Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

By John By John SteinbeckSteinbeck

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California.in Salinas, California.

During his childhood, Steinbeck learned to During his childhood, Steinbeck learned to appreciate his surroundings, and loved the appreciate his surroundings, and loved the Salinas countryside and the nearby Pacific Salinas countryside and the nearby Pacific Ocean; this appreciation appears in much of his Ocean; this appreciation appears in much of his writing.writing.

Steinbeck worked during his summers as a Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired hand in nearby ranches.hired hand in nearby ranches.

The Fields of Salinas, CaliforniaThe Fields of Salinas, California

From 1919–1925, Steinbeck attended Stanford From 1919–1925, Steinbeck attended Stanford University to please his parents but only chose University to please his parents but only chose courses that interested him: such as classical courses that interested him: such as classical and British literature, writing courses, and an and British literature, writing courses, and an odd science course.odd science course.

However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree. However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree. He would drop in and out of school, sometimes He would drop in and out of school, sometimes to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on California ranches.California ranches.

What’s a Bindlestiff?What’s a Bindlestiff?

A hobo, especially one who carries a A hobo, especially one who carries a bedrollbedroll.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, he During the late 1920s and 1930s, he concentrated on writing and wrote several concentrated on writing and wrote several novels set in California.novels set in California.

Steinbeck was admired by both readers and Steinbeck was admired by both readers and critics.critics.

In 1935, he won his first literary prize, In 1935, he won his first literary prize, Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for Best Novel by a Californian for his novel, Best Novel by a Californian for his novel, Tortilla Tortilla FlatFlat..

In 1936, In 1936, Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men was published, and was published, and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck began a was so widely accepted that Steinbeck began a book tour that led him to Europe.book tour that led him to Europe.

In 1939, In 1939, The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath was was published. Becoming an instant best-published. Becoming an instant best-seller, in 1940 it was awarded the seller, in 1940 it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.Pulitzer Prize.

This novel, just like This novel, just like Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men, , stemmed from his experience working stemmed from his experience working among migrant workers. among migrant workers.

Steinbeck’s experiences in the fields Steinbeck’s experiences in the fields researching migrant workers led him researching migrant workers led him to have more compassion for these to have more compassion for these workers and provoked his concern for workers and provoked his concern for social justice.social justice.

John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at his apartment in New York City.his apartment in New York City.

His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried near the land that he spent his life writing near the land that he spent his life writing about.about.

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men was originally called was originally called Something Something

That HappenedThat Happened..

When Steinbeck first thought of the idea for the When Steinbeck first thought of the idea for the book, he intended it to be for children. He told a book, he intended it to be for children. He told a friend that he was experimenting with a new friend that he was experimenting with a new dramatic form he called the “play-novella”.dramatic form he called the “play-novella”.

In May 1936, he wrote a manuscript, but his dog In May 1936, he wrote a manuscript, but his dog ate it.ate it.

He said of the book: “It is an experiment and I He said of the book: “It is an experiment and I don't know how successful.” don't know how successful.”

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

The novel deals with The novel deals with the social issues dear the social issues dear to Steinbeck’s heart—to Steinbeck’s heart—the themes of poverty, the themes of poverty, homelessness, the homelessness, the exploitation of exploitation of itinerant workers, the itinerant workers, the failure of the American failure of the American Dream, and America’s Dream, and America’s general moral decline.general moral decline.

Main Characters: Lennie & GeorgeMain Characters: Lennie & George

LennieLennie SmallSmallLennie is a large, lumbering, childlike Lennie is a large, lumbering, childlike migrant worker. Due to his mild migrant worker. Due to his mild mental disability, Lennie completely mental disability, Lennie completely depends upon George, his friend and depends upon George, his friend and traveling companion, for guidance traveling companion, for guidance and protection. The two men share a and protection. The two men share a vision of a farm that they will own vision of a farm that they will own together, a vision that Lennie believes together, a vision that Lennie believes in whole-heartedly. Gentle and kind, in whole-heartedly. Gentle and kind, Lennie nevertheless does not Lennie nevertheless does not understand his own strength. His love understand his own strength. His love of petting soft things, such as small of petting soft things, such as small animals, dresses, and people’s hair, animals, dresses, and people’s hair, leads to disaster. leads to disaster.

