faced in life. All the characters played in the novel "Of Mice and Men" are lonesome, living an empty life everyday consisting of mainly hard labor. The characters all live a very disheartening life, with the lack of happiness, love and affection in their lives. This can be seen also when George mentions that 'ranch workers are the loneliest people
Impressions of Curely's Wife
Impressions of Curely's Wife John Steinbeck sees Curleys wife as 'nice girl' and not a 'floozy' however in the novel 'Of Mice and Men', Steinbeck introduces the character of Curley's wife; she could be interpreted as a mis-fitting character in the novel. In the novel Curley's wife is probably the most loathed on the ranch, the way she looks and acts lead others on the ranch to see her as a 'tart'. Additionally Curley might be the reason of Curley's wife behavior; Curley's wife is clearly lonely in the novel because Curley doesn't pay much attention to her. The lack of attention from Curley forces her to seek it elsewhere. She flirts with the other characters on the ranch but they pay her no attention either. This essay will go on to look at the character of Curley's wife and how characters perceive her. When first introduced to Curley's wife in the novel she comes into the bunkhouse, when both Lennie and George are in there. She is apparently looking for Curly but she already knows that new men have arrived. Steinbeck gives a detailed description of her as she stands in the doorway of the bunkhouse and talks to Lennie and George. She is 'heavily made up', with red fingernails and wore a 'cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers'. This clearly shows that Curley's wife was wearing quite a lot of red. Wearing might
Themes Surrounding The Title Of "Of Mice And Men"
Of Mice And Men Title: In this presentation I will talk about the title "Of Mice And Men", and the significance of various themes incorporated into the story in relation to how they associate to the title, such as the subject of Lennie's treatment of the mouse in the beginning, and how the animalistic deaths that transpire throughout the novel could be seen as an admonition to later events, in which Lennie is killed by George and conclude by answering if the title is effective in indicating the themes that are prominent in the novel. The title of the novel "Of Mice and Men" is an intertextual reference as it is a quotation from a poem written by Robert Burns, in which he speaks of a homeless mouse which is in fear following the destruction of its house. A quotation from the poem, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley" means that everything, no matter how well deliberated or considered, is questionable to failure. Steinbeck took the title of the novel from this quote, as the two pieces of text are easily comparable in their matters, as in the novel, Lennie and George's plan to find a little place, how they wanted their dream, and yet it never materialized. On Page 7, George makes the discovery that Lennie is carrying a dead mouse in his pocket. Lennie wanted to keep the mouse because he loves to pet small, soft things. Sadly, such is his brute strength,
Relationship between George and Lennie in Of Mice of Men
Discuss the Relationship between George and Lennie in the book "Mice of Men" The novel, "Of Mice of Men" portrays the deep relationship of George and Lennie. As the book progresses, the reader plunges deeper into their relationship. The curiosity of George and Lennie friendship is intriguing for the reader and is very thought-provoking for the reader as it very complex and full of twists and turns. Undoubtedly, George has come to like Lennie and feels a sense of duty and responsibility towards him. Lennie needs George, but it is equally true that George needs Lennie as well. George was also a harsh, mean and derogatory to Lennie, however, it is also very evident that George never left Lennie despite his life would have mean much easier without him. Lennie is George's hardship, but George loves him regardless. Since the death of Lennie's Aunt Clara, George took it upon himself to take responsibility of him and his special needs by finding him jobs, feeding him, and making sure he is safe. Their mutual dependence on one another is what keeps George and Lennie together. Lennie stays with George because he has no other option. His only family, his aunt, has passed away, and he has the mind of a very young child. He would not be able to survive on his own: it is because of George that he is able to find work, and it is George who ultimately cares for him. George stays with
How does John Steinbeck use animals to structure the novel 'Of Mice and Men'?
How does John Steinbeck use animals to structure the novel 'Of Mice and Men'? Animals are used throughout John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" to structure the novel in a way that constantly foreshadows towards the climax at the end of the story. The way in which Lennie kills a mouse before they have reached the ranch, gives the reader an idea of his brute strength, and Steinbeck reinforces this with the fact that Lennie kills a small puppy as well. The American dream in the novel is for Lennie and George to own their own farm, and Lennie only wants this so he can have 'plenty rabbits'. The first mouse encountered in the story is a dead one. Lennie has kept it in his pocket 'to pet', and soon kills it as he does not know his own strength. Steinbeck is already using animals to foreshadow the rest of the novel, as Lennie is comfortable with death but he is so kinaesthetic that he continues to pet the dead mouse. Mice are obviously a source of comfort for Lennie, and he holds connotations of mice with Aunt Clara. The book is based around the fact that George and Lennie are only temporarily working at the ranch until they have enough money to own some land where they could work 'maybe six, seven hours a day' and 'live off the fatta the land'. Steinbeck structures the novel around this simple dream and allow others to join such as Candy. Steinbeck increases the severity of the
Explore the way in which Steinbeck presents the relationships between between Curleys Wife and other characters in Of Mice and Men
Matthew Peers Explore the way in which Steinbeck presents the relationships between between Curley’s Wife and other characters in Of Mice and Men In the book Of Mice and Men the author John Steinbeck presents Curley’s Wife dramatically different to his other characters. Throughout the story she remains nameless, only known as ‘Curley’s Wife’ and yet she is constantly mentioned around the ranch. She wanders around gaining many different reactions from ‘she’s purty’ to ‘married a tart’. By presenting us with only one female character Steinbeck is suggesting that their is no real place for women on the ranch and their role in society is made clear. Steinbeck also never gives Curley’s Wife a name, this presents her as being Curley’s possession and nothing more. Curley’s Wife is introduced not by here appearance but in conversation between George and Candy. She is the only character Steinbeck introduces in this way, that is by being spoken of and described in detail, before being met by George and Lennie. In chapter 2 Candy begins to describe Curley’s relationship with his wife. ‘Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants is full of ants.’ Steinbeck tells us here that the couple do not have a strong relationship at all and suggests that Curley’s Wife has become bored with her new husband and she has turned to the
How does Steinbeck reveal the State of the US in the 1930s in Of Mice and Men?
