Investigating Themes in Of Mice and Men

Question #1

What different forms of power exist in Of Mice and Men? What kind of power does Lennie have? What kind of power does George have? What kinds of power or powerlessness do other characters possess?

The different types of power that exist in Of Mice and Men is physical, mental, economical, racial, and sexual.  Physical power means the appearance of strength and force to defeat something.  Mental power means to use the mind as strength to solve, defeat problems, etc.  Economical power means to have adequate resources to enforce economic decisions as a leader.  Racial power means power reached on the basis of race that one race is superior to others.  Sexual power is the ability to excite or attract someone by their appearance sexually.

Lennie has mainly physical power because he is big and strong.  Even though George tells Lennie to fight Curley and not be fired he demonstrates physical power, "The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his fist was closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand," (Steinbeck 63).  George has mental power because he is smart and helps Lennie to be safe. George tells Lennie, "  Lennie--if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush.  Hide in the brush till I come for you," (Steinbeck 15).  

Slim also has mental power like George.  Carlson has physical power like Lennie but not like him.  Curley's wife has sexual power that catches people's attention like Lennie.  Curley lacks sexual power because he feels small and manliness without his wife.  Crook lacks racial power because he is black and has to be lonely.  The boss has economical power.  He is both rich and wealthy to make the decisions of his own business.  Carlson also lacks economical power because of his limitations in economic conditions in which he killed Candy's dog.  Candy lacks physical power because of his hand when working in the ranch previously and therefore in not strong. 

On Youtube I found a video that talks about that hard times bring fear and the result is in violence and discrimination towards America's racial and ethnic minorities.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wrhpZOGQFk

Chapter 3 Notes

Chapter - Note Taking Criteria

Summary= Slim talks to George about him working together with Lennie and is surprised that  Lennie being a big, strong, childish/stupid guy and George being a small, smart guy are together.  Carlson then walks in the bunkhouse and can't stand the smell of the ancient dog of Candy's and says it stinks in here, so living much wouldn't help the dog and offers to kill him since Candy resists.  Slim also agrees and that leaves Candy to give up his dog, whom he took care of since the dog was a small pup.  When Carlson takes the dog outside to be killed, Candy feels motionless, looking at the ceiling when he hears the gun shot from outside of Carlson killing the dog.  Then a black man, Crooks, (who is the stable hand that takes care of the horses by himself because he is black and not allowed to work with the white), comes into the bunkhouse and asks Slim that he needs help tending the horses.  He also told Slim that Lennie has one of his pups and that he might hurt him, but show he is not worried (understanding Lennie) he says "Well, he ain't doin' no harm.  I give him one of them pups."  Curly comes in the bunkhouse later to see if his wife is their but she is not their son instead he finds out that Slim has gone away to help Crooks.  While Whit (another ranch hand who talks about Curly's wife sex to George) and Carlson go to see if their is a fight Lennie wants George to talk about their future dreams and how they will get whatever they want.  Candy wants to join adding 300 bucks to the plan for his share and just then Slim, Whit and Curley come back.  Slim is pissed at Curley for bugging him about his wife. Later Curley get's in a fight with Lennie because he laughed supposedly at Curley for getting dissed by Slim and later Carlson.  Lennie fights back because of George and then Curley is defeat is hand is messed up so he has to go to the hospital with Carlson.  Lennie feels so bad that it was his fault but George reassures him and says I told you do so.

Question= When: 1930's
                  Where: Curley's ranch (staying at bunkhouse)

1. I wonder why Curley decided to hit Lennie in front of everybody even though Lennie laughed knowing that he is stupid? (pg.63-64)

2. Why is Whit so much interested in Curley's wife? Did she do anything to Whit in particular? (pg.55) 

3. Did Lennie lie to George what Slim said to him about the pups and what he was doing in the meanwhile and if so why? (pg.55)

Same characters from chapter 2 except Crooks and Whit

Prediction= I can predict that since Curley went to the hospital his wife would be lookin' for him coming in the bunkhouse and saying every few minutes "Where is he? Where did he go?" I believe that there is going to a false statement about her husband and that he got lost.  Since Curley's wife is like Curley she will pick on Lennie, I think, because he looks powerless, she will trouble him to telling where Curley is when George is no around.  Maybe, also, I have a feeling that Crooks will come to talk to Lennie when George is not around and asks his life status and why he was taking care of a pup, because when he ask Slim he seemed curious but then led it slide because he probably figured that Slim knew what he was during.  (pg.50&65)

