How individuals can be hampered by the society in which they live? “Of mice and men” Essay

The best rigid schemes o Mice and Men, Gang aft agley.John Steinbecks allegory, Of Mice and Men discusses in detail the faults with the company it presents. Characters in the smart argon hampe departure and held back from fulfilling their dreams, collectible to race (Crooks), turn on (Curleys wife) and disability (shown by Lennie). all in all of these are expressed in detail throughout the novel. The in truth title of the novel is an extract from a poem which literally means no number how well we plan the upcoming, things often go wrong. This is a main free radical of the floor, and Steinbeck blames the genial baffle for it. His left wing create verbally is against many an(prenominal) of the ship way of society in 1930s the States, and he criticises aspects of this. Steinbeck particular concern was for the functional class, who he greatly translated with. He writes in a way to form and educate the lector with his beliefs, which gives the story very(prenominal) sumful undert anes. Stienbeck uses the bed cover to range a microcosm of the whole of American society, effectively interesting the reader with his subversive views.George represents the working class. He and Lennie together are shown to fetch had a disfranchised bearing in advance arriving at the ranch their time at the ranch is hard work, and the pathos shown at the end is that for George, things depart continue in this purposeless way. Georges breedingspan of tough manual labour amounts to nonhing, and he escapes from this solidity by dreaming of what will be one day. George is bony in to believing the dream he shares with Lennie, living the American dream. With forestall of money from confect, the dream seems soon to be comp allowe.But the reality becomes progress to at the end. Without Lennies childlike enthusiasm to fulfil his dream- it will not happen. This shows how George is hampered by society. Their plans from the beginning were to move to a house in the c ountry, however even this guileless desire cannot be carried out. Lennie also holds George back, If I was alone(predicate) I could sound so easy without anyone to care for Lennie within society, George is hampered with him. George, and many other sheaths see this unusual friendship as very one-sided, undecomposed it is not solitary(prenominal) Lennie who relies on George. George takes for granted how much he needfully Lennies companionship, in this cruel speckle they live in.Lennies breeding is prohibited from being as regular as it could be ascribable to the deficiency in this society. He represents the minority of people who are divergent from normal. T here(predicate) is no doubt that Lennie aint bright. He is shown to prepare a childs digstality, and his condition is not fully understood. Steinbecks numerous animal comparisons with Lennie (Like a horsethe way a bear) shows how he is seen in this society.The reader views Lennie with agreement, even when he commit s murder, his underlying regret and innocence show that he is just a primary and unsophisticated man. Lennie ironically and sadly kills Curleys wife. Curleys wife goes to him, because she olfactory propertys they twain experience the same kind of loneliness. In killing Curleys wife, Lennie prevents himself, George and dulcify from fulfilling their dreams of a simple easy life. The tragedy at the end is that Lennies dream will never be achieved. Lennie must be shot, as living in this society where theyd lock him up an thrash about him land, and commit him in a cage would be worse. Lennie is prevented from satisfying his simple fantasy of when he and George will live off the fatta the lan, not only by his mind, but mainly by a society which has no place for a man with special conditions, who needs special care. glaze over is a lonely old man, representing those alone and elderly in this fictive microcosm. His one companion in life is his dog. There is an element of regret wh en referring to dulcifys dog. The dog represents edulcorate in many ways. He was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen, but this instant he is old and disab take, much like glaze. His dog is useless, but Candy wants to keep his dog because he is used to him. There are undertones that prompting that part of the reason Candy wants to keep his dog is because he knows it symbolises him and his bank line into uselessness. In the end Candys dog is shot, implying the tragic spate of Candy. Candy lives in regret from allowing Carlson to shoot his dog. I shouldnt ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog. He feels he should reserve put the dog out of its misery himself, but did nothing to prevent Carlson from this. Candys hand was lost during an accident at the ranch, which is wherefore he still has a job at the ranch.The bosss sympathy keeps him there, long after he is of use to the ranch. Even with this reassurance, Candy late fears theyll can me purty soon. He knows there is nothin g to offer a morganatic old man in the cosmea he exists in. When they can me here I wisht somebodyd shoot me. He escapes from this daunting future by imagining an alternate one, one that would bring meaning to his life, and lessen the fear which he feels about the future. He is drawn in by a dream of putting an end to this insignificant life he leads, and living as his own boss. He offers to pay to the highest degree of the money for the house which George and Lennie dream about. This hope is all that Candy has to live for, and the end shows George dismiss this idea there is little hope for Candys fantasy, or anyone elses in this tough society.Curleys wife shows us how tragic this society is for women in these times. No one on the ranch has sympathy for her. Even we as readers have little until we try her confide in Lennie at the end. Society in the novel is shown to be very sexist. Women like Curleys wife were expected to lead very domestic lives, living essentially to serve th eir husband and children. She is the only fair sex on the ranch, who is extremely purty and she has got the eye. The ranch workers misinterpret her forwardness for flirting, but she is just lonely. Curleys wife tries to use her beauty to her advantage even so, the men exclude her, speaking little to her- thinking her an unfaithful tart. George describes her as one of these here jail baits. Steinbeck presents Curleys wife as a sex symbol. She dresses as if ready to go out, with rouged lips, wearing red shoes, and red fingernails, symbolising sex, seductiveness and danger. But still, only Lennie is tempted by her