“They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it” (pg.84). Few quotes come closer to encapsulating the futility of the American Dream than this of John Steinbeck’s character Crooks in Of Mice and Men. The idea of improvement by one’s own hard work and the ultimate quelling of this dream is central to examining the novella from a Marxist perspective. Written in 1937, Of Mice and Men tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two nomadic farm hands who travel together in search of work across the ranches of California’s Salinas Valley. New historicism and naturalism form the basis of most of the original critical perspectives of the novella
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In Of Mice and Men it can clearly be seen that Curley and his father, the boss, represent the bourgeoisie or upper class of the social hierarchy. On the ranch, almost every other character could be said to be representative of the proletariat who is the worker, at the disposal of the bourgeoisie. Resulting from this relationship is the condition that it is how society works that the bourgeoisie have a predetermined high ground in every affair. A reader is shown this by Curley’s wearing of “high heeled boots” (p.27) like his father, as opposed to the ranch workers who don’t causing the two bourgeoisie to literally walk higher than the proletariats. Literary critic Edwin Berry Burgum states that these supposed class “tensions” are set up by the “nature of capitalism” whereby the bourgeoisie’s only “strength” lies in their ability to fire a worker (Burgum, 1946). This I agree with for the most part and is exemplified by Curley’s picking of a fight with Lennie despite being half Lennie’s size and assures his authority by telling Lennie he will “talk when he’s spoke to” (p.28). However in his analysis, I believe Burgum neglects to mention the anger of the working class towards the upper class which I believe to be the cause of the most tension. The 1930s saw America work its way out of the great depression as a result of President Roosevelt’s New Deal whereby all Americans would be …show more content…
In Marx’s original theories this relates to his posing of a communist based society in his Communists Manifesto. Of Mice and Men sees Steinbeck ingeniously weave the idyllic American Dream into the plot. George tells of “a little house” with a “cow and some pigs” (pg.15). It is mentioned that this is similar to a rural upbringing setting that George experienced as a child and perhaps George knows that In the hard times they find themselves in this dream would never eventuate but it does however provide hope and an escape from their back breaking work. As Crooks says in his profound rant, “never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets” the land in their head but the reasons for this are divided amongst critics. Burt Cardullo argues that Lennie is a “case on the loose” and could have caused himself and George’s demise before the book or any time after. However, Edwin Burgum goes further to say that George and Lennie are left in their situation not only because of “their own limitations” but also their “station in society.” This I believe takes into account both a purely Marxist reading and too ensures attention is payed to the fact that sociological issues still remain central to the text. By ultimately denying Lennie and George the luxuries it would bestow on them such as economic freedom Steinbeck makes a
In Of Mice and Men it can clearly be seen that Curley and his father, the boss, represent the bourgeoisie or upper class of the social hierarchy. On the ranch, almost every other character could be said to be representative of the proletariat who is the worker, at the disposal of the bourgeoisie. Resulting from this relationship is the condition that it is how society works that the bourgeoisie have a predetermined high ground in every affair. A reader is shown this by Curley’s wearing of “high heeled boots” (p.27) like his father, as opposed to the ranch workers who don’t causing the two bourgeoisie to literally walk higher than the proletariats. Literary critic Edwin Berry Burgum states that these supposed class “tensions” are set up by the “nature of capitalism” whereby the bourgeoisie’s only “strength” lies in their ability to fire a worker (Burgum, 1946). This I agree with for the most part and is exemplified by Curley’s picking of a fight with Lennie despite being half Lennie’s size and assures his authority by telling Lennie he will “talk when he’s spoke to” (p.28). However in his analysis, I believe Burgum neglects to mention the anger of the working class towards the upper class which I believe to be the cause of the most tension. The 1930s saw America work its way out of the great depression as a result of President Roosevelt’s New Deal whereby all Americans would be …show more content…
In Marx’s original theories this relates to his posing of a communist based society in his Communists Manifesto. Of Mice and Men sees Steinbeck ingeniously weave the idyllic American Dream into the plot. George tells of “a little house” with a “cow and some pigs” (pg.15). It is mentioned that this is similar to a rural upbringing setting that George experienced as a child and perhaps George knows that In the hard times they find themselves in this dream would never eventuate but it does however provide hope and an escape from their back breaking work. As Crooks says in his profound rant, “never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets” the land in their head but the reasons for this are divided amongst critics. Burt Cardullo argues that Lennie is a “case on the loose” and could have caused himself and George’s demise before the book or any time after. However, Edwin Burgum goes further to say that George and Lennie are left in their situation not only because of “their own limitations” but also their “station in society.” This I believe takes into account both a purely Marxist reading and too ensures attention is payed to the fact that sociological issues still remain central to the text. By ultimately denying Lennie and George the luxuries it would bestow on them such as economic freedom Steinbeck makes a