John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men dives into the lives of two men, George and Lennie, who try to escape the atrocities of the Great Depression, all the while dealing with their experiences of alienation and loneliness (“John Steinbeck (1902-1968)”). John Steinbeck is an author renowned for his novel, The Grapes of Wrath, but his novella Of Mice and Men is what first put him on the writing scene (Bloom 8). After leaving college, Steinbeck went on the road and worked as a factory hand, as well a ranch hand. Working among the ranch hands gave Steinbeck’s writing an authenticity that could not be matched. Because of his experiences, Steinbeck took his knowledge of the plight of migrant workers and minorities and put it into his characters to depict the common man’s struggles. Through the agency of his characters, Steinbeck depicts the themes of dehumanization, and alienation and loneliness in order to portray the harsh reality of living during the Great Depression. John Steinbeck was a man who told the stories of the lives of the common people (McArthur 9). Steinbeck grew up in a small agricultural community in California (Bloom 7). As a young boy, Steinbeck grew an unmatchable appreciation for the land that he lived on (“John Steinbeck Biography”). As he aged, his love for the outdoors and ranch life grew, and you could often find Steinbeck helping his grandfather do chores on the ranch. After being suspended from college for failing grades and poor attendance, Steinbeck took some time off of college and did ranch and factory work (McArthur 10). Steinbeck worked and lived among the migrants. He was in search of authenticity to lend to his work, and to deepen his understanding of the migrant cause (“John Steinbeck (1902-1968)”). This experience molded his understanding of the lives of manual laborers, and key component of Steinbeck’s writing. He used this wisdom of the migrant cause later on in his two renowned novels, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath (Mc Arthur 11,10). Steinbeck’s life experiences helped him gain an understanding of migrant workers that gave his novels an authentic and raw tone. Written in the 1930s, Steinbeck is seen as ahead of his time with his intense emphasis on racism and sexism (McArthur 80).
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Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men during the time that as known as the most creative time in his career. Steinbeck’s novella depicted the lives of a dwindling society of migrant workers. In the year following Of Mice and Men’s publication, the nation 's grain industry was replacing manual labor with machines. Soon, farm workers, much like George and Lennie were disappearing. “During this time he was becoming increasingly concerned about current social and economic problems in California, and he published three successive novels about farm workers…” (Bloom 52, 51, 53, 52). Writing in the Great Depression era influenced Steinbeck’s writing heavily. Of Mice and Men is ranked by some critics and one of John Steinbeck’s best works. “Though the scope of Steinbeck’s play/novelette is narrow, the implications are universal” (Bloom 23). The subject of Of Mice and Men is more provocative than his books in the past, focusing on people who were isolated from society. “Of Mice and Men went on to furnish a parable about the struggle for autonomy within the hearts of migrant workers, each struggling with both social conditions and his or her own human frailties” (Watts). Of Mice and Men, being infamous for its provocative nature, is frequently banned from school curriculums. The public 's reaction to Of Mice and Men was a mix of emotions, and the book is still talked about today for its “unique” style. Steinbeck did not intend for Of Mice and Men to gain as much popularity as it did. When asked about his novel Steinbeck professed, “‘I wrote it simply to develop a form.’” Before the publication of Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck was still perfecting his craft. “‘Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen’” joked Steinbeck when interviewed in Cosmo magazine in 1947 (McArthur 85, 17). On one occasion, if not more, Steinbeck declined Payment from
Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men during the time that as known as the most creative time in his career. Steinbeck’s novella depicted the lives of a dwindling society of migrant workers. In the year following Of Mice and Men’s publication, the nation 's grain industry was replacing manual labor with machines. Soon, farm workers, much like George and Lennie were disappearing. “During this time he was becoming increasingly concerned about current social and economic problems in California, and he published three successive novels about farm workers…” (Bloom 52, 51, 53, 52). Writing in the Great Depression era influenced Steinbeck’s writing heavily. Of Mice and Men is ranked by some critics and one of John Steinbeck’s best works. “Though the scope of Steinbeck’s play/novelette is narrow, the implications are universal” (Bloom 23). The subject of Of Mice and Men is more provocative than his books in the past, focusing on people who were isolated from society. “Of Mice and Men went on to furnish a parable about the struggle for autonomy within the hearts of migrant workers, each struggling with both social conditions and his or her own human frailties” (Watts). Of Mice and Men, being infamous for its provocative nature, is frequently banned from school curriculums. The public 's reaction to Of Mice and Men was a mix of emotions, and the book is still talked about today for its “unique” style. Steinbeck did not intend for Of Mice and Men to gain as much popularity as it did. When asked about his novel Steinbeck professed, “‘I wrote it simply to develop a form.’” Before the publication of Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck was still perfecting his craft. “‘Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen’” joked Steinbeck when interviewed in Cosmo magazine in 1947 (McArthur 85, 17). On one occasion, if not more, Steinbeck declined Payment from