Summary of the Time Period, Author’s Focus, and Purpose In the article “The Labor Problem at Jamestown, 1607-18,” written by Edmund S. Morgan, Jamestown had a major problem with labor. The citizens of Jamestown were lazy and wouldn’t work for their food, because their only intention was to look for gold. They’d rather play games than work in the field. It wasn’t until John Smith made them plant corn and force them to do labor for six hours before the citizens put their butt into gear. Eventually, the citizens grew tired of this and forced Indians to do their labor for them.
In addition to Curley though, George’s action can be seen as an act of justice as he kept others out of harm’s way from Lennie’s inexcusable but accidental strength. Although George’s decision can be justified, they can more so be condemned. By George’s continuous verbal expression of his anger towards Lennie, it does seem to only bring them closer; their co-dependent relationship would cease to exist without one another. Throughout the text the idea of “i got you... and you got me ...” is thoroughly explored. The two men have something that many of the men on ranches in the 1930’s wish they all had; a partner.
The Great Depression was an era after World War II marked by inflation, economic chaos, poverty, and many more devastating financial problems. Available jobs were scarce during that time and unemployed men were truly desperate for any form of work. Therefore, this era was a time to hope and dream in order to have something to look forward to. People suffering in the Great Depression got their perseverance from their hopes of a better future. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck,
My Le Professor McNeil English 1101-113 6 October 2012 Paper 1 “Final Draft” The drive for a perfect lifestyle falsely pulls many people to America. Everyone views America as a place for freedom and prosperity. They come in search of the American dream but many just find a life full of greed. The American dream is known as a belief of gaining the flawless way of life through hard work and dedication. Each person has a unique take on what they believe the American dream is, but every person’s American dream has a goal of success and happiness.
Crook works on a farm, he is quite intelligent and he can read. He also owns lots of books, and because he has his own room becomes very lonely. The other men won’t enter his room because he is black. Crook has a very distinctive crippled back which is where he gets his nick name Crook from referring to his crooked back and his character is seen as a lonely, crippled, black man. During the story his loneliness becomes obvious and he wants a close friend and is jealous of the relationship between George and Lennie and says to Lennie when George is out “S’pose he (George) gets hurt so he can’t come back”, maybe hoping if this is true he could be Lennie’s close friend.
His dream seems to be of acceptance and freedom. In the novel, Crooks begins to ridicule Lennie about his plans on the farm. Although Crooks becomes bitter, he feels he is realising his dream of being accepted whilst talking to Lennie. However, just like all dreams, his are crushed too, when Curley’s wife enters the scene and reminds him ‘to keep [his] place, Nigger’. Through this, the composer enables the reader to understand how dreams usually do not come true and when they seem so close, they slip away.
In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck clearly shows the powerful impact that dreams have on the characters and how their dreams give them hope and determination throughout the novel. The American dream is deeply rooted within the novel, the dream to have independence and freedom for all. It is also the opportunity to have a better life, like Lennie and George dream of in the novel. This is what all of the rancher’s dream of, to be their own boss; the simplicity of the dream is what makes us empathise with the characters in the novel. One of the main characters we empathise with is Lennie due to his disability and child-like mind.
Unemployed parents could not pay for food or water, nor could they pay for clothing and shelter, and as a result, innocent children suffered. Incapable of providing for their families, many fathers became frustrated, and simply abandoned them, leaving them to fend for themselves. Other times, young children were left homeless, having no one to care for them. During the height of the Great Depression, at least 200000 young people and 25000 families roamed the country, in search of food. These alarming statistics show just how greatly the Depression did actually impact
Nathan Egleton Explore the way Steinbeck presents and explore desires in of mice and men. Desires, the American dream in the 1930s was a big thing in Americans’ heads but they couldn’t be chased because of the great depression. Plants, crops and jobs were gone. Money was impossible to get and dreams were unreachable unless you was asleep. Of mice and men have characters chasing dreams but they were just too hard to get.
He lives in a society where men rule, and it is hard for him to show love or affection towards his family. In this book Okonkwo’s character shows intolerance towards his father’s image, feminism, and the changes in his community. Okonkwo shows intolerance towards his father who was looked at as being weak. Unoka unlike Okonkwo, had no job and no money. He instead spent his time trying to bum money off other people in the village, well aware he would not be able to repay them.