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Gender roles in society throughout history
Gender roles in society throughout history
Gender roles in society throughout history
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Bianca Maminta 26/5/2016 Mr. King Present-Day Of Mice and Men Change is inevitable. It is only natural. Nothing stays the same; the Earth doesn’t stay in the same position - it is constantly moving, people change their views as they grow up and with time, society is always changing. However, some things stay similar and we leave traces of the past. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was written in 1937. It talks about two very different men, George and Lennie, who have hopes and dreams: to own a land and a shack. In order to achieve that, they had to go around searching for jobs. The job they landed on was at a ranch. When they got accepted, they realized that their dream was within their grasp and saw it becoming a reality. There, …show more content…
51) In this scene, George and Whit gossips on the topic of Curley’s wife on how she is going to cause trouble for several reasons, including the fact that she is a female. This suggests sexism as George is hinting that women are not capable of being in a ranch, especially because it is filled with men. He is also saying that ladies like her who are sleeping around will cause trouble no matter what. The men in the ranch treat Curley’s wife with a disgusting approach because she is flirting with them. This situation is relevant to our generation’s time. In some work companies, women are not accepted for a job that requires great physical strength as they think that females are not capable of this type of occupations. Men were born with a greater muscle mass and stronger bones which makes them physically stronger than the ladies. However, this does not automatically mean that women cannot cope with jobs that demands the area of physical strength. In our time, females who enjoy sexual pleasure are slut shamed by both genders, even if she is not in a committed relationship. Discrimination against women is an issue that countries around the world has been working on. In Of Mice and Men, only a few issues on sexism were presented. Today, it has gotten better and there is slightly more equality on how women and men are treated and …show more content…
She talks about her dream of being an actress and how she actually had the talent to become one. Unfortunately, she was not able to reach it as her mother did not let her. The pressure of marriage also contributed on why she was not able to strive towards her ideal life. Until now, there are (few, but nevertheless, still a number of) parents who do not support their children’s dreams when they have the passion and talent for it. There are even worse cases where the parents choose and plan out their children’s lives for them. {Transition} In the novel, it starts off with George and Lennie walking around, looking for jobs. George was very determined to get the job at a ranch down the Salinas river. Their dream was to “live off the fatta lan’”. (14) Soon after, George realized they wouldn’t really do ‘her’ and that Lennie “usta like to hear about it so much (he) got to thinking maybe (they) would.” (94) This may be relevant to some people in today’s society. Most people have passion for something. At first, they will be determined to achieve their dream, but some would fall after they get into thinking that it is unrealistic. They may also have been discouraged for certain reasons. In the novel, none of the characters were able to attain their dreams. This is
George, like all other men, see women as exchangeable objects that satisfy certain needs with the exchange of money. Women were either seen as this type of stereotype or as nothing more than a stay home wife. This is shows how so call “men” can be seen as cowards because they think they have all the power in the world. “George said,’She’s gonna make a mess. They’s gonna be a bad mess about her. She’s a jail bait all set on the trigger. That Curley got his work cut out for him. Ranch with a bunch of guys on it wint no place for a girl, specially like her’” (Steinbeck 93). George is setting an example of how women are seen as weak and have no mean to be in a man's work place. Curley’s wife soon becomes like an animal in Lennie’s hands, for women were considered as
The quote that inspired John Steinbeck was the best laid schemes often go off track can be seen in the novel of Mice and Men. When Curley's wife met a man in her childhood that offered her to be an actress but the chance went away and she later died. Then Curley wanted to be a professional boxer but the dream never happened and he became a farmer then got his hand broken for trying to be tough. George and Lennie were going to buy a farm to live off the fat of the land then Lennie had to get in trouble and George had to give up the dream and kill Lennie for what he had done.
Although George is angry with Lennie, he reassures Lennie all is well and retells him the story of their farm. George relinquishes the American dream of owning a farm and the chance of a better life with Lennie. He is now fully aware that all of his plans and dreams amount to nothing. George also realizes he is just a lowly migrant worker with no future; he will never own a little piece of land to call home sweet home. Lennie gives George a sense of meaning and purpose in life. The death of Lennie gives way to the death of their American dream
In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, published in 1937, many characters are depicted as having a turbulent and continuously changing relationship with power. In the case of Curley’s wife, her power, or lack thereof, derives from her status of being the only woman on the ranch during a time when females were viewed as being inferior and subordinate to men. In some instances, Curley’s wife uses her femininity to her advantage to flirt with the various men on the ranch and obtain information from them. She is aware of her beauty and the control over men this gives her and she realizes that a seductive attitude can be used to manipulate others. Although, ultimately, being a woman is her downfall. The men on the ranch ridicule her and dismiss
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the feminist lens is represented in many different ways throughout the novel, including actions and comments different characters make. Most of these events are surrounded by the character Curley’s Wife. Curley’s wife is a character who is known for her not being trusted by any of the workers on the ranch, and for fooling around with other men besides her husband, Curley. For instance, when Curley’s Wife is talking to another character, Slim. “…’Hi Slim,’ she said. Slim’s voice came through the door. ‘Hi, good-looking.”(Steinbeck, 31) Curley’s Wife is not allowed to flirt or even communicate with other men at the ranch, but she likes to break the rules and have a conversation with other people because she feels that she has never had any freedom since she married Curley. Curley’s Wife is mistreated at the ranch because everyone is afraid to trust and contact her.