GeorgeGeorge MiltonMilton

George is a small, wiry, quick-witted George is a small, wiry, quick-witted man who travels with, and cares for, man who travels with, and cares for, Lennie. Although he frequently speaks Lennie. Although he frequently speaks of how much better his life would be of how much better his life would be without his caretaking responsibilities, without his caretaking responsibilities, George is obviously devoted to Lennie. George is obviously devoted to Lennie. George’s behavior is motivated by the George’s behavior is motivated by the desire to protect Lennie and, eventually, desire to protect Lennie and, eventually, deliver them both to the farm of their deliver them both to the farm of their dreams. Though George is the source dreams. Though George is the source for the often-told story of life on their for the often-told story of life on their future farm, it is Lennie’s childlike faith future farm, it is Lennie’s childlike faith that enables George to actually believe that enables George to actually believe his account of their future. his account of their future.

The Setting in The Setting in OfOf Mice and MenMice and Men The novel is set in the The novel is set in the

farmland of the Salinas farmland of the Salinas valley, where John Steinbeck valley, where John Steinbeck was born.was born.

The ranch in the novel is The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas on the south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river.Salinas river.

The countryside described at The countryside described at the beginning of the novel the beginning of the novel and the ranch itself is based and the ranch itself is based on Steinbeck’s own on Steinbeck’s own experiences. experiences.

Soledad, CaliforniaSoledad, California

California in the 1930sCalifornia in the 1930s

Why Migrant Workers?Why Migrant Workers? Before technology created Before technology created

farm machinery, humans farm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farm had to do a lot of the farm work by hand.work by hand.

Between the 1880s and Between the 1880s and the 1930s, thousands of the 1930s, thousands of men would travel the men would travel the countryside in search of countryside in search of work.work.

Such work included the Such work included the harvesting of wheat and harvesting of wheat and barley.barley.

Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers

These workers would earn $2.50 or These workers would earn $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter.$3.00 a day, plus food and shelter.

During the 1930s, the unemployment During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was high in the U.S., and with so rate was high in the U.S., and with so many men searching for work, many men searching for work, agencies were set up to send farm agencies were set up to send farm workers to where they were needed.workers to where they were needed.

In the novel, George and Lennie (the In the novel, George and Lennie (the two main characters) were given work two main characters) were given work cards from Murray and Ready’s, which cards from Murray and Ready’s, which was one of the farm work agencies.was one of the farm work agencies.

The American DreamThe American Dream

Write a paragraph in your notebook where you consider the Write a paragraph in your notebook where you consider the American Dream and how it applies to you. American Dream and how it applies to you.

Some considerations:Some considerations:

What comes to mind when you think about the American What comes to mind when you think about the American Dream?Dream?

What is your ideal future—your dreams and aspirations? What is your ideal future—your dreams and aspirations?

What must happen in order for that future to become reality? What must happen in order for that future to become reality?

Is anything standing in the way of that future reality?Is anything standing in the way of that future reality?

Please be prepared to share with the class.Please be prepared to share with the class.

The American Dream The American Dream

You can be successful if you work You can be successful if you work hard and live morally.hard and live morally.

America is the land of opportunity.America is the land of opportunity.

Freedom to work hard and be happy Freedom to work hard and be happy is enshrined in the Constitution.is enshrined in the Constitution.

The Dream assumes equality of The Dream assumes equality of opportunity, no discrimination, opportunity, no discrimination, freedom to follow goals, and freedom to follow goals, and freedom from victimization.freedom from victimization.

The American DreamThe American Dream

From the 17From the 17thth Century onwards, immigrants have Century onwards, immigrants have dreamed of a better life in America.dreamed of a better life in America.

Many people immigrated to America in search of Many people immigrated to America in search of a new life for themselves or their families.a new life for themselves or their families.

Many others immigrated to escape persecution Many others immigrated to escape persecution or poverty in their homeland.or poverty in their homeland.

Immigrants dreamed of making their Immigrants dreamed of making their fortunes in America. fortunes in America.

For many this dream of riches became a For many this dream of riches became a nightmare. nightmare.

there were horrors of slavery, there were horrors of slavery,

there were horrors of the American there were horrors of the American Civil War,Civil War,

there was a growing number of slums there was a growing number of slums that were just as bad as those in that were just as bad as those in Europe,Europe,

there was also great corruption in the there was also great corruption in the American political system which led to American political system which led to many shattered hopes. many shattered hopes.

The idea of an American Dream for many The idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street crashed, marking the beginning of the crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.Great Depression.

