To what extent is Of Mice and Men a novel of protest?

772 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Steinbeck's narrative of mice and men

To what extent is Of Mice and Men a novel of protest?

John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men conveys the impression, that it

is a novel of protest. The character Candy suffers from discrimination

because of his age and his disability. Steinbeck uses this character

to protest against ageism and the treatment of the disabled during the

Great Depression.

The repeated reference to Candy's hopelessness could be understood as

a protest against ageism. He says more than once that if he "can't

swamp out no bunkhouses, they'll put" him "in the county". His whole

life is based on one pillar, the kindness of the boss. He "wisht

somebody'd shoot" him, if he gets fired. He "won't have no place to

go" and is tied on the ranch. When Curley's wife says that Candy is "a

lousy ol' sheep", Candy "subsided". He suggests to tell the boss about

that dispute, but he knows that "nobody'd listen to" them. Steinbeck

uses these situations to protest against ageism.

The hopelessness is also used by John Steinbeck to protest against the

treatment of the disabled during the Great Depression. Candy knows

that he does not have a future. Crooks emphasises this fact, when he

says that Candy will be "a swamper till they take" him "out in a

box". Candy swamps out houses, because he is not able to do something

else. Although he hopes that their dream will work, he recognises that

it is unrealistic. It is unrealistic because of his disability.

Steinbeck's protest against the treatment of the disabled is evident

from the way he describes Candy's hopelessness.

Through his descriptions of Candy's primitive working and living

conditions, Steinbeck protests against ageism. Candy is an "old

swamper", who lives in a "bunkhouse". His possess...

... middle of paper ...

.... That is another parallel between Candy

and his dog. Both, Candy and his dog are handy-capped. Carlson

discriminates Candy as well, when he states that the dog "can't eat,

can't see" and "can't even walk without hurting". The dog would be "no

good to himself". Candy receives these statements as discriminations

against him. What about him, if his dog has to be shoot? Steinbeck's

protest against the discrimination of the disabled is evident from

these descriptions.

To some extent, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a novel of

protest. When he wrote the novel, Steinbeck was sad because of the

horrible situation of the old and disabled during the Great

Depression. The themes of ageism and the treatment of the disabled are

protested through Candy. Candy does not play a very big role in the

story, but he plays a very big role in the background of the novel.

Show More
Related

  • Themes in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Steinbeck, an American novelist, is well-known for his familiar themes of depression and loneliness. He uses these themes throughout a majority of his novels. These themes come from his childhood and growing up during the stock market crash. A reader can see his depiction of his childhood era. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows the prominent themes of loneliness, the need for relationships, and the loss of dreams in the 1930s through the novels’ character.

    Read More

  • How Curley's Wife is Portrayed in the movie Of Mice and Men

    1736 Words  | 4 Pages

    is in the life of the ranch, how dependant she is on Curley, for her

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men: Comparing The Movie And The Book

    418 Words  | 1 Pages

    The movie of Of Mice and Men had many differences while still giving the same message that the book was portrayed to have. One of the major differences was that Candy never came into the room when Lennie and Crooks were talking to each other. This was major because Crooks never found out that the plan was true about the little house. In the book after he heard Candy talk about it he wanted to get in on the deal. Also the movie it never showed Lennie have his illusions of his Aunt Carla and the rabbits when he was waiting by the pond.

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    For example, Curley’s wife attempts to interact with Lennie. She convinces Lennie to stay and converse with her after reasoning “what kinda harm am I doin’?” (88). Curley’s wife enjoys talking with Lennie and even lets him pet her prized hair. Additionally, Crooks finds companionship with Lennie. “I thought I could jus’ come in an’ set” (68) Lennie exclaims to Crooks the night the other men were out. He kept him company and both ultimately bonded after having a good time with each other. Also, Candy introduces himself to Lennie and George when they first arrive at the ranch. They develop a trust between each other, leading to the planning of “fixing up an’ little old house an’ go living there” (60). Trusting George, Candy generously donates funds to their future property, as a token for George appreciating him and making him feel important. Throughout the book, failure to interact between other characters happens often. For example, the men on the ranch consistently reject Curley’s wife, even her own husband, Curley. The men yell at her and question “why she doesn’t stay in her home where she belongs?” (62). Lennie tries conversing with her, but it only results with breaking her neck from strangling. Furthermore, Crooks tries talking to the other men, but results in exclusion and bullying. The other men discriminate Crooks from their activities, thinking “cause he’s black, he stinks” (68). Finally, Candy speaks to Carlson in the beginning in his bunker. Unfortunately, the conversation only ends with convincing Candy to have Carlson shoot his sheep dog, “to put the old devil out of his misery” (47). The shooting upsets Candy because his sheep dog was a son to him, followed him everywhere, and kept him company on the ranch. Through trial and error, Curley's wife, Crooks, and Candy interacts with other characters, resulting in successful and

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast Of Mice and Men Movie and Book

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    The classic novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck was made into a Hollywood Blockbuster in 1992. Directed and acted by Gary Sinise and John Malkovich, Hollywood took a stab at trying to recreate this literary success. The novel, which takes place in the 1930’s, follows the lives of two men, George and Lennie, as they try to attain their dream of owning a farm. George is a smart man who always seems to have things figured out. Lennie is massive, but has the mind of a young child. George looks after him, but it is not easy since Lennie always seems to get himself in some kind of trouble. As they struggle towards their dreams, George and Lennie face obstacles that test their friendship. In the end, with Lennie dead, George finds out that dreams aren’t worth striving for, and eventually, loneliness overcomes everything. The movie, running almost two hours, stays very true to the book, although some things are removed or added. While the movie differs from the book in a few ways, it still gives its audience the same message.