Chapter 2 Notes

Chapter Note - Taking Criteria

Summary= Lennie and George arrive at the bunkhouse where they meet a old Swamper named Candy.  Candy told them the boss was waiting and that they should speak in a correct manner when they met him.  After Lennie and George talked to the boss, George was suspecting that Candy was eavesdropping on their conversation, when Candy went to get his old good sheep dog.  They talked to Curly (son of boss) afterwards who happen to step in the bunkhouse and seemed pugnacious and cruel to Lennie in a bad manner which George strongly disliked.  George told Lennie to be quiet and ignore Curley and go hide in the bush if something major happens.  Later they met Curley's wife and even though she was "pretty looking", since George had a bad reputation for Curley, George thought that Curley will cheat and take advantage of Lennie to be on Curley's side.  Then he meets Slim, a Jerkline skinner, so called high-authority, who tried to control things in high-fashion manner.  They met Carlson, one of the big man's of the group.  Since Lennie loves "puppy," when Carlson enters the bunkhouse and asks Slim about his new puppies to replace one of them with Candy's old dog, George will ask one for Lennie.   There is no initial fighting moves when Curley opens the door to look for his wife.  Afterward's dinner bell rings and next Lennie and George are about to buck-barley and experience how it is like to work in this ranch vs. Weed.

Question= When: 1930's
                  Where: Ranch in the Saline Valley
                              Stay (bunkhouse)

Characters involved: Lennie, George, boss, Curley, Curley's wife, Slim, Old Swamp, Carlson

1. I wonder how Lennie will function during buck-barley in ranch since George gave him boost-up compliments?

2.What will Lennie do since Curley is pugnacious and is cruel to him? Will George step up or Lennie take over?

3. Will Candy, have a discussion, with the boss, about Lennie and George and how they felt here with everybody and the conditions?

Prediction= Since Curley had a bad reputation on Lennie, I think since George is together with Lennie, they would not be nice to Curley and if he slightly mistreats Lennie, then I George will act upon seriously.  I also believe that Lennie, instead of just hiding in the bush when trouble comes, would fight back and cause both of them to be more trouble, Lennie has an intendency to forget many things, even though several times repeated.  The boss, I think, will find out Lennie's problem through Curley or  one of the workers, because of his actions and behavior.  Then both Lennie and George will be both fired from the job cause they can't keep their hands to themselves and do the work diligently.  Lennie would forget to listen to George and something disastrous might happen.   

Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930's

      Literature is often a reflection of the time period in which it was written or, in the case of historical fiction, of the time period it is focused on.  Authors will often find sneaky little ways to demonstrate the dominant characteristics of the time period by blending in details, that, at a closer glance, reveal these hidden themes.

      In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s.  John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men.  In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.

      Let's see if you can make the connection!  Think about some of  the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1).  What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text?  What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history? 

      As far as the text "Of Mice and Men" some characteristics of the 1930's that are being demonstrated to me is ill - educatedness, desperately looking for a job, beast and being uncivilized.  The text talks about the daily lives of people during the 1930's.  In the text Lennie, the bigger dude, is compared to being more like a beast because he is described as a bear.  On pg.2 it says "Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws."Bears are not humans and can not be tamed and so Lennie is described as big, bulky person.  Also, Lennie and George are desperate to survive and live for the purpose of living so they need food.  On pg.8 George says "Sure we are, if you gather up some dead willow sticks.  I got three cans of beans in my bindle.  You get a fire ready.  I'll give you a match when you get the sticks together.  Then we'll heat the beans and have supper." In the 1930's options were very limited and people had to just manage.  On the same page it talks about in the text of Lennie being uncivilized.  "Lennie lumbered to his feet and disappeared in the brush.  George lay where he was and whistled softly to himself.  There were sounds of splashing down the river in the direction Lennie had taken.  In this text Lennie is being compared to as if he was a tree.  Since the 1930's were hard times people needed things desperately.  Lennie is like a horse when he follows George.  For example on pg.4 it says "Lennie, who had been watching him, imitated George exactly.  He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right.  He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George's hat was.  On pg.5 Lennie is also being compared to an animal when playing with the water, "Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and came back again."

