In the 1930’s the world struggled with many issues such as racism, prejudice, and injustice hierarchy. Many of these problems still remain a problem to this day. In the book, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the themes of the book symbolize the social struggles of the time period of the Great Depression. In the story, two men travel place to place, trying to maintain a job to make a living. However, Lennie, a strong, mentally handicapped character makes it difficult for him and his caretaker George, to stay in one place. When finally reaching their next destination, they meet many mistreated ranch workers, that show the problems of the 1930s. In the end of the story, Lennie accidentally kills the ranch owners wife, and is mercy killed by George. With Lennie’s death, came the death of their dream. Through the book, there is a major power struggle between the owner’s son and the workers. Also, prejudice and stereotype is an evident problem. Finally, there is the subject of the american dream, and what it meant to certain characters. In Of Mice and Men, you can relate Curley and Crooks to the powerful and powerless theme of the story. Curley’s wife strongly represents the prejudice and stereotype of women, and Lennie is the character with the strongest belief in the American dream. In the book, Curley, the ranch owner, has all of the power out of all of the …show more content…
The storyline Of Mice and Men, is made up of many different themes. The power and powerless, prejudice/ stereotype, and the American dream shape the book and help create a message about the problem of the Great Depression time period. Curley and Crooks can be compared to the powerful and powerless theme of the story. Curley’s wife strongly represents the prejudice and stereotype of woman, and Lennie is the character that does everything he can to make his American Dream a possibility. The characters of the story represent the different kinds prejudice in the world and create the powerful