Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay

Every prep atomic number 18 of lit sequenceture created is influenced by the time in which it was written. A special(prenominal) text is a reflection of the era or period in which it was born. An author is cont ained in spite of appearance a specific time in hi narrative, and his compose be bonks the result of the social, economic or political environment of that time. This is the reason wherefore it is extremely important for a reader to determine the context of the story in order to fully understand a theatrical usage of literature. Of Mice and snuff it force by John Steinbeck is a capital example of how a text reflects a particular era.It is a story written in the thirty-something and revealed what was take a chanceing during that time in calcium. Hence, John Steinbecks Of Mice and work force is a reflection of atomic number 20 during the thirties. Of Mice and Men is a story about the hotshotship amidst George Milton and Lennie Small. The ii men atomic number 18 remarkably diametric from each new(prenominal). Steinbeck (1994) exposit George as small and quick, biased of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features (p. 4). He picture Lennie as the opposite of his companion he was a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide slanted shoulders (Steinbeck, 1994, p.4). However, their differences were non limited to physical appearances. George is intelligent, but his fri annihilate Lennie is mentally challenged (Steinbeck, 1994). The mental condition of the latter oblige him to depend solely on the former. While George a peachy deal expressed displeasure about the burden of world Lennies companion, he proved to be a dedicated friend. He served as Lennies guardian. Unfortunately, Lennies disability caused him to be involved in great trouble. He was unable to discern his own strength, circumstantially harming and killing early(a)s in the process.In the end, George continues to fulfill his enjoyment as Lennie s protector he killed Lennie himself to fifth wheel him from death in the hands of Curley (Steinbeck, 1994). While the association between George and Lenny is the main focus of the story, the history of atomic number 20 plays a bigger and more significant role in the novel. Of Mice and Men is likewise a story about California and the fusss which plagued it during the 1930s. John Steinbeck wrote three books which delved into the military post in California in 1930s Of Mice and Men is the second book in the trilogy. The other ii novels were In Dubious Battle and The Grapes of Wrath.In On Mice and Men, the relationship between George and Lennie is set against the back fly of 1930s California. Both men are migratory workers with a single day- moon they wanted to own a baste of land and farm it themselves. George said, Somedaywere gonna get the jack together and were gonna rent a little house and a duplicate of acres an a cow and some pigs (Steinbeck, 1994). This fancy was i nfluenced, if not completely defined, by the problems of the state at that particular time. In the Introduction of the On Mice and Men, Shillinglaw (1994) described California in the 1930s.During the 1930s, the main problem in California was agricultural labor. Since the 1900s, most of the agriculturally abundant valleys were primed(p) in California. Produce such as broccoli, lettuce, kale beets and strawberries were only some of those harvested in plenitude. The vast farms in California required many laborers for its harvest. Meanwhile, the Southwest contribution of America suffered from drought. Due to the drought, the once bountiful lands became convertible to deserts. As a result, laborers left what was humpn as the Dust Bowl to try their luck in California.Since 1935, an estimated 350,000 people from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas stormed the well-situated State in hopes of finding jobs in the farms. While it was true that California had enormous agricultural fields which s upplied most of the rustics produce, the employment of workers were still a problem. there were too many people to accommodate for jobs in these farms. Workers from the Dust Bowl wandered end-to-end the state in try of crops to farm, as they were desperate for work. By 1936, California was faced with a major problem the eternal flow of poor and hungry migrants from the Southwest.The situation of rove farm workers was illustrated in Of Mice and Men. The novel began with the arrival of George and Lennie in the Salinas River. George was upset that the bus driver did not drop them off at the proper location. He said, Didnt wanta stop at the ranch gate, thats what (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 6). The two men exemplified the situation of all the other migrant workers in California during the 1930s. Agricultural laborers such as George and Lennie were directed from matchless ranch to another, in search for work.George asked Lennie, You remember about us goin into Murray and take a leaks, and they natural spring us work cards and bus tickets? (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 7). Murray and Ready had provided two men with the cards and tickets, then send them to the adjoining ranch. According to the novel, the last ranch they worked for was called Weed. The pledge of the itinerant laborers was best expressed by Georges words They come to a ranch an work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know theyre poundin their tail on some other ranch (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15).The novel also portrayed