      During this time in American society I think John Steinbeck is trying to show us of how people for the soul purpose of living.  People during the time period had to struggle cause they had no job and were poor.  They were desperate to acquire anything the can have when they get the chance, like Lennie did when he needed water.  It was rough times because people had to sleep, eat and work wherever they can if they get an opportunity for a job, like Lennie and George did.  Also the clothing wasn't fancy but worthy enough to survive.  John Steinbeck was trying to show how people would act desperately for such needs and that to survive that was unpleasant and unfortunate.  Some people were dependent on other friends and families like Lennie and George were to each other.  Now a days we have advanced in our technology with cars, telephones, etc.  We are appreciative of our ancestors going to these difficult times to brighten our future.

I saw a video on youtube that talks about how the Great Depression happened and what people had to go through during the Great Depression:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpKmfjf5tUk 

               

Chapter 1 Notes

Chapter Note - Taking Criteria      

Summarize: The first chapter "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck is described in a beautiful nature scene in which he then introduces two main character's in the story named, Lennie and George (companions).  George is smart and quick with a dark face but Lennie is tremendous in size but has the mind of a young child (forgets, loves to stroke mice, likes food with ketchup, follows George's step).  In anotherwards, George makes Lennie repeat simply instructions since Lennie forgets things to quickly.  Lennie loves mice but makes them die by petting and pinching them eventually and George is against Lennie having a mice since he is not responsible.  Lennie and George don't have a family and therefore are on their way to a ranch in Salines  Valley for temporary work and doesn't want Lennie to say anything when they are getting the job because from past experience Lennie had fooled around and not payed attention on working.  George and Lennie stop at the brush where they find a nice spot to sleep, talk and discuss issues and Lennie tells George to explain how they future lives are going to be and how exciting it will be.  George feels that Lennie should leave and he is of no help and causes trouble, but Lennie threatens George after George regrets that if George thinks negative he will go away for real.  In an emergency, George wants Lennie to stay in the brush (where they camped) incase something bad happens and they are not close around each other.

Question: Characters involved: George, Lenny
                 When= In the 1930's
                 Where= Near the Salines River in California

Story= 1. How did Lennie and George met up?
            2. How does George know where to get a job in the ranch and how much miles it was from the weed?"
            3. Is Aunt Clara going to be significant?
            4. I wonder if Lennie and George will actually have to hide behind the bush, and if so what will happen?
   

Prediction: In Chapter 1 George doesn't want Lennie to forget simple instruction he gave him about remembering to stay quite when George tries to get them jobs.  He wants Lennie to remember to go immediately to the brush if anything happens and from these two statements I can predict that the Lennie is going to stir up an excitement and cause trouble to people who are working there.  He might work against the boss and splat out his idea about what they should do in the ranch and might cause some serious problem.  However, I can visualize and also predict that since Lenny has the mind of a young child, he would probably hold on to an attractive woman's dress but this time it might be a bigger issue.  It might be a bigger issue in the case that the person who Lenny holds onto emotionally will be related to the boss.  The story has to be suspenseful!

Picturing the History Behind of Mice and Men

For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.
     They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.

     The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself. (1.2-4)

Sound familiar? Kind of like the pictures, right? In writing, compare and contrast this opening section from Of Mice and Men to the pictures you analyzed in class. What does the text and the photographs show us about the 1930s?  Be specific!

This opening section reminds me of the picture #2 I saw in class, "Bag Man on Road." From this picture I can see the stuff on his back which Steinbeck describes in the fourth sentence "tight blankets rolls slung over their shoulder. Steinbeck says that two people together walk down a single path, but from the picture I can speculate that the man in the picture is behind the other.  Unlike the man in the picture, Steinbeck says that two men man have company of each other during the trip and he describes how they look in detail, while in the picture his front image is not shown.  This photo struck me when I read the first few sentence because they were talking about men and only men and that two men were walking.

I think Steinbeck is trying to show us that the 1930's was hard, challenging, lonely including sadness.  From the picture, it looks like people were poor and didn't have jobs.  People had to struggle during their life.

The Great Depression happened during the 1930's and fashion industry was different and old.


1930's (Great Depression) times

The picture is showing a group of women sorting walnuts at the California Walnut Growers Association.  I think these women had no choice but to hope for a better life.

I also found a video on hardship for people during the Great Depression. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfY8kh5lUw