IGCSE English Literature notes on Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Includes context notes on the American Dream, racism, The Great Depression, Fate, the Dustbowl, and women. Also includes quotes and notes from characters: Candy, Curley's wife, Curley, George Milton, Lennie Small, Crooks, and Slim.
America seen by the world as the land of opportunity where hard work brings success
American Dream – of owning and farming own land
Racism
o Emancipation and abolition of slavery
o Jim Crowe laws – gave black people better rights
o Lynching
The Great Depression
o economic conditions victimized workers
o severe worldwide economic depression
o farming and rural areas suffered as crop prices fell
o unemployment rose 25%
Fate
o quest for land thwarted by cruel and powerful forces beyond their control
o Tragedy marked by steadfast compassion and love
Dustbowl
o severe drought in Great Plains
o Many lost homes and farms + Forced to migrate for work
Women
o Had traditional roles – married homemaker, teachers, nurses, prostitutes
o Hostile to idea of working women – thought they were stealing their jobs
Esp. cos they could be payed less
Steinbeck
o Worked on ranches – sympathetic to itinerant workers’ plight – loneliness and lack of
opportunity
Quotes
CANDY
1. Old – “The old man came slowly into the room.”
2. Others don’t understand his relationship w his dog – “Why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old
dog?”
3. Proud of and close to dog – “Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him,”
4. Vulnerable – “I ain’t much good with o’ny one hand.”
5. Has a dream – “I’ll be on our own place, and I’ll be let to work on our own place.”
CURLEY’S WIFE
1. Flirty – “She got the eye”
2. Provocative – “So that her body was thrown forward”
3. Men don’t have a good opinion of her – “Jesus, what a tramp,” (George)
4. Lonely – “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?”
5. Has a bad side – “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.”
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