Of Mice and Men: Dust Bowl, Depression, Themes

• The 1930s in the USA were marked by the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and the migration of workers, including the "Okies".
• "Okie" originally meant a migrant agricultural worker, especially from Oklahoma, but became a derogatory term during the mass westward migration of the 1930s.
• The Dust Bowl was a drought-stricken area in the southern plains of the U.S. that suffered severe dust storms in the 1930s, resulting in deaths and crop failure.
• The Great Depression was the worst economic crisis in US history, starting in 1929 and lasting throughout the 1930s, with unemployment reaching 25% by 1933.

Relationships

• The novel explores character relationships, focusing on George and Lennie, and how others interact on the ranch.

Themes

• The American Dream, loneliness, power, and prejudice are central themes in the narrative.

Isolation

• Isolation can be either self-imposed or forced upon an individual.
• Isolation can evoke negative emotions.
• People respond differently to isolation, either wanting to change their situation or accepting it.

Idealism vs Reality

• The characters in the novel try to escape the harsh realities of their lives through a shared dream.
• Dreams can be realistic or fantastical.
• Dreams can become a source of comfort.
• Having a dream can increase a person’s drive and motivation.
• Dreams can be destroyed by both external and internal factors
• The text poses the question of whether it is better for dreams to remain as dreams rather than become a disappointing reality.

Prejudice

• Prejudice involves pre-formed opinions not based on reason, fact, or experience.
• Prejudice can manifest in various forms, like; racism, sexism, ableism, and ageism.
• Prejudice is linked to discrimination, which is unjust treatment based on race, age or gender.
• Prejudices and biases often arise from misunderstandings.
• The law favored white citizens during the era of the novel.
• Lennie experiences ableism, Curley’s wife experiences sexism, Candy experiences ageism, and Crooks experiences racism

Friendship

• Friendships are usually reciprocal, with all parties contributing equally.
• Some people may not feel the need for friendship.
• Being around people is not the same as true friendship.

Power

• Power encompasses more than just physical strength, including emotional and psychological aspects.
• Characters can be both powerful and powerless, with powerlessness stemming from lack of finances, intelligence, or social standing.
• Power can be used to help, harm or control others.
• Individuals react differently to their own power or lack thereof.
• The ranch in Of Mice & Men has a hierarchy in which the Boss and his son Curley hold more power than the ranch hands.

Symbolism

• Rabbits symbolize a safe, happy life for Lennie and more broadly innocence and abundance.
• Candy's dog symbolizes the fate of those who outlive their usefulness.
• Animals generally symbolize fragility and the harsh realities that undermine dreams.

The 1930s in the USA was marked by the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' explores themes of the American Dream, loneliness, and isolation during this era. Isolation and relationships between characters are central to the story.