Depression In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The novel, Of Mice and Men, portrays a somewhat accurate representation of the time period it is set in. The time period in question though not specifically mentioned in the book is inferred to be the Depression. This conclusion is drawn from the transitory nature that farm laborers are said to have in the novel and the sentiments shown throughout the novel ranging from the putting down of the weak in society to the apparent death of dreams. During the Depression, the sight of migrant workers was a common occurrence with unemployment as high as it was. The transitory nature of the migrant worker was also common due to rampant layoffs that must have occurred as prices fell in agricultural goods to lows that most likely did not cover costs …show more content…
This is apparent in the way that the stable hand, Crooks, is mentioned. The characters describe him as being a “nigger” as if it’s just a regular word used to describe someone rather than it being the offensive term it is today (Steinbeck, P.10). Neither George nor Candy say the word with any apparent malice and that is what truly exemplified the racist sentiments of the time. Even without being personally hateful against blacks, during the time use of the derogatory term was just natural. Crooks was also segregated on the farm from the rest of the workers. During the 1930s, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) was still in effect allowing for the legal segregation of blacks and whites. (Self, P.527-28) Also the scene in Crooks’ room, serves as another indicator of the time as he speaks with Curley’s wife. He tries to fight for his personal space against her but once she brings up the certainty of being able to get him lynched at any time she wishes, Crooks backs down (Steinbeck, P.39). This more than exemplified the times when looking at the Scottsboro case of 1931, where two white women with inconsistent stories got eight African Americans convicted of rape and sentenced to death …show more content…
In the West, specifically California, thousands of immigrants from Mexico and Asia migrated from farm to farm during the picking seasons (Self, P.686). With the number of them working cheaply and corporate farm owners’ plea to Congress a decade before to not restrict Latin American immigration, it is surprising that Crooks stated he was the only colored person on the farm. (Steinbeck, P.35) Filipinos, which were not affected by Asian immigration acts, and Mexicans, that were actively sought after by corporate farm owners before the depression, would have made up a larger population of the workers than the predominantly white characters that Steinbeck introduced in his story. (Self,