National Steinbeck Center

of loneliness is unbearable. As shown in the following quote, Curley’s wife is plainly sick of being alone in the house of the ranch. “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?” (Steinbeck 77). Being lonely is sickening to Curley 's wife because she gets too bored doing nothing without nobody. By being lonely, Curley’s wife develops a flirtatious characteristic when she is around the workers of the ranch because she can’t stand…

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe” (“ Dreams Quotes”). The saying in this quote is that one must dream ,but also believe that is what Lennie, George, and Crooks did. For Lennie, George, and Crooks their dreams were harder to reach. Dreams affect the characters of of Mice and Men through Lennie causing trouble, George choosing to care for Lennie, and Crooks being limited by being African American. First of all, Dreams affect…

Slim is the prince of the ranch, as the Boss’ right hand man, he is right in on the action with the men in the bunkhouse, “Slim’s a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella. Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team.” (Steinbeck 28). Slim is a parallel to The Boss, in his dress and his stature, but since he chooses to be with the guys he is more respected by them. George is the man who watches after Lennie because he cannot take care of himself, even when they get to the…

Explore some of the ways in which Steinbeck makes the characters’ reactions to the dream of ‘livin off the fatta the lan’ so revealing. John Steinbeck’s riveting and lachrymose novella, ‘Of Mice and Men,’ was set in the 1930’s, during the Great Depression. ‘Of Mice and Men’ is about two drifters who struggle to find a job where they both can work, together. The only thing that keeps these men going is the hope and the dream of ‘livin off the fatta the lan’. In the midst of the Great Depression,…

have and the intimacy that they have with their friend makes them desire to protect it. For instance, in the mid-exposition of the novel we see the jerkline skinner Slim comment on this. “ Slim [...] ‘Funny how you an’ him string along together.”( Steinbeck 39). With attention to the fact that Slim’s word is law due to his level of authority he is saying this in the sense that not that many people are that close to the point that they would travel together but because of George and Lennie’s…

homes. Each person had to face many hardships when their families traveled westward and did not expect so much grief. Leaving their beloved and cherished items, they had no choice but to move. It was a forced action upon them with no other decision. Steinbeck made it completely clear that nobody ever really got what they wanted and life was not an easy task back then. Everything was much more complicated and not many people got to have their own opinions. Steinbeck’s vivid images of the struggle…

differing impressions does Steinbeck give you of the women in the novel? Of Mice and Men is a novel written by John Steinbeck which was published in 1937. The novel is set in the 1930s which was an era where women and men were not treated equally, where men could work and earn money whether a women had to stay at home and be a housewife, where a women was treated as a sex object whether in comparison the men could go to a brothel and sleep with a hundred different women. From Steinbeck point of…

To human beings, control is the one thing they will never have, but will always desire. Control plays a prominent theme in Chapter Five of “The Grapes of Wrath”, written by John Steinbeck. This novel paints a picture of life during the time of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, illuminating on the struggles and perseverance of the migrants families in the Southwest. In Chapter Five, the readers learn about how the families were told they were being forced to leave by “the monster” and how…

conveying ideas successfully by employing powerful characterisation, symbolism, foreshadowing, dramatic tension and setting. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck engages with the nature of human beings’ relationships. He expresses that friendship can be the salvation of two people, but is a difficult thing to find and maintain. Steinbeck suggests that all human beings possess this fundamental inclination and without someone to share life’s ambitions,…

“As soon as you start to pursue your dream your life wakes up and has meaning.” -Barbara Sher. In the 1930’s dreams were essential if you were living through the Great Depression. In the novel Mice Of Men by John Steinbeck, it’s clear to see that each character has a dream. It pushes them to continue and is seen throughout everything they do. Although each character has a fantasy, it’s evident that Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Lennie need these fantasies and are dependent on them. Firstly,…