Investigating the Themes in Of Mice and Men

Choose one of the following questions that interests you most to respond to in this week’s blog post:

1.) What different forms of power exist in Of Mice and Men?  What kind of power does Lennie have?  What kind of power does George have?  What kinds of power or powerlessness do other characters possess?

2.)  What kind of relationship do George and Lennie have?  Is their relationship a friendship?  How does this relationship express Steinbeck’s position on the individual versus the community?

3.)  Is the American Dream a real possibility in the story?  If yes, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story confirm that the American Dream is within reach?  If not, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story represent the American Dream as out of reach?  

     George and Lennie have a really good and close relationship. Even though the both of them have been through thick and thin they have made it all the way to this ranch to find a job. Although, they have said some bad stuff to the other or caused something the bad that made them go into hiding. They both have each other's back. "All the time somethin' like that-all the time. I wisht I could put you in a cage with about a million mice an' let you have fun." (Steinbeck 11.) Even when George got mad at Lennie, for asking him for ketchup. Also, for ruining his life if he wasn't friends with Lennie he would just leave him. They are true friends, because they have trust in each other and are always together protecting the other's back.

     This relationship that Lennie and George have is a friendship. In the Merriam Webster dictionary a friend is defined as "One attached to the other by affection or esteem." I say that Lennie and George are true friends they are attached to each other by affection. If not then George would have already ditched Lennie for a better life he says he can have. But, he prefers to stay with Lennie not only, because of Lennie's aunt telling him to take care of Lennie. But, he really likes Lennie and would never ditch him, because they have been through a lot together.

     This relationship that both Lennie and George have between each other expresses Steinbeck's position on the individual versus the community. The individual versus the community is not something that most do. Not many accomplish doing something alone, but more people accomplish doing something together. Without one another they probably might not have the same life. Lennie always getting picked on for having a mental condition. Without George Lennie would be lost and not have anywhere to go when his aunt passed away. Also, without George having Lennie George would probably be sad all the time. He would not feel as smart and demanding if it weren't for Lennie. In the 1930s many were by themselves and not being able to accomplish anything, but in a group they will make a bigger footprint in history.

Chapter 3 Notes

Predictions: After, reading this chapter I had many ideas as to what will be in the next chapter. I predict that in the next chapter Curley will now be afraid of Lennie. At first, in the book he wasn't afraid of Lennie, but intimidated by Lennie’s height how Lennie was all tall and him all short. After, him witnessing what Lennie has the capability to do I don’t think Curley wants to pick any fight with Lennie. “Curley’s fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fists was lost in Lennie’s big hand.” (Steinbeck 63.) At first Curley was the one beating Lennie up, but then Lennie was the one beating Curley up and Curley was so scared that he didn't know what to do and had to be sent to town to meet a doctor. “Curley was white shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak.” (Steinbeck 64.) Judging by the way Curley reacted to Lennie beating him up and his hand probably being broken it looks like he won’t be messing with Lennie for a while.

Connection: Just like Candy I can relate to how his dog was killed and him probably feeling really sad inside. I remember not a long time ago I had this iPod nano that I had a bunch of music downloaded from iTunes that I would sometimes listen to. I would manly use it to listen to music at the gym or just to entertain myself when I had nothing better to do. One day I noticed that my brother had it and I said “What are you doing with my iPod?” he said “Mom gave it to me.” I was so mad that I went to my mother and started rampaging as to why he took my iPod. She said “Because you barley use it.” The statement was somewhat true so I just to my room and laid there not wanting anything, but my iPod not trying to show how much I really cared for it.

Question: While reading this chapter a question popped into my head. Why does Curley hate tall guys? I know he is small and might be intimidated by them, but that is no reason to hate a person. Curley must have had a traumatized experience with a tall guy in his past, because hating a guy like Lennie is not something one does. Lennie is nice, caring, and won’t hurt a fly unless otherwise told so. Lennie can’t even think for himself he does what one tells him to do. He is not a person you right off the bat hate him. Curley can’t just hate a guy like Lennie over his height. If he does he must have had a traumatized experience when younger to hate a guy like Lennie.

Chapter 2 Notes

Questions:

Page 20: George and Lennie are talking to this guy who was peering in with a conversation they were having with the boss. George catches the man ease dropping on their conversation, and explains how he wasn't ease dropping. This guy is explaining how the boss isn't so bad and how they spent last Christmas.

What do they mean by "If he could use his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger." (Steinbeck 20?) Why would Smitty kill the nigger? Did the nigger do anything bad to Smitty? Why can't he use his feet is he handicapped?

Predictions:

I predict that George and Lennie are going to get into a lot of trouble at this place. They are going to get into a lot of trouble with Curley. Somehow, George will get into a fight with Curly about Lennie, because straight off the bat Curley does not like Lennie. "By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoken to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for?" (Steinbeck 25.) Lennie is going to get into trouble with Curly and George will defend him and somehow get into their mess. Lennie will also get into trouble with Curly for falling in love with his wife. "Lennie's eyes moved down over her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little." (Steinbeck 31.) For, starring at his wife and probably later on in the story fiddling with her Lennie will get into deep trouble with Curley.

