Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck
In his own words “The ancient commission of the writer has not changed. He is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement.” Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, 1962
Brief Author Bio Born in Salinas, CA in 1902 Never completed a degree Met hobos and migrant workers while making money on a sugar plant Died in 1968
Well-known Works
Steinbeck’s World
The Roaring 20’s
And then…the Great Depression Most severe economic downturn in American history Began with the Stock Market crash (Oct, 1929) Lasted until the start of American involvement in World War II Unemployment rose to 30%
And more depression 50% of commercial banks failed Crop prices fell by 50% Over-production led to unemployment Hunger, despair, poverty, homelessness – millions of Americans had their lives destroyed
Does this line ever move???
The New Deal The New Deal was Franklin Roosevelt’s response to the Great Depression One of the movements was the establishment of a modern Welfare State while preserving the capitalist system
Continued Women, blacks and other minorities gained little from the New Deal The effects of the Depression were exacerbated (made worse) by the ecological disaster of the Dust Bowl which caused many to migrate to California in search of the American Dream – the promised land and wealth
“You can stand under my…”
The American Dream
The Reality
Why didn’t we take the train?
The book Of Mice and Men was originally called Something That Happened. When Steinbeck first thought of the idea for the book he intended it to be for children. Steinbeck told a friend that he was experimenting with a new 'dramatic form'. In May 1936 he had a written manuscript - but his puppy (a setter called Toby) ate it! He said of the book: "It is an experiment and I don't know how successful."