How Does Steinbeck Use Power In Of Mice And Men

“Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power,” (William Gaddis). Gaddis was referring to what people use their power for not the power itself. For example someone, like the character Slim from Of Mice and Men, might have power or influence over others. That person’s power would be considered to be good or bad depending on how they use it. Everyone is associated with power weather it be they do not have power, they use their power responsibly, or they abuse it. The world is full of power-hungry people and it seems to be a race to get to the top. In Of Mice and Men the power struggle is between migrant workers on a California ranch in 1930. Society influences who gets power, but only that person can decide what they’re going to do with …show more content…
Steinbeck’s message about power is that people react differently in positions of power because in Of Mice and Men readers see characters with little to no power, who responsibly use their power, and those who abuse their power.
Due to the fact Of Mice and Men is set in the 1930’s the characters with little to no power are often ones faced by major discrimination like Crooks who is an African American minority. He doesn’t have any power and allows the boss to …show more content…
The characters with no power are minorities of the time period (1930’s) who have few choices to make in order to survive. The characters who responsibly use their power use it for the good of other people and to better the lives of those around them. The characters who abuse their power take advantage of the people who do not have any because they know that nothing is stopping them. William Gaddis had the right idea when he said-“Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power.”-because everyone is associated with power, but they use it