How does Steinbeck reveal the State of the US in the 1930s in "Of Mice and Men?" Steinbeck reveals rascism and segregation of black people in America at this time through "Of Mice and Men" and in this passage. Steinbeck shows the importance of relationship, we can see this through George and Lennie's and also the unsentimental features faced from being a migrant worker. Throughout "Of Mice and Men" Steinbeck shows very pragmatic scenes, such as the killing of Candy's dog, who now "stinks" and Carlson says "he ain't no good to you" due to heaving "rheumatism" and "He don't have no fun." Carlson, in fact takes in the idea of shooting the dog despite Candy's obvious attraction to the dog who was "the best damn sheep dog I ever seen," this pragmatic approach of shooting the dog is also later scene in the ranch when Slim "drowned four" puppies "right off" because the dog "couldn't feed that many," showing a casual attitude towards life and death, and a very unsentimental one. George and Lennie's relationship and their idea to live off the "fatta land" reflects the way so many migrants in America in the 1930s hoped to own a farm, and this attitude was called the American Dream: the idea that anyone could achieve anything. This stemmed from the US Declaration of Rights, where every person has the right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Furthermore this was due to
How does Steinbeck present the characters of George and Lennie, and their relationship, in Section 1 of the novel?
How does Steinbeck present the characters of George and Lennie, and their relationship, in Section 1 of the novel? As the first characters to be introduced in the novel, Steinbeck needs to present George and Lennie in a way which explains in great detail about who they are and their relationship with each other and the novel itself. I am exploring how Steinbeck presents their characters and their relationship through examining their individual characters and their relationship as a whole. The first thing that Steinbeck mentions about George and Lennie is their appearance. "Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders." In the era in which this book was set, denim was the hallmark of workers, and as they are carrying blanket rolls, it is evident that they are migrant workers, moving from ranch to ranch. Steinbeck chooses to describe George first; this may connote George being the head of the two of them, almost a parent figure. George is described as being "small and quick, dark of face with restless eyes and sharp, strong features." This shows that he's quite fit and athletic, perhaps used to this sort of traveling as a migrant worker. His "restless eyes" tell the reader that, although he has been traveling for probably a long time, he is
Is Curleys wife a tragic figure?
Is Curley's wife a tragic figure? Throughout the book 'Of Mice and Men', Steinbeck portrays the character of Curley's wife as unfortunate and a bit of an outcast. 'Well you keep away from her, cause she's a rattrap if ever I seen one'. But to what extent can she be regarded as a tragic character? The first time we hear about Curley's wife, she is described as a 'tart' by another farm worker. This is because she is lonely so she hangs around the other farm workers wearing 'red mules' with 'red ostrich feathers' and 'red finger nails'. Steinbeck uses the colour red to show she is dressing like a 'tart' because the colour red at the time was associated with prostitutes. 'I ain't never seen nobody like her'. The ranch hands, however, want nothing to do with her, so they ignore her, and so she becomes an outcast. 'Curley's wife can sure move quiet. I guess she's had a lot of practice, though'. The reason they do not want to be seen with her is because she is married to Curley, a 'pugnacious' little man, who is very possessive. '"Have you seen a girl around here?" he demanded angrily'. The fact that Steinbeck never gave Curley's wife a name other than 'Curley's wife' is to show that she belongs to Curley. It shows her as his possession rather than a separate person. To get attention, she dresses up and hangs around the workers when Curley is not there. However, none of the farm
What do the first four paragraphs of Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men tell us about Crooks?
What do the first four paragraphs tell us about the character of Crooks? In the first four paragraphs of chapter four, we already know how lonely and broken, physically and mentally Crooks is. Yet, he is clever and proud. Crooks is a very lonely man, which we can see from the fact that his bunk is separated from the other workers', as shown in "Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room." He is isolated from the other workers because he is a black, and the only black, therefore is not considered important enough to have a living space separated from the working space, and this isolation takes away his chances of communicating to the other workers, which results in his loneliness. In the fourth paragraph, we know that it is Saturday night and sound of moving horses and feet stirring can be heard. We can understand from these that all other ranch workers had left for town, but Crooks is segregated and could not go with them. He can only stay in his bunk, which tells us that he is not accepted in the society. The imagery "a small electric globe threw a meager yellow light" also highlighted his loneliness, for the contrary between the dim, still light inside the barn and the lively noises in the dark outside created a sense of abandonment. The use of word "small" and "meager" also suggests that he is insignificant to the other workers. His loneliness can
