‘Show How Steinbeck Introduces the Reader to the Realities of Life for Different, but Ordinary People in the 1930s California, Usa.’
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 03/20/2011 10:38 PM
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‘Show how Steinbeck introduces the reader to the realities of life for different, but ordinary people in the 1930s California, USA.’
Each character in ‘Of Mice and Men’ was different, in terms of class and race, but was also an ordinary being. In effect, each person’s life was ultimately entangled with another’s, and the reality of life for them was one of the most significant events in the novel; explored in great detail by the author, John Steinbeck.
1930s, USA can be regarded as one of the most destructive events in history that shook the world to its core. To this day, we are still living the drastic effects of a chaotic meltdown that drove numerous, innocent lives to their awaiting deathbeds. Steinbeck initiates the reader to a contradictory view of this when he describes the setting in the opening extract. “On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees – willows fresh and green with every spring …” With this statement, Steinbeck immediately invites the reader to take an opposing view to the real situation – where the characters’ lives are in complete jeopardy and disarray because of the titanic economic disaster. It was a distant contrast to the harsh realities of life for these people.
Two of these people were George Milton and Lennie Small. George and Lennie shared a dream, an ambition, that dazzled their minds immensely. “All kin’s a vegetables in the garden, and if we want a little whisky we can sell a few eggs or something, or some milk. We’d jus’ live there. We’d belong there. There wouldn’t be no runnin’ around the country and getting fed by a Jap cook. No sir, we’d have our own place where we belonged and not sleep in no bunk house.” George and Lennie’s vibrant desire was, in truth, a microcosm of the American Dream that had mesmerised the minds of hundreds of men. Their thirst and aspiration was driven by the hope of becoming...
Each character in ‘Of Mice and Men’ was different, in terms of class and race, but was also an ordinary being. In effect, each person’s life was ultimately entangled with another’s, and the reality of life for them was one of the most significant events in the novel; explored in great detail by the author, John Steinbeck.
1930s, USA can be regarded as one of the most destructive events in history that shook the world to its core. To this day, we are still living the drastic effects of a chaotic meltdown that drove numerous, innocent lives to their awaiting deathbeds. Steinbeck initiates the reader to a contradictory view of this when he describes the setting in the opening extract. “On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees – willows fresh and green with every spring …” With this statement, Steinbeck immediately invites the reader to take an opposing view to the real situation – where the characters’ lives are in complete jeopardy and disarray because of the titanic economic disaster. It was a distant contrast to the harsh realities of life for these people.
Two of these people were George Milton and Lennie Small. George and Lennie shared a dream, an ambition, that dazzled their minds immensely. “All kin’s a vegetables in the garden, and if we want a little whisky we can sell a few eggs or something, or some milk. We’d jus’ live there. We’d belong there. There wouldn’t be no runnin’ around the country and getting fed by a Jap cook. No sir, we’d have our own place where we belonged and not sleep in no bunk house.” George and Lennie’s vibrant desire was, in truth, a microcosm of the American Dream that had mesmerised the minds of hundreds of men. Their thirst and aspiration was driven by the hope of becoming...