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Psychological conflict in literature
Psychological conflict in literature
Psychological conflict in literature
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The psychoanalytic lens utilizes Freudian theories on psychology. The theories explore the unconscious and how people are motivated by their fears, desires, dreams, and necessities. It investigates the subconscious to discover how minds are influenced by the world around them. When looking through this lens, character's’ subconscious are divided into their uncontrolled desires,realistic desires,and personalities.When looking at Of Mice and Men through a psychoanalytic lens, Steinbeck reinforces the significance of a healthy companionship built on trust and loyalty in a society where loneliness renders shortcomings, thus proving that human nature implements the necessity of nurturing one another. Human nature cannot be impacted by society's views. Crook's is an African American stable boy who is isolated due to his race the farm that is populated heavily by white men. Even though Crooks had been detached from the men on the farm, he allows …show more content…
Lennie to enter his room without any objection. When Lennie attempts to enter this room, "Crooks scowled, but Lennie's disarming smile defeated him. "Come on in and set a while," Crooks said. "'Long as you won't get out and leave me alone, you might as well set down." His tone was a little more friendly"(Steinbeck 69). Crooks allows Lennie to enter his private space and speak to him in a way friends would. Crooks and Lennie have conversations all because Crooks wasn’t resilient in keeping Lennie out. The desire to aid others and bond with another man on the farm was too strong for Crooks to deny due his lack of connections prior to Lennie. Crooks reveals to George and Lennie that he didn't kick Lennie out because "I didn't care much, "said Crooks. "Lennie's a nice fella"(Steinbeck 82). Lennie and Crooks bonded over their loneliness and struggle to fit in with society. They give themselves hope in the little time they got to know one another. The connection that Lennie and Crooks had questions how such close relationships can develop in the short amount of time people know one another. Candy’s relationship with his dog allowed him to understand the significance of companionship.
Candy is an elderly man working on the farm with his dog who was killed tragically because the men on the farm perceived the dog as useless. With the passing of his dog, Candy grew mindful of death and yearned to die happy and have something to call his own before death. After overhearing Lennie and George plan to buy land, Candy wanted to be a part of the plan. Candy declared,"I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain't got no relatives or nothing…" (Steinbeck 59). Candy was willing to give money despite the fact that he might not live to see the day where the men got their own land. He had no relatives but had felt a need to help these men achieve their dreams. At this stage in his life, Candy understood the significance that family played in the day to day life and wanted to have a chance to be happy. Candy’s actions gave George and Lennie hope they'd never had before. ENDING
TRANSITION. The lack of friendly connections Curley's wife had on the farm had no impact on how she acted towards Lennie. Curley's wife was friendless, despite her attempts to gain attention from the men of the farm. Her flirtatious behavior caused the men to stay away because her insecure husband would have fired them. Despite the fact that she had faced many shortcomings in life, from having her mother sabotaging her job opportunities and marrying Curley who confided her to the farm without friends ,Curley's wife yearns affection and attempts to aid anyone in need. Ever since she met Lennie, she tried her best to befriend him. When she found him in the farmhouse with a dead puppy, Curly's wife remarked, "Don't you worry about talkin' to me"(Steinbeck 89); regardless of the fact that Lennie didn't agree with what she has to say nor did he care. Her desperate strive for affection triggered her to let her guard down; which was an action that gave her a fright which generated Lennie to act belligerent and kill her. Despite living in a society that's dependent on the relationships, the need to nurture others cannot be concealed.
Steinbeck describes Candy right after the men hear the shot that kills the dog. Candy's loneliness over the loss of his dog is short lived as he becomes part of George's and Lennie's plan to get their own farm. In fact, Candy makes the dream seem almost possible because he has saved $300 which he will contribute to the price of the property George can buy. The three men believe that one day they will up and leave the ranch and go live on their own "little piece of land." In the end, however, Candy is plunged back into despair and loneliness after he discovers Lennie has killed Curley's wife. The dream is shattered. He poignantly communicates his feelings over the loss at the end of chapter five: “You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” He sniveled, and his voice shook. “I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys.” He paused, and then went on in a singsong. And he repeated the old words: “If they was a circus or a baseball game .
