”And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.” This quote was stated by John Steinbeck. He explains that having the freedom to explore you own mind is so valuable. Yet, directs his audience of how it can be conformed by one’s own conscience or society. The quote previously mentioned, embodies the novel, Of Mice of Men. It presents how the character allows there minds to wander towards dreams, but subsequently is ruined by one’s actions …show more content…
The workers in this time of the novel experienced being used and abused in certain ways. They were worked vigorously, had no family, no place to call home, and treated with no respect. In Of Mice of Men, workers were disrespected by being pushed physically beyond their capacity, and disregarded their value and were oppressed. Marsden describes the way the novel had portrayed the mistreatment on the workers saying, “…social values that legitimate opposition to dominate powers, and thereby solidify it, can emerge only in a collectivity whose members share the experience of being exploited and oppressed“ (Marsden 5). Meaning that working on the ranches during this time period meant that you were going to be under high power which would control, and dominate over all the laborers. Treating the workmen like this had degraded to the fact that they were endeavoring to having a job and making living. These migrant workers knew that as time passed finding a job would be hard with their age, ethnicity, and their …show more content…
The social condition in the novel can be seen not only how it led to Lennie being killed, but how they were ousted for Lennie’s disability or how both shared a unique friendship. Presenting that the issue is how society is disconnected and unsupportive during this time. ”’It ain’t so funny, him an’ me going aroun’ together, George said at last. ‘Him and me was both born in Auburn…When his aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.“ (Steinbeck 40). The disconnection in society is that everyone tends to assume, rather than knowing the truth. When George explain why Lennie was always with him made sense, and not some weird instance where they had met on a ranch and became brothers in a
why Lennie and George Travel together and is not very understanding. Although you never find
In the late nineteenth century, many European immigrants traveled to the United States in search of a better life and good fortune. The unskilled industries of the Eastern United States eagerly employed these men who were willing to work long hours for low wages just to earn their food and board. Among the most heavily recruiting industries were the railroads and the steel mills of Western Pennsylvania. Particularly in the steel mills, the working conditions for these immigrants were very dangerous. Many men lost their lives to these giant steel-making machines. The immigrants suffered the most and also worked the most hours for the least amount of money. Living conditions were also poor, and often these immigrants would barely have enough money and time to do anything but work, eat, and sleep. There was also a continuous struggle between the workers and the owners of the mills, the capitalists. The capitalists were a very small, elite group of rich men who held most of the wealth in their industries. Strikes broke out often, some ending in violence and death. Many workers had no political freedom or even a voice in the company that employed them. However, through all of these hardships, the immigrants continued their struggle for a better life.
These horrors are intensified by the fact that the immigrant workers are paid wages which barely allow them to live. They dwell in crowded tenements hardly fit for human habitation. And the political climate of the era, in terms of its effect on their lives, as both workers and consumers, was one of corruption and laissez-faire. The capitalist bosses were essentially allowed by political leaders to do whatever...
He states thousands of farm workers are forced to live in horrendous conditions in garbage and underneath trees. In order for workers to purchase food at inflated prices, they have to walk miles and their only source of free water is from irrigation pumps. Children in the family are put to work even though child labor is illegal in the United States. Children make up 30 percent of northern California garlic harvesters. The working conditions farmers were put through in the 1930 's and 60 's were not as pleasant as Crevecoeur described them to be. Crevecoeur ensured workers that if they were hard working and good citizens they would live an easy happy life. Instead, they were paid poorly and treated as if they weren 't important human
Conditions included horrible housing, taking women away from their husbands, and punishments including death. Several rules had to be followed. One of these rules was that the workers had to buy all supplies from one store. “In this store we were charged all sorts of high prices for goods, because every year we would come out in debt to out employer” (25). Ending the year in debt meant owing the contract holder something. Since they had no money, they were forced to pay with their hard labor.
The emotional symbiosis between George and Lennie helps each man. Lennie’s attachment to George is most strongly visible when Crooks suggests George is not coming back. Lennie is almost moved to hysterics and his fear does not quickly abate. George prefers to feign dislike for Lennie to Lennie’s face: “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail” (7). When pressed, George reveals his true feelings for Lennie. “I want you to stay with me Lennie” (13). They stay together because “It’s a lot easier to go around with a guy you know” (35). Both men need and value their strong emotional relationship.
The mineworkers, the courier/food/newspaper delivery personnel and even the prisoners of whom hard labor is required are considered the oppressed. In the correctional centers the director has the authority to require that each able-bodied prisoner under commitment to the state department of corrections engage in hard labor for not less than forty hours per week. Besides that not more than twenty hours per week of participation in an educational, training or treatment program may be substituted for an equivalent number of hours of hard labor as prescribed by the director of the state department of correction. In this article, what I mean by "hard labor" means compulsory physical activity for the attainment of some object other than recreation or amusement. A tight labor market and a record number of inmates being released from prisons have a lot to do with the labor jobs. "They have to feed families and if they don't have jobs, they're going to end up back in the system...
...reatment of these workers by the railroad corporations such as working in highly dangerous conditions while receiving very minimal pay. In this sense culture and ethnicity played a different role from the two previous chapters in how the area confronted social change.
In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, many themes come up often throughout the story, especially the theme about bonds between two people. The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck expresses theme of Friendship through various literary elements. Friendship is people that care for and respect each other. It is the link that makes people stick together through the struggles of life. This essay will prove that friendship is important in life.
Migrant workers were not treated very well. They lived in very poor conditions. They all lived in the same place and didn’t always get enough food. They were barely paid anything. They only earned about 15 to 20 cents per hour, that’s only about 5 dollars per day. The migrant workers labored for 12 hours a day, at least 6 days a week. Even children had to work this hard. Farming for 12 hours a day would be horrible, especially if you were a young child. Migrant workers had a lot of restrictions. For one, they were not allowed to leave the state unless their employer gave them permission to. They didn’t really get any free time and the food supply was pathetic. Barely any of the workers had an education. It wasn’t necessary. Life for migrant workers would have been very
When George is ready to kill Lennie, Lennie reminds him that they got each other, even if they are not a family (104). Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The 'Standard'. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Books, 1993.
John Steinbeck does not portray migrant farm worker life accurately in Of Mice and Men. Housing, daily wages, and social interaction were very different in reality. This paper will demonstrate those differences by comparing the fictional work of Steinbeck to his non-fictional account of the time, The Harvest Gypsies.
Guinness World Record holder, Robert M. Hensel once said, “There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.” John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men is a beloved American book teaching people to see the true colors of others and to not judge by stereotypes. This novel tells the story of two men with a unique friendship that experience many hardships to find their place in the world and one must make the ultimate sacrifice for the other. Steinbeck portrays the barriers society places against us, or that we place around ourselves, become inescapable prisons through Curley's wife's objectification, desperation for companionship and victimization, Lennie’s vulnerability, and Candy’s isolation.
From the start, Lennie and George share a uniquely special type of friendship. When Lennie and George set up camp for the night, George must act quickly to mend any broken feelings. Lennie tells George, “If you don’ want me I can go off in the
The working class is depicted as "dependent for its opportunities of life upon the whim of men every bit as brutal and unscrupulous as the old-time slave drivers” (Sinclair, 123). Capitalist business owners kept them on a perpetual cycle of poverty and ‘slavery’. The ever-growing division between rich and poor enhances the family’s discrimination. They...