What the Reader Learns About American Society from

The novel ‘Of Mice and Men' was written by John Steinbeck, it was published in 1937. In the 1930s people were very racist and sexist towards women. Racism originated from where the white Americans used black people as slaves. Also in the late 1920s early 1930s the Wall Street Crash happened which led to a huge amount of unemployment otherwise known as the Great Depression, after that there was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was due to the fact that people were farming so much that the soil would turn to dust and when the wind blew it went everywhere. As a result of all of this there was itinerant workers this is where workers move from job to job. Everyone wanted their own little ranch, which is like the American Dream.

In ‘Of Mice and Men’ the two main characters, George and Lennie, were itinerant workers, so were most of the other men on the ranch. They kept moving around to find work and they did not carry many possessions because they only had a ‘bindle’. One of the reasons they did not work over a long period of time was because they had short-term contracts. Most of the workers were lonely and they did not trust anyone but themselves, George and Lenni

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Curley was an underhand fighter ‘attacked his stomach and cut off his wind. Men saw women as possessions, Curley’s wife does not even have a name. Curley’s wife did not think much of them ’bunch of bindle stiffs - a nigger an’ a dum-dum and lousy ol’ sheep. Slim had a permanent job on the ranch, he was admired as he had status ‘his word was taken on any subject. There was a small range of food it was just the basics. On the ranch there was no friendships and everyone was afraid of getting ’canned’. A lot of the men were lonely and suspicious of each other, they got there and left without a reason ‘they just come in and get their bunk and work a month, and then they quit and go out alone.

Women were also treated unfairly at this time. ’ Curley was suspicious of his wife having an affair because she was always around the other men. Candy made a comment to George and Lennie about Curley but asked them not to say anything, he was scared ’He’d slough me. I personally think it’s a brilliant story. This tale shows prejudice, racism, violence and sexism.

Common topics in this essay:
George Lennie, Candy Crooks, George Lennies, Born California, San Quentin, Lennie Curley, Pulp Fiction, Dust Bowl, John Steinbeck, Code Women, curleys wife, george lennie, tart women, black people, wife treated, dust bowl, itinerant workers, curleys wife treated,

Approximate Word count = 1087
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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