A main character in the novella that is affected by marginalisation is Crook. The marginalisation of Crook’s character is used by Steinbeck to represent the black community in which the time period of the novella was set in. Crook is an important character in the novella as he presents a vision of the truth of the ‘American Dream’ and all the emotions of the people at the bunk house. Crook finds himself pushed out of the social circle in which the other predominantly white ranchers are in. Crook is then pushed to live in the barn and not live with the other white ranch workers in the bunk house. The alternative men don’t enter this area because they are scared of Crook because of his skin colour. For, as he tells Lennie, "I ain't a southern negro." (Page 79) In his novel of socialist motifs regarding the socially and economically voteless travelling employee of the Great Depression, Crooks character represents the ideal voteless
As the novel continues on we are introduced to another pair whose relationship is just as strong as George and Lennie’s, the two being Candy and his old pup. Candy and his pup have been together for years on end and have formed a indescribable love for one another. However, as the years have rolled past, age has caught up with the Candy’s best friend causing many to suggest euthanasia. Regretfully, Candy agreed, afterwards uttering, “I ought to of shot that dog myself George. I shouldn’t ought to let no stranger shoot my dog” (Steinbeck 61) Often with age, humans and animals alike become impaired and quite sentinel. In the case of Candy’s pup, his age had progressed to the point where life was too difficult and pain was more relevant than pleasure. It would only be fair for Candy to place his feet where paws lay and imagine if he could go out peacefully rather than through heavy slow breathing every day. Although Candy recognized this and allowed this procedure to be completed who showed he had the best intentions for his pup, he did not take manors into his own hands. Rather than stand shoot his pup out of love, he remained inside and allowed the dog to be killed without emotion, almost as though there was no meaning. Sadly, the past cannot redo itself so Candy is forever regretful of the loss of his canine friend, yet by
When this story is viewed through Sigmund Freud’s “psychoanalytic lens” the novel reveals itself as much more than just another gory war novel. According to Sigmund Freud psychology there are three parts of the mind that control a person’s actions which are the id, ego, and superego. Psychoanalysis states that there are three parts of the human mind, both conscious and subconscious, that control a person’s actions. The Id, ego, and
Candy shows great spirit throughout the book and really shows off the good aspects of the American Dream. It is only until the end of the book until the plan to go away starts to be questioned. He starts asking questions like ”You an’ me can get that little place cant we, George?”(Steinbeck,94) This denial was once again recognized by Kevin Attell, who said “George and Lennie’s dream is specifically necessitated by and responds to the limitations played on their lives. ”(Attell)
Although discrimination is still present during the time period of the book, Crooks still attempts to make friends. Others treat Crooks unjust because he is different from others given that he is black. He does not know how to treat others because of the way others treat him; with disrespect. Furthermore, he does not know how to vent his frustration and as a result, lashes out at others because they are cruel to him. Crooks is not allowed to participate in daily events with white people. He is treated unfairly and therefore acts the same way toward the white people (the ones who offended him.)
Candy dealt with his loneliness by being friendly with George and Lennie and becoming a partner in obtaining the small ranch that was George and Lennie’s dream. Candy kind of an outcast because of his age difference from other ranch hands. “I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some”(Candy 319). Candy attempts to be useful in someone else life. He heard that George and Lennie have this dream to “live off the fat of the land” as soon as they get enough money. Candy wanted to join, he offered as much as he can. He wanted to join the dream but not only did he want to join, he wanted to join the friendship of George and Lennie. “Maybe I can give you guys money”(Candy 325). Candy offered his money that he gets from the government for his disability. An exchange for money Candy gets a friendship out of it. So he is paying George and Lennie to be friends with him really. I think money will never buy a real friendship. Not only was Candy lonely and miserable trying to deal with loneliness, but so was Crooks...
This is the piece of speech, when Candy is trying to persuade George to let him in on the ranch their going to get. The language Steinbeck uses here, makes Candy seem overly eager to get in with George and Lennie. Mainly because, he’s dog dies so now he doesn’t have anybody, and he feels he might get canned. So as soon as he hears the opportunity to break away from being lonely, he jumps at it. I feel extremely sorry for Candy because he has nobody to turn to. He really does try to find friendship in people, but sometimes tries to hard.
