Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck

The Great Depression OCTMARFEBDECNOVMARAUG The stock market crashes, forcing banks to either close or call in loans. An estimated $30 billion dollars in stock value is lost by November. 3.2 million people are unemployed, up from 1.5 million before the crash. Food riots begin to break out around the country. New York’s Bank of the United States collapses. Franklin D Roosevelt wins the presidency in landslide against incumbent president Herbert Hoover. FDR creates the Works Progress Administration, a program that puts 8.5 million people back to work. FDR passes the Emergency Banking Act, which put 3/4s of the nation’s banks back in business.

The novel is set in the farmland of the Salinas valley, where John Steinbeck was born. The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river. The countryside described at the beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself is based on Steinbeck’s own experiences. The Setting in Of Mice and Men

Salinas, CA

The Salinas River near Soledad, CA

A Look at the Author He was born on February 27 th in 1902 in Salinas, California. He was the third of four children, and the only son. During his childhood, Steinbeck learned to appreciate his surroundings, and loved the Salinas countryside and the nearby Pacific Ocean; it would be this appreciation that would later come out in his writing. Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired hand in nearby ranches.

Steinbeck Continued From Steinbeck attended Stanford University to please his parents, but only chose courses that interested him, such as classical and British Literature, and writing courses. However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree because he would drop in and out of school, sometimes to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on California ranches. What is a bindlestiff?

Bindlestiff a homeless person who carries a bedroll

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Of Mice and Men In 1936, Of Mice and Men was published, and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck began a book tour that led him to Europe. His novel Of Mice and Men, stemmed from his experience working among migrant workers. Steinbeck’s experiences in the fields researching migrant workers led him to have more compassion for these workers, and stirred up his concern for social justice. John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at his apartment in New York City and was buried near the land that he spent his life writing about.

Migrant Workers Before technology created farm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farm work by hand. Between the 1880s and the 1930s, thousands of men would travel the countryside in search of work. Such work included the harvesting of wheat and barley. Workers would earn $2.50 to $3.00 a day, and food and shelter. During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was high in the U.S., and with so many men searching for work, agencies were set up to send farm workers where they were needed. In the novel, George and Lennie were given work cards from farm work agencies.

The Fields of Salinas, California

George Milton & Lennie Small George is a small, wiry, quick-witted man who travels with, and cares for Lennie. Although he frequently speaks of how much better his life would be without his caretaking responsibilities, George is still devoted to Lennie. George’s behavior is motivated by the desire to protect Lennie and eventually deliver them both to the farm of their dreams. Lennie is a large, lumbering, childlike migrant worker. Due to his mild mental disability, Lennie completely depends upon George, his friend and traveling companion for guidance and protection. The two men share a vision of a farm that they will own together, a vision that Lennie believes in wholeheartedly. Gentle and kind, Lennie does not realize his own strength.

Lennie, George

Of Mice and Men – Title’s Origin The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns ( ) The best laid schemes o ’ mice and men Gang aft agley [often go wrong] And leave us naught but grief and pain For promised joy!

The American Dream America is the land of opportunity. You can be successful if you work hard and live morally. The Dream assumes equality of opportunity, no discrimination, freedom to follow goals and freedom from victimization.

The idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. Thousands of people made their way west towards California to escape from their farmlands in the Midwest that were failing due to drought. The characters of George and Lennie dreamt of having a “little house and a couple of acres,” which was their own dream. The American Dream Continued

Dreams George and Lennie have a dream, even before they arrive at their new job on the ranch. They plan to make enough money to live "off the fat of the land” and be their own bosses. Lennie will be permitted to tend the rabbits.

Ideal vs. Best Friend? What makes one an ideal or best friend? What are some characteristics of both? ideal - existing only in the imagination; desirable or perfect but not likely to become a reality best - of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality

Characteristics of an Ideal vs. Best Friend IdealBest