George and Lennie depended on their dream as motivation to live on and work. They've been working all their life to accomplish their dream. While taking a break by a pond on the way to another ranch, Lennie asked George to tell him why they are working and saving money. "Guys like us got nothing; they work up a stack and blow it in the town. But we're different, we got a future " (14). Most workers back then just live on day by day, without a goal. But George and Lennie are different, they got a dream to work and live for. Lennie kept on wanting to be told about their dream a few times in the story, indicating that it's really important to them. George depends on the dream to save up money and take care of Lennie instead of using all the money like all the other workers. While staying in the cabin, Lennie asked George about their dream. "George, how long's it gonna be till we get that little place an' live on the fatta the land and rabbits" (56). George and Lennie's dream has been repeated several times in the story. Each time they describe it, it gives them more will to work and try to accomplish the dream. The dream keeps George and Lennie together so they can work toward their dream. Without the dream, George and Lennie would be different from what they are now. George would be like the other workers, spending all the money right after getting them. And Lennie might be in jail for accused of rape or get bullied by other workers.
Sexism is a type of discrimination due to gender. The character that faces this type of discrimination is Curley’s Wife. She is the only female at the ranch and is discriminated against frequently by the other men. An example of sexism in the story is when we are told that Curley’s wife is constantly ignored and is treated poorly by the other men. When George and Lennie meet Curley’s wife for the first time, George tells Lennie to stay away from her because he thinks that she will cause trouble for the two of them. “‘Don’t you even take a look at that b**ch… You leave her be,’” (Steinbeck 32). This quote shows that men can be prejudice towards women. They can discriminate them before they actually meet or talk to them. This relates back to the theme of discrimination because Curley’s wife was discriminated against before some of the men actually met her. Another example of sexism in the story is when the men talk about her behind her back. “She ain’t concealin’ nothing. I never seen nobody like her.. I don’t know what the hell she wants,” (Steinbeck 51). This shows sexism because they are judging her behind her back and continue to do it throughout most of the story. This relates back to the idea of sexism because men were constantly judged by men. One of the less obvious examples of sexism is the fact that Curley’s wife’s name isn’t actually said in the book. The author of the story may be telling the
George’s struggles with himself become apparent at the beginning of the novel. Steinbeck clearly lets the reader know that George has conflicting feelings about Lennie. He believed, “ ...if he was alone he could live so easy. He could go get a job an ' work, an ' no trouble” (11). George is basically telling Lennie that sometimes, he wishes he could live
The dream Lennie and George had, was most likely unachievable for them. They did not have the opportunity to achieve
The first description of Curley’s Wife states that she gives multiple ranch workers “the eye” despite being “married two weeks.” From this we can instantly deduce that she is somewhat of a “tart” however if we evaluate further this could explain that she is lonely and not content with her new husband. The fact that she is giving other ranch workers “the eye” despite being married makes us feel no sympathy for her and instantly portrays her as endeavouring and potentially dangerous, although, on the other hand, we can understand her restriction by Curley which makes us feel sympathy. We can get an insight into 1930s America in this passage because George declares “there’s plenty” of men that have married a tart.... ...
The issue of sexism was still very present in 1930’s America compared to our present day now. Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife as the only female character in the novel because the ranch was no place for a women. He uses many different methods to portray the attitudes towards Curley’s wife and to belittle the importance of her.
Curley’s Wife, who persistently talked with every man on the ranch besides her husband, displays how sexism is portrayed on the ranch. Steinbeck proves this by showing a differing view towards women in the time period that the book was written, because, as Carleson states, “Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?” (Steinbeck, 62). Carleson is exemplifying just a small fraction of the negative
Fantasy writing is a popular form of entertainment that is almost always favorable to reality. The characters in these stories are kind, and all conflicts are usually resolved by the end of the tale. Unfortunately This is not how our reality functions. In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, the characters in the story must learn this the hard way. Steinbeck’s portrayal of everyday life and activities for the farmhands adds to the air of realism, as well as the realistic currency values of the time. On a more negative tone, the discrimination against Crooks, and the ruined dream are, unfortunately, more realistic than we’d like to believe. Considering these four elements, Steinbeck’s novella is an excellent example of life in the 1930’s.
George started this novel with a dream of living an ideal life with Lennie. “We’re gonna live off the fatta the land,” he’d say. He wanted to go somewhere off the grid with Lennie so that they’d both be safe and not have to worry about other people or Lennie getting in trouble. He wants to escape the harshness of the world that the two live in so that they can both be safe and happy. “I’d be bringin’ in my own crops ‘stead of doing all the work and not getting what comes outta the ground,” he hopes to leave the life of the migrant worker and own his own ranch and be his own boss. As the novel goes on he realises that any of this is probably not possible. No matter how much he saves up he will never be able to get enough money to buy and sustain his dream farm and Lennie is going to keep getting in trouble.
In Of Mice & Men, the character Curley’s Wife is depicted as flirtatious, promiscuous, and insensitive. However, her husband Curley sees her as only a possession. Most of the workers at the ranch see her as a tart, whereas Slim, the peaceful and god-like figure out of all the men, see her as lonely. This answer will tell us to which extent, is Curley’s wife a victim, whether towards her flirtatious behaviour, or to everyone’s representation of her.