Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930s

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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.

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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!