the arduous life of phallic migrant workers and their need for charitable company. It was said that majority of the migrant agricultural workers in California were single men. Since the 1870s until 1930, the fruit and wheat crops of the Golden State were harvested by single men. These men were unexampled day nomads, for they constantly moved from one crop to another. They carried bindles whenever they went. George confirmed the situation of male farm workers in California Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest computerized axial tomographys in the world. They got no family. They dont run low no place (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15).The solitude of the farm workers resulted in the constant need for companionship. In the absence of wives and families, the male itinerant laborers develop friendships instead. The friendship between George and Lennie was the strain of relationship created due to the caboodle of the migrant workers. condescension his complaints about having Lennie around, it was apparent that George was just as pendant on Lennie as Lennie was dependent on him. Whenever Lennie threaten to perish, George told him that he wanted his friend to stay. Their bond was so strong that they did not consider themselves as identical to the aforementioned lonely guys.George said With us it aint like that. We got a future. We got somebody to discourse to that gives a goddam about us (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 15). The novel revealed how agricultural laborers were marginalized in California society. All of them were set and awaitd on dire conditions. Despite the unfortunate circumstances which befell them, there are those who remained optimistic and determined. However, even the ambitious laborers also fail. They would simply leave the ranch and bear on to another place. In the novel, George and Lennie went to the bunk house of the next ranch they were supposed to work for.When George asked Candy why the former occupant of his new bed quit, this was the answer Hejust quit, the way a guy will. Says it was the food. Just wanted to move (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 20). George and Lennie were also ambitious. They take for grown weary of working from one ranch to another, and working for people like Curley. They dreamt of having a small-arm of land they can personally attend to. The dream was revealed early on in the novel, and was continuously mentioned throughout the story. Candy overheard the two taking about their liking for their own (Steinbeck, 1994).He responded positively, and even offered his savings to both men so that he could also live on their land. Crooks also learned about the course of study to buy land. During one night, Lennie spoke to Crooks about his excogitation to own land with George. Unlike Candy, Crooks had a diametrical response to the plan. He discouraged Lennie by insinuating that his dream will never come true. Crooks said I seen hundreds of men come by on the thoroughfare an on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an that same damn thing in their passing playsevery damn one of ems got a little piece of land in his head.An never a divinity damn one of em ever gets it (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 75). The typeface of Crooks was castigate in 1930s California, many workers did not achieve the success they originally hoped to find there. By the end of the novel, George and Lennie proved to be unsuccessful as well. The dream of George a nd Lennie to obtain their own land did not come true. Lennie has a fondness for gorgerin things which are soft it was this fondness which guaranteed his demise (Steinbeck, 1994). Lennie and George were forced to leave the ranch in Weed because Lennies petting had gotten them in trouble.In the ranch in Soledad, Lennie accidentally killed a puppy because he was too strong. By accident, he pulled the hair of Curleys wife and also broke her neck, causing her to die. When Curley and the rest of the men in the ranch found out that Lennie killed the wife, they form a mob and went to search for Lennie. Before they arrived at the ranch, George told Lennie to matter to the Salinas River in case he got in trouble. George told his friend, Lennieif you jus happen to get in trouble like you forever and a day done before, I want you to come right here an hide in the brush (Steinbeck, 1994, p. 17). after(prenominal) he killed Curleys wife, Lennie proceed to the brush and George met him there. Ge orge began to express of the land they would own together and the rabbits that Lennie would take anxiety of. Afterwards, he shot Lennie on the back of his head (Steinbeck, 1994). The farm was a representation of every migrant workers dream to own a piece of land and be in correspond of their own lives. The farm served as a image of freedom and independence. For George, the death of his friend was also the end of their dream. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was truly a representation of California during the 1930s.Through the story of George, Lennie and the other characters, Steinbeck was able to illustrate the agricultural labor problem that existed in the Golden State during that decade. The novel revealed the geological fault of workers, the harsh realities of living as a nomad in California, their isolation and need for companionship and the broken dreams that come with the journey. By reading this novel, one is given a glimpse of California in the 1930s. Reference Steinbe ck, J. (1994). Of Mice and Men. cutting York Penguin Classics.