Similarities Between Of Mice And Men And The Great Gatsby

In October 2017, the media revealed a scandal involving many sexual assault convictions against Harvey Weinstein. The incidents were continuous over his entire career, yet they were just recently revealed to the public. Weinstein used his monetary power as incentive for his employers to keep quiet about the allegations. This case demonstrates how large collections of wealth give individuals the ability to do wrong by others. A related theme presents itself in both Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows themes of wealth, power and scandals with characters who stop at nothing to obtain their true dreams. Of Mice and Men tracks impoverished farmers named Lennie and George, who go to work on a ranch where

they encounter adversity. The two texts portray figures, named Tom Buchanan and Curley, who have an elevated level of wealth and/or social class. With this status comes a degree of power and hostility associated with each of the characters. Steinbeck and Fitzgerald describe characters who use their inherited status and monetary power to obliterate the consequences of their actions and assert their dominance over others.
The character Tom Buchanan from The Great Gatsby uses his inherited financial status to wage power over others.

The reader discovers Tom’s ancestral wealth early on, given he went to Yale and “his family was enormously wealthy” (Fitzgerald 6). Tom is even labeled by his wife as “a brute of a man” (12). Throughout Tom’s progression as a character, he completes many harmful actions which he gets away with, as a result of his social and financial standing. For example, Tom breaks Myrtle's nose simply because he was annoyed at her, and Myrtle lacked the ability to do anything about the incident because he possessed an authoritative power over her (37). As well, he disclosed to George who killed Myrtle, but was in no way convicted for his involvement in Gatsby's murder (158). Both of these examples from the text demonstrate Tom’s flexibility in avoiding consequences, because of his financial and social standing. A comparable pattern of events reintroduces itself in Of Mice and Men with a similar

character.
Steinbeck’s introduction of Curley draws parallels between Tom’s character, because Curley also has a dominant presence over the other ranch workers.

Curley’s situation proves him superior to the other ranch workers, given his father owns the ranch (Steinbeck 25). As a result, Curley does not face consequences for his actions, while the other employees live with the fear of being fired. This leads to Curley having a rather belligerent disposition, his glance is described as “calculating and pugnacious” (25). One scenario clarifying this claim is Curley's fight with Lennie, which occurs because Curley is able to get away with violence. Lennie seems to unknowingly intimidate Curley, because Lennie is taller and Curley seemingly “hates big guys” (26), according to Candy. Trivial grievances against others does not permit vengeful practices, yet in Curley’s case, he acquires the leeway to do so. Even Slim acknowledges Curley’s overly aggressive behavior, stating that “This punk sure had it comin’ for him” (64), after Lennie fought back. The inherited dominance Curley posses allows him to act according to his destructive mannerisms, and not to what is

honorable.
Both Tom and Curley as characters reflect social standards of the period, as well as the sharply increasing wage gap. With this inherited wealth comes a degree of power and hostility associated with each of the characters.
The authors choice to include these characters hints at the societal traits from the time period, possibly even their own beliefs or observations. Steinbeck and Fitzgerald acknowledge this social flaw and how it reintroduces itself in different forms, given Curley and Tom have different circumstances yet exhibit similar behavior. These characters comment on how money and power serves as a form of liberation from consequences. The lessons learned from these characters apply to students in Upper Arlington. As upper class residents we could find ourselves in a similar situation, yet we should strive to use our privilege to benefit others.