Disabilities In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Throughout the novel “Of Mice and Men” there were a lot of notable themes, but none more prominent than disability. In the novel, John Steinbeck displays various forms of disabilities including mental disability, race, and gender. Steinbeck also analyzes the affects that these disabilities have on the characters of the novel and their roles in society. Whether we analyze the relationships that the characters have with the disabled, or how their disability hinders them professionally or socially in society, it is evident that John Steinbeck’s goal is to make disability a forefront theme in “Of Mice and Men”.
In the novel, Steinbeck’s description of George and Lennie’s friendship provides an example of the caregiver type relationship that people …show more content…
In the first chapter, George explodes on Lennie, ranting, “if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an ' work, an ' no trouble… An ' whatta I got, I got you!”. When George rants to Lennie, it is not because he does not care for Lennie, but because he is unsatisfied with his lack of freedom. Someone who is in a situation where they are obligated to take care of their disabled loved one, may often find themselves with similar emotions that George has. Taking care of a disabled individual takes a great amount of time and effort, often leaving little freedom for the …show more content…
Steinbeck analyzes how race and gender could be considered a disability during this time period. When talking to Lennie, Curley’s wife reminisces on how she “Coulda been in the movies, an ' had nice clothes”, but because she did not, she was forced to marry Curley and be stuck on the farm. Curley’s wife did not have an opportunity to become successful in her own right because of her gender. During this time period, women did not have the same rights and were not afforded the same opportunities as men, which allowed gender to act as a disability, as it limited women both socially and