Of Mice and Men And American Depression Beginning Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men And American Depression Beginning EssayIn 1930, the American Depression began. It was to extend a feature that would affect some peoples lives. Men such as George and Lennie had no literacy skills therefore their job span was increasingly limited. George and Lennie were unique in the way that they went around the country running(a) on the ranches together. John Steinbeck used George and Lennies companionship in these times of hardship to reflect optimism and hope. Steinbecks knowledge is mirrored in a vast amount of this book in the way that he produces scenes for the characters to encounter and try to solve. America turned on its people in the Depression, forcing even the severely disabled to work for they had no otherwise options they would non survive if they did not boast any capital. Workers used the ranchs resources to comfort themselves. Workers even came to the ranches on a Satur daylight afternoon, so they could stimulate all their meals on the da y of rest and then depart without doing any intense labour. The book illustrates this fact with the excerpt. Guy that wants to come out oer a ranch comes in Satday afternoon. He gets Satday iniquity supper an three meals on Sunday, and he quit Monday mornin after breakfast without turning his hand. This quote emphasises the ranch workers dependence upon the ranches and in a way lets us into the emblematic ranch workers pattern of thoughts, therefore this reiterates how the migrant gardening worked.Throughout the book, George and Lennie consider a pipe dream this dream has been a goal, a goal to watch over them from spiralling into depression. The dream is to be able to afford their own piece of land and live in peace and harmony, however the dream interprets two opposite trains of thought. For Lennie it kernel that he can look after the rabbits, therefore it creates a childish reality. For George he craves independence to hit his individual character content, however Georg e knows that this is a dream, he is not thinking somewhat what will roughly likely happen. This was the case for many American ranch workers they fulfilled these dreams by reading magazines with stories such as The Dark Rider.For example He went to his bunk and put his head on his shelf. Then he picked a pulp magazine from his shelf and brought it to the light over the table. This emphasises the American Dream and this is why this of magazine was so popular, it produces a p set down in text about a fantasy ranch worker, who travels majestically about the country on his ebony stallion. For the ranch workers they envisage that it will be them upon the stallion doing deeds to save the country, this reflects the migrant cultures pull down of convergence with their dreams and how it kept their hopes up high during these times of hardship.Steinbeck selects George and Lennie out of the vast migrant culture, for their unique circumstances and their overpowering friendship. For example L ennie broke in. But not us Becausebecause I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you and thats why. This quote depicts their fondness for one another and how important friendship was. The parturiency for Steinbeck was to create an array of characters who had different characters and attitudes at this time, but they formed a team who had to work together and cope with each others habits. The migrant culture was a population of people from different backgrounds therefore this point is dissected from the rest of the book very wellAt the beginning of the novel, we follow George and Lennie through the state of Soledad trying to redek work. To make matters worse the raft driver dropped them off more than quatern miles from their location. Jes a little stretch down the highway, he says. Jes a little stretch. God damn near four miles. George is obviously angry about the bus drivers heartlessness towards these two men, however men like George and Lennie were easy targe ts, as the man knew he would never see them again and they were lower class civilians, therefore people showed no respect towards them. Travelling these long distances in such isolated conditions was a daunting task and there must have been some murders and fatalities in such alone(p) conditions. The migrant culture brought the aspect of danger into many peoples lives.On arrival. George and Lennie have to go to the boss office to submit their name and various details. It is vital that they both have a reputation for being hard workers at this early tier or they could be asked to leave. The bosss suspicions are aroused by Lennies lack of communication and he immediately asks questions such as He aint much of a talker, is he? and , I s attend to what stake you got in this guy? You takin his pay away from him? These questions show that the migrant culture was untrustworthy and nobody could be trusted.In the migrant culture the vast majority of ranch workers decreased every mans chanc es of being noticed and looked after, therefore if the worker was not working up to the amount standard they would simply be told to leave. It was a dog eats dog world and the other ranch workers were certainly not sympathetic to your feelings. For example You was pokin your prodigious ears into our business, George said. I don t like nobody to get nosey. Ranch workers had to have a depth of insensitivity and be oblivious to acrimonious comments. seclusion featured in the novel was the result of bitterness. There were three main characters that represented loneliness in the novel. Crooks was a black man who looked after the stables. During the American Depression, black people were shown little respect and the white people regarded them as slaves making hurtful comments and forcing them into isolation for the insignificant reason of their colour. To add to Crooks misery, he had a severely bowed back, this limited his work span and his isolation became greater. Crooks was bitter towards all white people for the way they had mentally scared him and for this reason he showed no feelings towards them either. Crooks was even a solitary figure at night, for he was not even allowed into the bunkhouse let alone to sleep in there. Crooks confided in books to make up for his social loss, however he could only seek refuge in a book to a certain degree and soon he fell into the bottomless pit of seclusion once more.Crooks was even foul to his equals such as Lennie. Crooks said sharply You got no right to come in my room. This heres my room. Nobody got any right in here but me. This quote reflects Crooks bitterness and shows that his isolated life has make him selfish. The America Depression and the migrant culture turned on black people and treated them as dirt. Crooks feels this harsh mannerism and understandingly turns against it, which makes him uncivil likewise. Curleys married woman is another lonesome character, who seeks solace with the workers on the ranch . Her isolation is increased by the fact that she is the only woman on the ranch and the only unemployed person as well, therefore she has far too much time on her hands. Her hasty marriage was a way to conquer loneliness however it has only stretched her detachment from the world. Other lonesome characters such as Candy and George will not mix with her, as they see her as a troublesome threat.The only person on the ranch who listens to Curleys wife is Lennie, however the relationship is not true, for Lennies mental problems make it infeasible for him to join in any conversation. Lennies