Summarize:

In today's reading Lennie and George went to the ranch to get started on their new jobs. They arrived late to their job and were shown to their sleeping headquarters. They then later met their new boss and were told what to do as a job after dinner. Later, they met the swamper with his old dog he started telling them about how nice the boss is and that it is great working here. Suddenly, the boss's son Curley comes and automatically dislikes Lennie, because Lennie is taller than Curley and Curley does not like tall guys, because he himself is not so tall. George and Curley get into a small argument for Lennie not responding to a question Curley asked him. They then meet Curley's wife who to Lennie is "purty." They then meet Slim he is not like the others he is nice and friendly not trying to find a fight like Curley. It is time for dinner and they are sort of happy, but not wanting to be here. They both wash up for dinner and the chapter later ends.


    

    
    

Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930s

www.olystudio.com

Literature is often a reflection of the time period in which it was written or, in the case of historical fiction, of the time period it is focused on. Authors will often find sneaky little ways to demonstrate the dominant characteristics of the time period by blending in details, that, at a closer glance, reveal these hidden themes.

In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s. John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men. In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Let's see if you can make the connection! Think about some of the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1). What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text? What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history? 

 

     Throughout the text John Steinbeck demonstrates the many aspects of the 1930s. He shows the 1930s as though kind of beast like through the characters Lennie and George. Through their actions the author captures how the 1930s weren't a time were many worried to be proper, but many acted beast like. "His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse" (3 Steinbeck.) In this quote when Lennie sees the water he rapidly rushes to the green scummy lake to drink. He probably did this, because he was desperate for basic supplies like water which he didn't have. He was like a beast and didn't know right from wrong and drank from the lake, because he was thirsty. Like a person today he wasn't proper, because of instinct and being thirsty acted like a beast and drank at the nearest water resource.
     He probably did this, because he was desperate for basic supplies like water which he didn't have. This quote says that many people in the 1930s were desperate for basic need like shelter, water, and etc. They were desperate and would do anything for these basic needs. Like in the picture above these people might be waiting in a food line, because they don't have enough money to buy food, and therefore were waiting in food line to get free food. Since, World War 1 was just happening the United Sates had to ration all their supplies and food to send to the troops. There wasn't much of anything and not many jobs were available. Many people had to live on the streets like the people in the picture.
This website I found talks about life during the great depresion.Check it out here!

    

Chapter 1 Notes

Summary:

     Throughout chapter I discovered the main characters Lennie and George. Lennie is a big, strong, and not very smart guy. George is a thin, small, and smart guy. They both are running away from a town, because Lennie touched a girl's dress and she freaked out about it. They ran away and are planning to find new jobs at a town named Weed. In the mean while they are hiding in a forest and George is dealing with Lennie, because he won't listen to George. George is constantly telling him to not keep mice as pets, but Lennie does it anyway and ends up killing them. They sit along the fire heating up their beans and George gets mad that Lennie wants ketchup for his beans, but they don't have ketchup and Lennie won't listen so they get into a huge argument. Lennie then says he should just leave and never come back and they both forgive each other.

Predictions:

     I predict that Lennie that will mess up the whole job interview. The manager will probably ask Lennie a bunch of question and he will get real nervous and spill the beans on why he got fired from his last job. This will lead into George getting the job and Lennie not and George persuading the manager to hire Lennie and Lennie will get the job. When he gets the job Lennie will probably mess up sometimes and George will have to fix it.

Reflect:

    I really like this book so far it is descriptive and really captures the characters. When reading I can feel like I know the characters by the way they talk and act. Steinbeck really captures Lennie and George. A thing that I would change though is the beginning it is very descriptive and kind of confuses the reader. I would not so much describe the scene on the first page, because it confuses the reader.


    

Picturing the History Behing of Mice and Men

     For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.
They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.
The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself. (1.2-4)
Sound familiar? Kind of like the pictures, right? In writing, compare and contrast this opening section from Of Mice and Men to the pictures you analyzed in class. What does the text and the photographs show us about the 1930s? Be specific!

     This picture relates and differs from the article written above. The article describes two men walking on the road "dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons." Even though the man in the picture is not wearing the exact same clothing as the other whe is wearing something similar he has on: jeans, a jacket, work shoes, and a hat. They are both walking out on the streets probably looking for a job to support themselves and/or family. These men both differ, because the one in this picture is lonely while the other one has a friend accompanying him on his journey to find a job. Steinbeck describes these men as one being small, thin, and having strong hands. While his friend is someone tall and wide shouldrered. In this picture the man looks more like the first guy being small and thin.
     Life in the 1930's must have been hard for the average person to live. It seems as though there wasn't a high job rate for those in need of a job. Many like these guys must have been wandering the streets looking for someone to higher them. Since there weren't that many jobs many people must have been starving on the streets, because they did not have a job. Since, people needed to be feed women would have multiple children to support there family money, food, and clothing wise. Life in the 1930's must have been hard for many to people to live.
     I found this awsome website that gives you many pictures throughout the Great Depresion Check it out here!