Of Mice and Men
- Created by: Abbey
- Created on: 05-05-13 13:02
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- Of Mice and Men
- John Steinbeck
- Born 1902- 35 years old when OMAM was published.
- Steinbeck was of a wealthy family however spent time as a young man as a migrant ranch worker.
- The details of the novella are therefore accurate.
- Context
- Set in the time of the Great Depression
- Widespread povery
- Whole families moved across America to the 'Golden State' of California to find work and weren't greeted kindly.
- 'Okies' were not wanted by California and often had nowhere to go.
- "We got ten bucks between us" George p60
- "ten bucks" is a near impossible amount for one man to survive on, let alone two
- they HAD to survive on it
- "ten bucks" is a near impossible amount for one man to survive on, let alone two
- Whole families moved across America to the 'Golden State' of California to find work and weren't greeted kindly.
- Widespread povery
- Women
- Of Mice and Men has quite a cruel portrayal of women
- However all nice and positive thing are"her"s:
- "...we'd jus' go to her" George talking about going to a carnival p61
- "We'll let her die down" George talking about their fire p17
- The fire that night allowed them to eat, kept them warm and could be used to protect them if they had needed it to.
- Protection
- Aunt Clara
- Protection
- The fire that night allowed them to eat, kept them warm and could be used to protect them if they had needed it to.
- Women are almost always portrayed as a danger
- Foreshadowing Lennie's involvement with Curley's wife and her death.
- "Andy's in San Quentin right now on account of a tart" George warning Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife p56
- Curley's wife is nameless
- Even Slim's dog has a name- Lulu
- threatens to destroy the mens' happiness and longevity
- Even Slim's dog has a name- Lulu
- However Aunt Clara, Lulu and the women in the "cat house" are described positively.
- Susy is an entrepreneur, a business woman
- "'My girls is clean'" Whit speaking for Susy p53
- Steinbeck incorporates many stereotypes of women to portray women at this time.
- All of these women/female characters serve men in some way.
- However Aunt Clara, Lulu and the women in the "cat house" are described positively.
- Susy is an entrepreneur, a business woman
- "'My girls is clean'" Whit speaking for Susy p53
- Steinbeck incorporates many stereotypes of women to portray women at this time.
- All of these women/female characters serve men in some way.
- Aunt Clara: looked after Lennie and gave him mice.
- Lulu: provides company and has puppies which could be sold or trained.
- Cat house: fulfill men's sexual desires as they are young sinlge men.
- All of these women/female characters serve men in some way.
- Susy is an entrepreneur, a business woman
- Aunt Clara: looked after Lennie and gave him mice.
- Lulu: provides company and has puppies which could be sold or trained.
- Cat house: fulfill men's sexual desires as they are young sinlge men.
- However Aunt Clara, Lulu and the women in the "cat house" are described positively.
- All of these women/female characters serve men in some way.
- Susy is an entrepreneur, a business woman
- However all nice and positive thing are"her"s:
- Of Mice and Men has quite a cruel portrayal of women
- The elderly
- Untitled
- Published 1937
- Set in the time of the Great Depression
- Themes
- Loneliness
- Soledad
- Companionship
- Outsiderdom
- American Dream
- Violence
- Marginalised factions of society
- Hope and faith
- Power and status
- Loneliness
- Structure
- Cyclic
- Portrays hopelessness of ranch hands' lives at this time.
- Starts and ends at the pool by the Salinas River
- Represents start and end of life and how nothing changes.
- Cyclic
- Imagery
- Animals
- Lennie
- "the way a bear drags his paws" p4
- immediately described as a potentially dangerous and incredibly powerful animal
- foreshadows murder of Curley's wife, puppies and the crushing of Curley's hand.
- a bear can also be though of as a cuddly teddy bear
- false sense of security for reader
- immediately described as a potentially dangerous and incredibly powerful animal
- "like a horse" p4
- another powerful, strong animal
- when a horse falls, it takes down its jockey.
- Lennie is the horse, George and the Dream are the jockey?
- when Lennie is killed, does the Dream die too?
- Lennie is the horse, George and the Dream are the jockey?
- "dabbled his big paw" p5
- immediately described as a potentially dangerous and incredibly powerful animal
- foreshadows murder of Curley's wife, puppies and the crushing of Curley's hand.
- a bear can also be though of as a cuddly teddy bear
- false sense of security for reader
- immediately described as a potentially dangerous and incredibly powerful animal
- "The small man stepped nervously beside him"
- reinforces initial idea of Lennie being a danger, his companion is nervous.
- "like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master" p10
- Lennie is a terrier
- a typical terrier temperament is described as reluctant to back down.
- Lennie doesn't know when to stop
- a typical terrier temperament is described as reluctant to back down.
- George is the "master", leader, provider and carer.
- Lennie is a terrier
- "the way a bear drags his paws" p4
- George
- "small and quick" p4
- a mouse
- "restless eyes and strong, dark features" p4
- nervous?
- "restless eyes and strong, dark features" p4
- a mouse
- "small and quick" p4
- Lennie
- Biblical
- Pool by the Salinas river = Garden of Eden.
- "fresh and green" p1
- all very alive and growing
- where Lennie is killed.
- all very alive and growing
- "A water snake glided smoothly up the pool" p98
- a snake tempted Eve
- foreshadows and evil occurrence
- Lennie's death
- foreshadows and evil occurrence
- a snake tempted Eve
- The Dream farm = Garden of eden.
- The land of milk and honey (Exodus)
- The dream farm: "live on the fatta the lan'" p56
- "the cream is so God damn think you got to cut it with a knife" p57
- The dream farm: "live on the fatta the lan'" p56
- The land of milk and honey (Exodus)
- "fresh and green" p1
- Lennie is killed because nobody except George fully understand him
- Jesus
- Judas betrays Jesus
- George kills Lennie
- Jesus and Lennie both killed for something which they can't really control.
- his mental issues
- Judas betrays Jesus
- Jesus
- Lennie thinks about the future before his death
- Jesus prayed at Gethsemane
- Jesus
- Judas betrays Jesus
- George kills Lennie
- Jesus and Lennie both killed for something which they can't really control.
- his mental issues
- Judas betrays Jesus
- Pool by the Salinas river = Garden of Eden.
- Animals
- Characters
- George
- "small and quick" p4
- Lennie
- "terrier"p10
- Slim
- "the prince of the ranch" p34
- Crooks
- "***** stable buck"p66
- Candy
- "tall, stoop-shouldered old man" p19
- Curley
- "always scrappy" p28
- Curley's wife
- "poison" p33
- George
- John Steinbeck
- The animals which live in the clearing by the pool "hurried noiselessly for cover" as Lennie approached.
- the other animals know that Lennie is a threat.
- "I don' like this place George. This ain't no good place"
- Jesus knew of his fate and it seems Lennie does too?
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