power is what makes Curleys wife attracted to him, for Lennie crushed Curleys hand during a fight. most(prenominal) women would be furious with the man who had injured her husband, but Curleys wife laughs saying to Lennie. Ok, Machine. Ill talk to you later. I like machines. This implicates how she hates her husband and reveals that she only married him for security.Curleys wife knows that Lennie i s mentally inadequate, therefore she feels as if she has power over him and of course it is unlikely that she has ever experienced this feeling before. The migrant culture has had a great rig on Curleys wife life. The men who once had time for her, now have to work to survive, therefore they have no time for her inane chatter. George is another solitary character on the ranch. This may sound inaccurate, but as we have discovered Lennie is mentally disabled and cannot participate in sort of conversation. George may be able to have a social life at the ranches, however he will only stay at a ranch for a small duration of time, so close friendships cannot be made. The migrant culture had an immense impact on ranch workers social lives and soon they would have become social outcasts.In chapter three, Lennie brings the subject of the dream into conversation, while sitting down with George one night. George informs him of a reasonably priced farm he has discovered. Candy joined in the co nversation still traumatised by his elderly dogs abrupt death asking the details of this house. George is reluctant to tell him for the reason that it has been George and Lennies dream from when they started roaming the countryside for work and it would seem sinful for them to invite someone they did not know into it at this stage. Candy is not struck back by these comments and informs them that he has $450 saved up in the bank. George half-closed his eyes. I gotta think about that. We was always gonna do it by ourselves. George portrays a reluctant character who is unwilling to co-operate, yet inside he is probably celebrating the making of his dream.The sudden scope of this dream that has been released is truly magnificent. George and Lennie have conquered every migrant workers pessimistic prospect, to make their dream realistic George is overcome by this unexpected event that he knows will change his life for the rest of his days. In the book he frees his humble and timid cha racter to replace it with an electrifying and bold person who we have not seen before. Quotes to reflect this outburst are George said reverently Jesus Christ I calculate we could swing her.His eyes full of wonder. I bet we could swing her, he repeated softly and George stood up. Well do her, he said. Well fix up that little old place an well go live there. George is ecstatic he has finally found a way to make his naturally independent character content and he will be able to make his own money by being the boss, the man he has respected for so long. At last Lennie will be caoutchouc from the temptations of the world that he simply cannot handle. George and Lennie have found hope in these mentally painful times, which scarred so many men for life. This scene interprets the fortunes of the piece life and after many downfalls they have come to a conclusion, that many migrant workers never found.In novels after optimism comes despondency. The ending of this book is tragic. Lennie, who has become easily influenced by Curleys wife flirtatious movements becomes too attached to her and when asked to feel her hair he becomes over exuberant and in sheer panic clings on to the sharp framework of this woman, Curleys wife slumps to the ground like a ragdoll taking the effect of this mans awesome power with a broken neck to prove the damage, which can not be reversed. The tragedy led to Lennies disappearance and the ranch workers pursue him , however George knew where he was from an earlier plan and went to find him. The hand shook violently, but his reflexion set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.A emotional scene for two people we thought were so fond of each other, however George knew that Curley and fellow friends were going to kill him and in the most brutal manner possible to mankind, which would have been distressing for the two companions. George thought it would have been appropriate for Lennies last living moments to be filled with the memory that they love the most, the dream. The dream would not be fulfilled after Lennies crime and death therefore he would be of a majority once again working to make his dream reality and this is why so many migrants ended becoming severely depressed and killing themselves as a result of their bitterness and hurt.John Steinbeck creates a novel, which depicts a compelling yet brusque meaning. Steinbeck brings out the truth of these times and does not try to shroud it and keep it away from the human race eye, for nothing can hide the truth. Since George came to this ranch in Soledad, we have been through his pain with him and happiness, however we have always had the dream in the back of our minds. greedy the fact that the dream will never occur has added a touch of realism to this book and made us realise that this is not a imaginary number story, instead it is the hard hitting truth. The novel has made it obvious that the typical migrant workers life was a continuous circle, which never changes its shape and that it would be the equal for George from now on.Hopes and Dreams have been the backbone for this story. Many of the characters have mentioned a dream and at that point their tone of voice changed. For example She looked up at Lennie, and she made a small grand gesture with her arm and hand to show that she could act. The fingers trailed after her leading wrist and her little finger stuck out grandly from the rest. This quote shows how Curleys wife sparkles on the inside, when she talks about her illusive acting career.Dreams meant so much more to people during the American Depression as they do to our propagation due to the great span of activities we can do today compared to the limited amount in the 1930s.A number of peoples dreams can be accomplished today for we have the technology. Hopes and Dreams became the great factor in George and Lennies relationship, for it gave them something to talk about that they both understood and talking is the key to a good friendship. Lonesome migrant workers did not have a friend to confide instead they constantly thought about the long working hours and their isolation. A dream kept them focused and acted as an aid to comfort them.George has now become one of these lonely souls, who we envisage trekking along dusty roads with a face tangled by his own grief. It would not have been right if Lennie, George and Candy went to the idyllic farmhouse and lived happily ever, as that would have not been reflecting the outcome of so many migrant workers lives and Steinbeck would have been interpreting a false hope to the reader.Characters in the novel such as Candy and Crooks fell into the invalid category, where they were envisaged as being outsiders who looked up to normal people on the ranch. Crooks was a black man and at the time of the Depression , black people were looked upon as dirt and only being able to do jobs that would not take in them with any human contact, therefore he was very much isolated from the world and felt bitter and resentful towards any human who tried to join with him. An example of Crooks bitterness Crooks said sharply You got no right to come in my room. This heres my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.