Compare And Contrast Essay On Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men: A Classic or a Classic Disaster?

People have always said that high school will be crucial in my future. They always say that the classes I take will have some use, and that I will need them some day. Unlike the sayings, high school is filled with nonsense lessons and tedious books that leave absolutely no impressions on teenagers like myself. Have you ever read a book so outdated and repetitive that it almost lulls you to sleep on a bright Tuesday morning? Well if you have, you more than likely have read some of America's finest classics. You might've even read John Steinbeck’s classic novel Of Mice and Men. This timeless piece of literature has been a staple to a high school classroom for many decades, but has anyone ever

In Of Mice and Men, 2 migrant workers, Lennie and George venture off to Soledad, California in search of a new job in the height of the Great Depression. George, a diligent, driven worker in the search of his American Dream faces endless struggles as he is forced to move around time and time again due to his friend Lennie. Lennie, although caring and innocent, isn't like any ordinary man, and is faced with an intellectual disability that creates both an internal and external struggle for him. As their friendship unfolds throughout the book, the reader is taken through the chaotic journey of the ranch experience, and is taught the importance of friendship, and the true meaning of power. Although these lessons appear to seem like important values that should be taught in a high school classroom, this book romanticizes many horrible qualities of American history. I believe that Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck should not be kept at Watertown High School because it romanticizes sexism, and

One could describe it to portray a Dog and Master relationship, where George gives Lennie daily commands, and Lennie obediently follows him in order to “earn” something, such as a story about their future farm with the rabbits. Although not directly said in the book, Lennie suffers from a mental disability that makes doing simple things complicated. Although there are countless examples of discrimination towards Lennie throughout the book, the most prominent is shown when George introduces Lennie to the rest of the workers on the ranch. “ Jus’ tell Lennie what to do an’ he'll do it if it dont take no figuring. He can't think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders”(Steinbeck 39). Straight off the bat, George makes it known that Lennie shouldn't be treated like a normal man, and his portrayal isn't very positive. Teenagers who may be reading the book could assume that Georges' behavior is appropriate to use in their daily lives, even though it is not. For many high schoolers, Lennie is one of the only neurodivergent characters they will read about, and his portrayal is so trivial and undecipherable that it takes away from the fact that he is an important character, and portrays him as nothing but a stupid man who relies on George for guidance. Although I don't believe that high school students can necessarily connect with