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
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