This era affected the whole world during This era affected the whole world during the 1930s, but even in the midst of the 1930s, but even in the midst of hardship, some people’s dreams survived.hardship, some people’s dreams survived.

Thousands of people made their way west Thousands of people made their way west towards California to escape from their towards California to escape from their farmlands in the Midwest that were failing farmlands in the Midwest that were failing due to drought.due to drought.

The characters of George and Lennie The characters of George and Lennie dreamt of having a “little house and a dreamt of having a “little house and a couple of acres” which was their own couple of acres” which was their own dream. dream.

Is the American Dream possible in the Is the American Dream possible in the historical context of the novel?historical context of the novel?

DreamsDreams George and Lennie have a dream, even before George and Lennie have a dream, even before

they arrive at their new job on the ranch, to make they arrive at their new job on the ranch, to make enough money to live "off the fat of the land" and enough money to live "off the fat of the land" and be their own bosses. Lennie will be permitted, be their own bosses. Lennie will be permitted, then, to tend the rabbits.then, to tend the rabbits.

When George goes into a full description of the When George goes into a full description of the dream farm, its Eden-like qualities become even dream farm, its Eden-like qualities become even more apparent. All the food they want will be more apparent. All the food they want will be right there, with minimal effort. As Lennie says: right there, with minimal effort. As Lennie says: "We could live off the fatta the lan'.""We could live off the fatta the lan'."

DreamsDreams When George talks about their farm, he twice When George talks about their farm, he twice

describes it in terms of things he loved in describes it in terms of things he loved in childhood: childhood: "I could build a smoke house like the "I could build a smoke house like the one gran'pa had..."one gran'pa had..."

George yearns for his future to reflect the beauty George yearns for his future to reflect the beauty of his childhood: of his childhood: "An' we'd keep a few pigeons to "An' we'd keep a few pigeons to go flyin' around the win'mill like they done when I go flyin' around the win'mill like they done when I was a kid."was a kid."

Themes in Themes in Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

The Nature of DreamsThe Nature of Dreams

In essence, In essence, Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men is as much a story about is as much a story about the nature of human dreams and aspirations and the the nature of human dreams and aspirations and the forces that work against them as it is the story of two forces that work against them as it is the story of two men. men.

Humans give meaning to their lives—and to their Humans give meaning to their lives—and to their futures—by creating dreams. Without dreams and futures—by creating dreams. Without dreams and goals, life is an endless stream of days that have little goals, life is an endless stream of days that have little connection or meaning. connection or meaning.

George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm is George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm is recurrent throughout the novella.recurrent throughout the novella.

Themes in Themes in Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

LonelinessLoneliness

In addition to dreams, humans crave contact with others to In addition to dreams, humans crave contact with others to give life meaning. Loneliness is present throughout this give life meaning. Loneliness is present throughout this novel. novel.

PowerlessnessPowerlessness

Steinbeck’s characters are often the underdogs, and he Steinbeck’s characters are often the underdogs, and he shows compassion toward them throughout the body of his shows compassion toward them throughout the body of his writings. Powerlessness takes many forms—intellectual, writings. Powerlessness takes many forms—intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck touches on them all.financial, societal—and Steinbeck touches on them all.

Themes in Themes in Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men FateFate

Life’s unpredictable nature is another subject that defines Life’s unpredictable nature is another subject that defines the human condition. Just when it appears that George and the human condition. Just when it appears that George and Lennie will get their farm, fate steps in. Lennie will get their farm, fate steps in.

My Brother’s KeeperMy Brother’s Keeper

Steinbeck makes the reader wonder whether mankind Steinbeck makes the reader wonder whether mankind should go alone in the world or be responsible and helpful to should go alone in the world or be responsible and helpful to others who are less fortunate. others who are less fortunate.

NatureNature

Steinbeck uses nature images to reinforce his themes and Steinbeck uses nature images to reinforce his themes and to set the mood. to set the mood.

The Title’s OriginThe Title’s Origin

The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 -96)poet Robert Burns (1759 -96)

The best laid schemes o’ mice and menThe best laid schemes o’ mice and menGang aft agley Gang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong]And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and painFor promised joy!For promised joy!

The poem refers to a little mouse who had carefully built The poem refers to a little mouse who had carefully built her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little mice her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little mice babies—yet the burrow is turned over and destroyed by a babies—yet the burrow is turned over and destroyed by a man plowing the field (actually Robert Burns himself).man plowing the field (actually Robert Burns himself).