Lennie is stuck in a childhood state, and is the main reason the farm exists. “Now Candy spoke his greatest fear, ‘You a’me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, george?’...George said softly, ‘-I think I know from the very first, I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.’” They realize that without Lennie, there is no farm. As Lennie dies, so does the dream of a farm.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses events surrounding Candy’s dog to foreshadow that George and Lennie have a close bond that ends tragically. One example of the scene with Candy’s dog that foreshadows the relationship George and Lennie have, is when Carlson explains what Candy does for the dog. Carlson states the many imperfections of the dog and tells Slim that, “‘Candy feeds him milk. He can’t chew nothing else’” (36). This is meaningful to the plot because it shows the close connection Candy has with his dog and also the close connection George has with Lennie. George is constantly watching over Lennie. The close relationship that Candy has with his dog that is deteriorated is foreshadowed to the end of the book. George made a promise to take care
The psychological approach views literature through the lens of psychology. There are multiple approaches to the psychological aspect of literature but the two most recognized are the Freudian and Jungian approach. The best approach to use when critically analyzing the novel Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is the Jungian approach. Because the novel’s main theme is a struggle with the idea of “self”, using this approach allows the reader to understand the main character, its influences, and ultimately his actions.
Crooks has been on the same farm for years, constantly being mistreated by whoever wandered onto it. For example, in the novella Of Mice and Men the character Old Candy contributes, “‘Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger’” (Steinbeck 20). Crooks is constantly classified by the color of his skin. People constantly poke fun and throw racist, ungodly comments his way. He is affected by his position in the world because he is unable to earn substantial pay and feels separated from society because of the tone of his skin. Corrpsoifnyl, Crooks is unable to participate in games on the farm, nor live in the same living quarters as the others because of his skin color. For instance, on page 68 Crooks states in a conversation with Lennie, “‘Why you ain’t wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink.’” (Steinbeck). Crooks position in the world causes him to be unable to participate in events just because he is an African American member of society. Proportionately, Crooks feels separated because he cannot make a mark on the world because of the color of his skin and is forced to tend to farms for little to no pay for hours at a
Candy is crippled, and is almost useless in the farm and is just trying to make it to the next day without going insane. When he overhears Lennie and George talk about their dream about their “piece of land” he gets excited and tells them he can contribute his money as well in order to make this dream become reality. In the novella, Candy says, “ Tell you what-” He leaned in forward eagerly. “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’
George and Lennie have to continue to move around the country looking for work until Lennie screws up again. The instability of work only makes it that much harder for them to complete their dream of a farm of their own. Candy’s participation in the dream of the farm upgrades the dream into a possible reality. As the tending of rabbits comes closer to happening fate curses them with the accidental death of Curley’s wife. The end of their wishful thinking is summed up by Candy’s question on page 104, “Then-it’s all off?”
When Candy joins the farm dream, he says, “I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, ‘cause I ain’t got no relatives or nothing”(59). Candy is currently very lonely, and has no companion to depend on. He sees that if he joins George and Lennie’s farm dream, he will have people to trust and rely on. He values his potential companionship, so he decides that he will give his will to George and Lennie, if the farm dream happens. Also, on page 72, when Crooks is talking to Lennie, Crooks says, “A guy needs somebody- to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” Crooks is very lonely at the ranch because of his race, but knows the values of having a companion. His conversation with Lennie shows that he understands the trust and reliance that arises from companionship, and that he values the idea of companionship. Additionally, after George tells Candy that the farm dream isn’t going to happen, Candy becomes very upset and yells at Curley’s wife’s dead body for ruining the farm dream (95-96). Candy was initially very excited to finally be able to depend on someone else and begin friendships. When he lost the opportunity to end his loneliness, he knew that he wouldn’t have anyone else to depend on, which filled him with distress. Crooks and Candy, two lonely characters in Of Mice And Men, both value companionship due to the outcome of