Of Mice and Men (1937) by John Steinbeck is a very engaging novella which focuses on two main characters, George Milton and Lennie Small, who are chasing an impossible delusion of the American Dream. Their journey to reach this dream is laborious and problematic but when they finally progress to their goal, complicated problems arise which lead to the inevitable ending of Lennie 's death. The ending is destined to occur due to how it is important to show the author 's intention by showing how life was during the Great Depression and how people fought to survive in these harsh conditions. Steinbeck 's ambition is to develop certain themes. The themes that the author has portrayed in the story is that the American Dream is an impossible vision
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Shown in the characterisation throughout the story, racism is displayed through the stable buck, Crooks. Crooks is segregated due to his skin colour, which makes him feel dejected since he is not welcome anywhere near the other men on the ranch. The result of the way the white people have treated him, has led Crooks to feel hostile and defensive towards them. For instance, when Lennie wanted to come into the barn where Crooks ' room was, Crooks was not very comfortable and welcoming with Lennie being around and told him how "They play cards in there, but I can 't play because I am black."(page 77). This shows how Crooks is not welcome among the other men and is left out on simple things such as leisure. The author additionally expresses the theme sexism through the characters Curley and his wife who is not getting the proper attention she deserves. Steinbeck chose to never give Curley 's wife a name to express the fact men were dominant over women and how she is in possession to Curley. Curley 's wife always presents herself in a flirtatious manner to the men on the ranch, this is shown when she "put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward," (page 34-35) she only tries to get the attention of other men. Curley 's wife always tries to gain the guys attention because she is lonely being the only women on the ranch and is not given the proper care and attention need by her cruel husband Curley. This shows that in order to achieve the author 's goal and deliver the theme, the story must express these features of American society in the
Shown in the characterisation throughout the story, racism is displayed through the stable buck, Crooks. Crooks is segregated due to his skin colour, which makes him feel dejected since he is not welcome anywhere near the other men on the ranch. The result of the way the white people have treated him, has led Crooks to feel hostile and defensive towards them. For instance, when Lennie wanted to come into the barn where Crooks ' room was, Crooks was not very comfortable and welcoming with Lennie being around and told him how "They play cards in there, but I can 't play because I am black."(page 77). This shows how Crooks is not welcome among the other men and is left out on simple things such as leisure. The author additionally expresses the theme sexism through the characters Curley and his wife who is not getting the proper attention she deserves. Steinbeck chose to never give Curley 's wife a name to express the fact men were dominant over women and how she is in possession to Curley. Curley 's wife always presents herself in a flirtatious manner to the men on the ranch, this is shown when she "put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward," (page 34-35) she only tries to get the attention of other men. Curley 's wife always tries to gain the guys attention because she is lonely being the only women on the ranch and is not given the proper care and attention need by her cruel husband Curley. This shows that in order to achieve the author 's goal and deliver the theme, the story must express these features of American society in the