attractiveness.We sympathize with her commitment to Curley and as she confides in Lennie, we realise her unhappiness with the unfulfilling marriage. Curley, a childish and violent philanderer treats his wife as a possession to show off to his friends. He did not marry her out of love- but out of circumstances. Curleys wife is not even given a name by Stienbeck, which underl ines her unimportance and low rank in the sexist mans world shown in this story. Curleys wife is very lonely, which echoes Crooks life. She understands Lennie, in the way that he is not accepted into society, and this is why she opens up to him, obviously if she has to speak to individual as stupid as Lennie, this shows how little respect she has from other workers. She reveals more than to Lennie, than anyone else in the story speaking of her past.Curleys wife truly believes she could have become an actress, and if she had she wouldnt be livin like this, you bet. She blames her failed acting career on her ol lady. Curleys wife claims that actors have said she could be good. Unfortunately, these men have probably only been attracted to her by her beauty, and not by any real talent she had. Her beauty makes her open to these sorts of people, and she doesnt understand that these offers are virtually certainly not genuine. She wants to spend time speaking to Lennie, Candy and Crook s because she feels high than them. All her life she has been told what to do and abused, and she rebels against this by trying to escape from this thudding life, by marrying Curley.Crooks, the Negro stable buck is a man who suffers greatly from the American society in which extreme racism is a way of life. Blacks did not get the vote, and white-black dealings were heavily frowned upon. He represents the situation of blacks throughout America, being excluded in the society presented to us. The reader reads on with interest and sympathy, for the erroneous and heartless way that Crooks is treated. Crooks lives in his bunk in the harness room. He lives away from the other workers in his one room containing the bare necessities. He has no friends in or out of the ranch and his existence seems to be pointless. Crooks name comes from his crooked back, which puts him in immense put out. This symbolises the pain he suffers throughout his whole life. Crooks tells a tragic story of how he used to play with white kids, but as soon as the children grew up, they developed the racism that ran through their society.The hard cold life which Crooks has lived has led him to be a very bitter old man. His cynical tho realistic view on life is clear, If I say something, why its just a nigger saying it. Crooks knows his meaningless place in society, but still he has his pride his room was brush and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud aloof man. This allows us to respect the swelled head Crooks still has after the dire and unjust life he has led. His character though is not presented as a character that is easy to sympathise with. In an interesting way, Stienbeck presents his ungrateful, sarcastic manner of referring to his bunk house, With a scatter pile outside the window.He shows the angry way that he talks to Curleys wife, I had enough, he said coldly you got no rights comin in a coloured mans room. Steinbeck shows Crooks as a ridiculous old man, whose harsh character do esnt seem easy to sympathise with. Steinbeck in fact tried to create sympathy for the blacks in America by showing Crooks as an intelligent man who has been hardened by a cruel and strongly racist society in which he lives. People in the ranch exclude him, as there is no correct or wanted place for Crooks in the ranch, or the absolute social order.John Steinbeck had experienced this blemish society first hand, born(p) and bred in America, and living there for thirty-five years before writing this book. He had also worked as a farm labourer before writing the novel. Steinbeck sympathised with the underdog, and truly appreciated and admired the working class. The social order was extremely immoral. It was sexist, and highly racist, which the novel alerts the reader to. Steinbecks other well-known novel, The Grapes of Wrath was also a political protest, and it is vital to remember this story is written to influence the reader. The reader should bear in mind that the novel is not ju st a story of an unusual friendship that ends tragically it is a critical story, with strong undertones, written to alarm and influence the reader.All characters seem to be entrapped by society, but can we hold it all in all responsible? Is perhaps Steinbeck trying to ask how much of the characters unhappiness is down to human nature? Lennie, although very much misunderstood by society would not have fitted in anywhere. His condition limits him significantly. Even in a hospice, or with 24hour care, it would be impossible for him to lead a regular life. What future is there for a lonely old man with no hand even in nowadayss society? Even the benefits that he would receive today would not help Candy live the life he wants to live. Even Curleys wifes sad life of being used, and lied to, cannot be blamed on society. How is it possible to set about all(prenominal)one success and wealth? The emptiness of her dreams is no fault of society. George also was by no way prevented from buyin g the farmhouse after Lennies death, but when Candy asks will we still go, he says I think I knowed from the very first wed never do her.This is due to his lack of self-will. I feel that Steinbeck does not only criticise society, but human nature. human race nature is very much responsible for characters not having the will to bind out their hopes, dreams and desires. The characters do not keep pushing to achieve. George accepts that he will continue in this unimportant subsistence, Ill work my month an Ill take my fifty bucks. Curleys wife accepts that she Coulda been in the movies. I feel Steinbeck tries to show how many people settle for less, because it is easier.It is always easier to use a scapegoat, and in this story, society can be seen as this. Doesnt every society have its faults anyway? The society shown is very different from todays, and has many faults, it is unfair, highly racist, and designed for the perfect person. This novel focuses on the misfits of society, and although the social order is far from perfect, it is not the only factor. This Novella is a rebuke of not only society, but also human nature. Steinbeck shows characters hampered from all walks of life. The reader reads with interest this disturbing and realistic window into a deeply flawed society.