    Read More

  • Of Mice and Men, 3 Characters with Loneliness

    406 Words  | 1 Pages

    Candy?s disability separates him from society, an example of Curley being set aside is when everybody else goes to town he is left in the barn with Crooks, Lennie, and Curley?s wife. Candy?s only friendship was with his old, smelly dog. Candy?s dog was a symbol of himself (old, and useless). When Carlson kills Candy?s dog, he kills Candy on the inside as well. Curley?s wife had the most pathetic and depressing life.

    Read More

  • Social Injustice in the novel Of Mice and Men

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, I am going to talk about Lennie who was known as a man with

    Read More

  • Abuse Of Power In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    This book depicts her as property of Curley’s because she is never given a name beside “Curley’s wife” or “Tart”. Curley’s wife was a woman who had aspiring dreams to be in movies and when that dream ended, she settled with marrying Curley. Curley’s wife shows abuse of power because since she is married to a person who is influential on the ranch, that makes her somewhat powerful, she uses her femininity and authority to manipulate others. She is unhappy with her marriage and is lonely so she goes out to the ranch to talk to the other guys, which gets Curley paranoid. When she is being forced to leave Crooks’s room, she retaliates by telling him, “Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.” When Candy tried to stand up for Crooks, she made sure they all knew their place, “Tell an’ be damned,” she cried, “Nobody’s listen to you an’ you know it. Nobody’s listen to you.” (79-80) There is a whole food chain in the ranch and Lennie, Candy and Crooks are at the bottom while Curley’s wife is at the top. On the other hand, she talks to Lennie because of his mental incapacity to know what’s wrong and right. He’s easier to allure in so she would have someone to talk to. Although Lennie wasn’t allowed to interact with

    Read More

  • Dishonesty In Of Mice And Men Essay

    458 Words  | 1 Pages

    Candy anticipated that she had come to ask for Curley. He sharply answered that Curley wasn’t there and told her to be loyal to her husband. She responded to him by saying “Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol’ right cross?” (Steinbeck 78). She seems to has been forcefully married to Curley since she is always roaming around searching for company. This gives us an impression that the couple does not get along well, and neither of them attempts to talk about the other’s

    Read More

  • Representation of Women in Mice and Men by John Steinbach

    666 Words  | 2 Pages

    Curley's wife, comparable to most other characters in the novel, is a type of character with little discrepancy, moreover being the only woman in novel. Curley’s wife is demonstrated by her position and part. This part is however, being a possession of Curley or a wife. She is heavily insulted and looked upon as inferior: George and Candy call her "jailbait" and "tart", which supports the fact that he has no voice and as a matter of fact, no name – simply being referred to as Curley’s wife. Due to her lack of power, she attempts to gain it by leeching off those with power. This leeching is portrayed as her seducing the other men on the ranch who have large presence like Slim: “Hi Slim” supports a casual and somewhat flirtatious approach to the other men. She seduces other by wearing far too much makeup and dressing like a "whore" with “red fingernails” and red shoes with ostrich feathers.

    Read More

  • John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    Man needs companionship and has difficulty maintaining it because no humans think the exact same or have the exact same beliefs. To maintain a companion you must have things in common, you must be able to disagree with a sort of respectful understanding, and finally you must care legitimately about that person. These three requirements to preserve a companionship are at times arduous to keep true. Some people do not have the time, concern, or the ability to sustain a veritable friendship with a companion or companions.

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men - Curley's Wife

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    Curley’s wife is given a reputation of causing trouble between other characters from different characters in the novel. There is no evidence of her living up to all of the reputation in the novel. Candy says “Well she got the eye” which could have many meanings and then he backs that up with “I seen her give Slim the eye” and finally he says “Well I think Curley’s married…a tart.” This explains his views on Curley’s wife. And when she dies he calls her a ...

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Movie And Of Mice And Men

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    When one is at a loss, would ending the life of a beloved one be the only solution? In the phenomenal novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck in 1937 and the MGM film adaptation directed by Gary Sinise in 1992, it certainly is. The story centers around two main characters, George and Lennie, and their journey to pursue the impractical American dream. During the Great Depression, it is merely an impossible task to achieve the dream everyone strives to meet. However, the dream is unaccomplished as George ends the life of Lennie. The production of both the novel and the film can easily cause controversy and debate on which has presented the main themes more effectively. In fact, some may say the film is better at connecting with the viewers, having a stronger appeal towards audience with the acting and the framework. Yet the novel is doubtlessly

    Read More

  • Alienation And Discrimination: Of Mice And Men

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    After Candy enters Crooks’ room, Curley’s wife enters the room also and tries to hold a conversation with

    Read More

  • Why Did George Want To Kill Lennie's Death

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    Candy walked into the barn and found Curley’s wife on the floor. He thought she was sleeping but then realized that she was dead. It was Lennie who did this. He accidentally broke her neck when he was trying to get her to be quiet because she was screaming and Lennie did not want to get into trouble. Lennie did not know what he had done except

    Read More

More about To what extent is Of Mice and Men a novel of protest?

Open Document