Theme Analysis

In last week's blog response, I asked you to select a theme that "hit home" with you the most.  Now that you have set your sights on a theme you would most like work with some more, it is time to test your skills of analysis.  Scan through the last chapter (6) in Of Mice and Men and see if you can pull out a moment from the text that, upon close reading, says something about your selected theme.

            “You ain’t gonna leave me, are ya, George? I know ya ain’t.”

George came stiffly near and sat down beside him.

“No.”

“I knowed it,” Lennie cried. “You ain’t that kind.”

George was silent.

Power verses powerlessness is very prominent throughout chapter 6. Lennie is very obedient to George’s orders given to him earlier in the novella. Lennie remembers what George tells him, to hide in the brush and wait until George came to get him. Lennie is mournful for all the things he’s done and brings back all conversations between him and George. Lennie relies on George to be there for him and provide for him. 

A Portrait of Racism

  Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s. Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter. Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s. What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter? 
          Check out this article titled, "Racial Segregation in the American South: Jim Crow Laws"  to gain a better understanding of the timeline of racial segregation in America.

In chapter 4 the racism is exposed and fully explained. In the beginning of the chapter racism is introduced when Crooks becomes angry when Lennie is in his door way. He explains to him that he is not welcomed into his room just the same as he is not welcomed into the bunk house. He treatsLennie as bad as the other white workers and bosses treat him. Crooks has grown accustom to being called the N-word, so much that he uses it himself before giving the other person to say it to him. While Crooks and Lennie spoke he constantly repeated it. As said on page 71 "This is just a n****r talkin' an' a buster-back n****r..."
 Racism is also shown when Curley's wife came into his bunk. She taunted him because of the color of his skin during the altercation and called him several other disrespectful names and threated to tell the boss. Crooks couldn't do anything because he knew she was correct and she could have him fired.

Chapter 4 Notes

Summary: In this chapter they provide insight on the character Crooks. Crooks is the only black worker on the ranch and is separated from the rest of the workers because of his skin tone. He works in the stable with the animals. Crooks has a crooked spine and is constantly putting liniment on his back. Lennie, while going to see his puppy, noticed Crooks room light. Crooks explained to Lennie how he isn't wanted in the bunkhouses and how Lennie wasn't welcomed in his room. Lennies warming smile warmed him up and Crooks invited him in. Crooks tortured Lennie by embedding the thought that George wouldn't come back from town. Later Candy came looking for Lennie to talk about their ranch dream and as Crooks starts to feel accepted Curley's wife comes into the barn and begins to taunt him.

Prediction: I predict that the rest of the ranch workers will isolate Lennie for becoming friends with Crooks and this will cause George and Lennie more trouble.

Question: Why did Crooks like torturing Lennie, while he was trying to be friends with him? Why was George so shocked that Lennie went into Crooks Bunk,Knowing how curious Lennie is?

Investigating Themes in Of Mice and Men

Choose one of the following questions that interests you most to respond to in this week’s blog post:

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? 

2.)  What kind of relationship do George and Lennie have?  Is their relationship a friendship?  How does this relationship express Steinbeck’s position on the individual versus the community?

3.)  Is the American Dream a real possibility in the story?  If yes, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story confirm that the American Dream is within reach?  If not, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story represent the American Dream as out of reach? 

Check out the info History.com has to offer about the American 1930s!  Who had power in the 1930s?  Who did not?  What kinds of power existed then?  What important relationships were formed in the 1930s?  Was the American Dream still alive in the 1930s?

2.         The relationship between George and Lennie is very complicated. Lennie looks up to George and wants to do everything in his power so that he does things right to please George and not have him yell at Lennie. Lennie wants to remember and obey everything George has taught him. Lennie likes to imitate George and wants to do everything he does. Lennie learned everything he knows from George because after his Aunt Clara died George took him in.

George takes care of Lennie but finds him to be a burden and feels like Lennie holds him back. But George wouldn’t be himself without Lennie, he feels more powerful and smart when he’s around Lennie. George has said it himself in chapter one that he wants Lennie around. No matter how much Lennie annoys him and does stupid things George still cares about him and wouldn’t want to be without him. George may talk rudely to him and get aggravated at times but he means well. He just wants to give Lennie a sense of stability and give him a chance to grow into his own person while he is still guides him through simple tasks.

Being that they have to be together and work with each other in everything they do, Steinbeck shows that in the 1930’s it was still lonely even when they had someone there. A person was on their own once they were in trouble but George didn’t let that happen for Lennie. He always stuck by Lennie no matter what the situation was.

Best friends always stick together

Chapter 3 Notes

Summary: George and Slim had a long conversation mostly about how George and Lennie are always together and about Lennies past. Slim offers to give one of the puppies to Lennie because he knows how much he loves petting them. Candy's dog was euthanized and put out of it's misery by Carlson. Lennie and Curley get into an altercation because Curley feelings as though Lennie is taunting him although he was having an inner thought about the future ranch. Lennie and George get into a fist fight and they both get servery hurt not wishing to jeopardize their jobs they both hide the dispute from the boss.

Question: Why is George so quick to open up to Slim? Why Does Curley only target Lennie? Why does Curley think Slim is with his wife?

Prediction: I think Lennie will stay away from Curley. I predict that Curely will keep an eye on Slim because of his suspicions. And I also predict that Curely's wife will get Lennie into more trouble.

Chapter 2 Notes

Summary: Lennie and George get to the bunkhouse where Candy escorts them in and shows them where they’ll be sleeping. Because George and Lennie were supposed to be there that morning the boss questioned them. George did all the talking and Lennie, as instructed, remained quiet. The boss began to get suspicious as to why Lennie wasn’t answering the questions he was being asked and George was talking for him. George had to lie and say he had been kicked in the head as a child and that he was Lennie’s cousin. The boss’s son Curley came into the bunkhouse looking for his father and noticed how he made Lennie nervous, taking advantage of that he approached Lennie. George spoke for Lennie and this aggravated Curley and this started problems between Lennie and Curley. George lectures him about not being around him and he judges him about not looking at Curley’s wife, who Lennie finds “purty”.

     

      Prediction: I predict that Lennie is going to forget the lecture that George gave him and he’s going to flirt with Curley’s wife. I predict that Lennie and Curley are going to get into an altercation.

   

        Questions: why does George yell at Lennie for not talking when the boss was talking to him although he told him not to talk? Why did George act as if the conversation between him and Candy didn’t spark his interest?

Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930s

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?

              

  Naturalism is a type of literature that attempts to show humans in a very "detached" way. Ill-educated or lower class characters (whose lives are governed by hereditary, instinct, and passion), extreme settings, and themes that have to do with nature are all clues to let you know that naturalism is in usage. Naturalistic writers usually study human beings through characteristics governed by instincts and passion or hereditary and environment. John Steinbeck included many elements of naturalism into his writing.

In chapter 1, Steinbeck demonstrates many characteristics on the style of life in the 1930. By having the characters speak in an un-educated manor he demonstrates that in the 1930’s work was more of a priority then education was. Steinbeck also states that the two man are on the road looking for jobs which gives you the idea that work was everywhere but very scarce. During the Great Depression people were very stressed and had to rely on their animal instincts to get what they want and needed.