Life of Americans in the 1930's in John Stienbeck's of Mice and Men/Original Writing

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Life of Americans in the 1930's in John Stienbeck's of Mice and Men/Original Writing What does John Stienbeck's Of Mice and Men tell us about life in America in the 1930s? John Steinbeck's novels can all be classified as social novels dealing with the economic problems of rural labour in America during the 1920s and 30s. Steinbeck uses setting, theme, characterisation, and a modernist simple style to portray a 1930s American society, which was isolating, alienating and prejudiced His frequent topics were the plight of the misfits, (the character of Lennie in the novel) the homeless and the migrant farm workers. The countryside described in the opening chapter of the novel and the ranch itself would have been familiar to John Stienkbeck. The imagery he uses gives us a sense of empty landscapes, long well trod roads. " beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway". Already Steinbeck is introducing us to the lonely and isolated life the workers encountered. They would often move from one farm to another looking for work. His use of "tramp" suggests that the farm workers were often alienated and looked upon with prejudice in a society that regarded social standing by wealth and possessions. Many farmers lost their farms due to the depression that hit America during this time. His descriptive style gives us an idea what conditions were like on the farms for the workers: very basic accommodation, three meals a day and a minimum wage. Steinbeck uses these images well to help us understand why they yearned for "The American Dream" where many aspired to obtaining a better life, buying their own land to work ... ... middle of paper ... ...nie cannot understand the concept of being alone he shows some understanding. The end of the only good friendship in the book compounds the tragedy of Lennie's death. In the closing chapter of the book Steinbeck uses his skill with imagery well. We are back to the same peaceful spot at the river the story began. We understand George has no other choice but to kill his friend. He would not want him to suffer at the hands of Curly and the farm hands, even though he knows with the death of Lennie their dream will die with him. Steinbeck makes it clear in his novel that the glittering, moneyed America of the 1920s, which for example the American modernist F.Scott. Fitzgerald portrayed in the novel "The Great Gatsby," has utterly vanished to be replaced with a society of depression, loneliness and alienation.

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