During the 1930s, the United States was ravaged by the Great Depression, a time of economic downfall. The entire population was an uneven social pyramid, the higher class citizens strived, while the lower class citizens were left to struggle, and the competition was fierce. Fifty percent of African Americans were unemployed, and those who were employed had wages 30% less than those of white people. People with disabilities were considered second class citizens and were given practically no rights. Some were just left alone to die. This was a time where the only way to succeed was the survival of the fittest. In the book, Of Mice and Men, migrant workers, George and Lennie, receive a sample of society in the 1930s and how the superior reign above the inferior. The author, John Steinbeck’s, use of allegory represents the constant struggle during the great depression, the reader will notice that the lower class citizens get, abused, pushed around and are taken advantage of by those who …show more content…
Crooks would say things like, “S’pose George don’t come back no more. S’pose he took a powder and just ain’t coming back.” and, “ They’ll take ya to the booby hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog”(72). In the quotations, Crooks is just playing a little joke on Lennie because he knows that he won’t know how to respond because he is mentally disabled. Even Crooks feels that he is more superior than Lennie, so he mocks him with his dependence for George. Lennie is treated with such disrespect just like most of the mentally disabled in the 1930s. Crooks, along with most people, consider Lennie a second class citizen, which apparently gives them the right to ridicule and bully him. Lennie, although having a lot of challenges, isn’t the only character who is disabled in a way. Candy, the swamper, is also handicapped and doesn’t have it easy because of
The Great Depression was far-reaching, and impartial. It affected people of all race, gender, status, and nationality. Men and women of almost all social classes felt the hard effects of unemployment and poverty. The Great Depression had devastating economic and political effects on the country during the 1930’s; however, the effects ran much deeper. Social inequality was boundless during this time period: the nation’s wealth was unbalanced, racial disparity was more prominent than ever, and gender still determined who was considered a first-rate citizen (Kennedy 70-73).
“When the Great Depression collapsed the U.S. economy in 1929, America's black population had already been living with harsh economic conditions, discrimination, and gross exploitation” (Bush). After the stock market crashed things only got worse for African Americans. During the 1930's African Americans faced discrimination, such as not having equal opportunities for jobs. Employment, when it could be found, was usually accompanied by racism and lower wages than their White Counterparts. New deal programs implemented by the government were suppose to help the entire unemployed population of the United States.
By the 1930s, half of the African American population was unemployed. Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s states, “In some Northern cities, whites called for African Americans to be fired from any jobs as long as there were whites out of work.” Unite 11 1930s: The Great Depression adds, “....in spring 1933 while the general unemployment rate was 25 percent, for blacks it was 50 percent. Also, the percentage of African Americans receiving welfare was higher than that of whites.”
He was forced to live in a cramped stable, apart from everyone else. Crooks was highly defensive, as shown when Lennie went to go talk to him. Crooks thought that no one wanted to talk to him and that all they wanted to do was hurt him. This was, in fact, not true in Lennie’s case. Lennie was just curious and had no bad intentions whatsoever.
How does Steinbeck present ‘places’ in the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’? In the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ Steinbeck creates his settings within California; a favoured location for many Americans in the ‘Great Depression’. It was supposed to be a destination full of wealth, work and hope – a place where hard work leads to personal dreams. Instead, it was packed with social misery and exclusion and depression, especially for the migrant workers.
In an interaction with Lennie, Crooks explains, “Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's goin' to come back. S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose
A character in which allegory is used but carefully hidden is Curley. Curley just walked out of the room and left Lennie, George, and an old man named Candy standing alone. Curley had just yelled at Lennie for not speaking for himself, and accuses George of pulling something over. Candy explains that Curley is very handy and is well liked, “S 'pose Curley jumps a big guy an ' licks him. Ever 'body says what a game guy Curley is” (26).
In what ways did the Great Depression affect the American people? After a decade of economic prosperity, what seemed like an era that defined the concept of the American dream, quickly came to an end when the stock market on Wall Street collapsed in 1929. The aftermath of the events that occurred on Wall Street would put its heavy mark on the years to follow among the citizens of the United States. Banks closed down, unemployment rose and homelessness increased. It was a widespread national catastrophe that had its impacts on both poor and rich.
But he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him.” (40) This shows that George used Lennie’s mental disability to amuse himself, completely disrespecting Lennie as a person and making himself feel more powerful. A third example of this from the book is where Curley’s wife says to Crooks “Well you keep your place then, Nigger.
He did not overcome this adversity, and it wasn’t very possible for him to do so because of the way people with mental disabilities were treated during that time. George emphasized, “You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job…” (Steinbeck 6) This shows the prejudice that Lennie faced because even his own friend was talking to him as though he was not on his level just because he had a mental
The battle for equality has been a problem for many years. Many people have strived for many changes throughout history, which directly and indirectly changed how people treat each other. As people strive towards equality, more struggles with reference to sexism, ableism, and racism awaits. The novel takes place in the 1930s, the Great Depression. The Great Depression is the worst economic downfall in U.S. history.
In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the era of the Great Depression in the 1930’s is revealed through a simple story of ranch workers who hope to improve their lives. Migrant workers, George and Lennie, have a friendship that is based on trust and protection. The other workers lack the companionship and bond that these two men have. In the novel, the absence and presence of friendship is the motivation for the characters’ actions.
1. Of Mice and Men contains many symbols. Discuss two of these symbols. Two prevalent symbols in “Of Mice And Men” by John Steinbeck are dogs and rabbits. Dogs are used in the novel to represent Lennie, and they way he’s treated.
Throughout the early 1930’s, Steinbeck’s characters were in search of a better life. They believed that they would achieve freedom from their nomadic lifestyles in America. Unfortunately, after the Wall Street crash of 1929 many of them lost their dream once the Great Depression began. To make matters worse, the increased farming activity and the 7 year drought which began in 1931 created the Dust Bowl in the Great Plain States. During this time, many people traveled to California in search of jobs and an easier life.
Stigmatizing Mental Illness Retarded. Stupid. Why do mentally ill people even get called these names? Is it based off of their actions, or what they do to other people, unintentionally? Mental illnesses do not affect just that individual, but everyone around them, as shown in the book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.