Of Mice and Men by SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck was born in 1902 in Salinas, California. His mother wasa teacher and the reason why he learned to love books and his fatherwas a county treasurer. He attended his local school and in theholidays worked on farms and ranches, this is the reason he is able togive such an insight to how life was there. After school he went toStanford university studying marine biology but did not get a degree.He then went to New York for a short time were he worked as a reporterfor the American Newspaper, before going back to California toconcentrate on is writing. He wrote many books including Sea ofCortez, Of Mice An Men and A Russian Journal Before winning a noblePrize for Literature in 1962.
The novel I am doing this essay on I ‘Of Mice And Men’ by JohnSteinbeck, set in California. The book was written In 1936 and alsobased in this period. This is in the middle of the great depression,which started in 1930 when firms and 2298 banks went bust and losingeverybodies savings and finished at the beginning of the second worldwar. During the depression millions of people were left wanderingaround looking for jobs and surviving any way they could. All thiscame just after the boom of the 1920s where it was easy to find workand everybody was paid very well. In the 30s Steinbeck was also one ofthe 13million people without a proper job, this is because his writingalone would not be able to support him. This is similar to page 11 inthe book where Lennie and George are looking for jobs, they alsodidn’t have much money so they are unable so buy the simplest thingssuch as ketchup for their bak…
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…ple willhelp them. Even though they know they are on their own all the workersare friends and watch out for each other on the ranch.
Most of the men don’t mind Lennie as they no he means well and is notrouble but Curley shows a more realistic view of him, which wouldbetter represent the 1930’s better. Curley shows a lot of intolerancetowards Lennie as he is seen as not normal, he shows this intoleranceby continuously threatening him and in the end starting a fight withhim.
From looking over my work I believe the characters in the novel ‘OfMice And Men’ show that they were living in the 1930’s very well.Their belongings jobs and actions all show that they were living inthis period. I also believe the character of Crooks, Curleys wife andthe boss all show how different people were treated at this time.
