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Published byRodney McCoy Modified over 9 years ago
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Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck
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John Steinbeck Born and raised in Salinas area, the setting of this and other stories. Attended Stanford, left to find work. Did some work on a company owned farm. Moved to NYC to work in journalism – fired because he was too subjective.
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The Salinas Valley Salinas Valley still called “The Lettuce Belt.” Soledad home to large farms to this day…as well as a prison. Monterey once housed a tremendous fish canning industry, setting for Cannery Row (now a tourist zone).
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Events in History at the time of the story. The Great Depression: over 30% of US workers unemployed. The Dust Bowl: Midwest US ravaged by dust storms, farms destroyed. Most farms owned by large companies,staffed with seasonal, migrant farm workers…sound familiar?
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Life of a “bindlestiff” Migrant workers carried beds and belongings in a bundle. Most Hispanic, Asian. OM&M focus is on white worker. Average wage about $2.50/day, or about $600/year. Workers lived in bunkhouses. Most lived job-to-job, many spending earnings on bars and brothels instead of saving.
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Women in Depression era camps Treated as property, little freedom Confined to domesticity Roles changing Right to vote comes, so does opportunity
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Mentally Disabled No tolerance. General public frightened. Marriage disallowed; segregation and sterilization common (a practice later adopted by Hitler). Rights not granted until 1975, 1990, and 1997. Lennie an exception due to George’s presence.
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Racial Tension and Vigilante Justice Segregation was still a function of life in California. Racially motivated lynching common. Mob violence high, vigilante groups common.
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Sources Steinbeck dropped out of Stanford, worked on ranches and farms. Robert Burns poem “To a Mouse.” The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men Gang aft agley,o'anGangaft Structure Play format: 3 acts of two chapters Objective tone – like a newspaper Takes place across three days
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Themes Idealism vs Reality Alienation, loneliness, and poverty Race and Racism Class conflict Mental Disability Loyalty Friendship
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