However, despite George’s frequent bouts of anger and frustration, and his long speeches about how much easier life would be without Lennie, George is clearly devoted to his friend. He flees from town to town not to escape the trouble Lennie has caused, but to protect Lennie from its consequences. The men are uncommonly united by their shared dream of a better life on a farm where they can “live off the fatta the lan’,” as Lennie puts it. George articulates this vision by repeatedly telling the “story” of the future farm to his companion. Lennie believes unquestioningly in their dream, and his faith enables the hardened, cynical George to imagine the possibility of this dream becoming reality.
How does Steinbeck present Lennie in the first chapter of of Mice and Men? Lennie is one of the first characters to appear in this novel, and as the book progresses you will see just how much of an important character he is. Lennie’s character is unique and so innocent. Steinbeck describes Lennie in animal forms, just to give the reader more of an idea what his character is like. On the second page Steinbeck describes Lennie by saying “…he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws” this implies that Lennie is quite a big strong man, and bears have the potential to kill; so does Lennie, but he doesn’t know that.
There were over one third of the countries population unemployed and there was no dole money to fall back on, therefore in order to get money you had to earn it. Some families couldn’t afford to stay in their houses so they were forced to live in settlements called Hoovervilles. Whilst people were in the Hoovervilles they would sing depressing songs making the atmosphere even more depressing. The story begins when George and Lennie prepare to arrive at a ranch to work and the story ends in tragedy just four days later. During the four days we learn not only about the friendship between George and Lennie but their dreams and aspirations of a better life free from work.
Jack Wilkins October 8th, 2013 3rd Period Jack Wilkins October 8th, 2013 3rd Period John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men tells the tragic tale of George and Lennie, two companions forced to drift from job to job in order to make a living. Arriving at a new farm full of characters embodying loneliness, the pair dreams of escape from the vicious cycle of isolation that accompanies life as a migrant worker before they ultimately succumb to Naturalism’s cruel fate themselves. Lennie and George keep each other going, both of them providing the fuel for the other. The two also give hope to the characters around them; their dreams for “defiance of the cycle” inspires others to attempt escape from the chains of Naturalism themselves. But, even as the relationship of George and Lennie is beautiful and rare, it is also heartbreaking, for the contrast between the pair’s aspirations and the final result of their struggle sharply illustrates the tragedy of Naturalism.
They don’t belong no place.” Migrant workers would commonly spend many months on the road, traveling from town to town, farm to farm in a bid to find employment, which mostly resulted in men moving and working alone. Loneliness is exemplified in a collection of characters throughout the book; for instance, when Candy’s only companion, his dog, is killed, it depresses him immensely. Candy has nothing else to love or care for, and this demonstrates loneliness in it’s most desolate form. This theme is represented perfectly in the two main characters; Lennie and George. Lennie, a child-like adult who is rejected from society, relies heavily on his confidant George for guardianship and company.
Part b) in the rest of the novel, how does Steinbeck portray the lives of migrant workers. In the rest of the novel, Steinbeck explains the lives of migrant workers. At the beginning of the book, we know that migrant workers are quite lonely, sad, have little possessions and are very independent and not very friendly. When the boss says to George “You takin’ hi pay away from him?” to suggest that the only reason he is traveling whit another man, is to have double pay. Ranchman didn’t travel together back in 30’s so there must be a reason for it.
The title and numerous passages throughout the novel point to a bear, which the Cherokee feel themselves pushing against during their hardships on the trail. This imagery comes from an ancient bear story in Cherokee mythology. In this myth, bears cause a tribe of Cherokee, the Ani-Tsa-gu-hi, to turn to greed and individualism, thinking only for themselves and satisfying their hunger. Maritole is the first to mention the bear, and says, “It was as if a bear sat on my chest all the way to camp. I felt air would not come into my lungs.
It was still the era of traditional social family structure, where the man was expected to be the sole bread winner. The inability of those unemployed men to provide for their families made them felt humiliated and caused the greatest distress in the depression years. In the middle of 1933, 12 per cent of men with families earned nothing at all, while another 17 per cent earned less than £2 a week, which was well below the basic wage. Thousands of Australian families faced the daily struggle of having little or no money coming into the household. Many unemployed men moved from the big cities to the countryside living in shanty towns in search for agricultural work.
He is a big man, in contrast to his name. He has limited intelligence, so he relies on George to look after him. He copies George in everything George does and trusts George completely. "Behind him (George) walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely."
Fish are often used to show that something is dead, and the same goes for Curley's wife here. If she is moving around like that of a fish, then we can assume the worst. Metaphor: ~"...the way a bear drags his paws." and "Lennie dabbed his big paw in the water..." Lennie is metaphorically referred to several times as a bear because of his large structure and his crushing strength. ~"He was the prince of the ranch...His hatchet face was ageless."