Great Depression In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men Interpretive Essay

The novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is set during the Great Depression around the 1930’s. The Great Depression started when the production of more goods and rising amounts of debts were too much for the system to balance out. This left over 15 million people unemployed, so many people decided to move to California to start a new life. People wanted money to buy land so they can work off their own land. Many workers would travel alone to avoid any competition, which would make them lonely over time. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife and Crooks as lonely because of their low social status which leads them to take advantage of the weak, while they only want someone to care for

Their deep connection with each other makes them not lonely because “ I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (14). They both have each others back and having another person by their side gets them “used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him”(41). George and Lennie have each other to keep company so they don’t turn to taking advantage of the weak, something both Crooks and Curley’s wife turn to when they are lonely. George and Lennie don’t need to find someone who would care for them unlike Crooks and Curley’s wife who are lonely because of their low social

George and Lennie have each other to take care of while Curley’s wife and Crooks don’t have anyone to turn to. Both Crooks and Curley’s wife take advantage of someone who is weaker than they are, just want someone who would care for them. Unlike Curley’s wife who can make everything she says come true, Crooks got scared after he threatened Lennie. In present day society, African Americans still face racism, but they also have more rights. Now, African Americans are standing up for their rights so they can be seen as equals among everybody else. The Jim Crow laws don’t exist anymore and African Americans are able to stand up for themselves unlike Crooks who couldn’t stand up to Curley’s wife because she could have him lynched. With lower pays and less equality, women are starting to stand up for their rights. Even though women aren’t as equal as men, they are starting to be seen as equals. Women and African Americans aren’t as lonely anymore because they are seen as equals by most people. There are people that still segregate them which makes them lonely, but most people are seeing them as equals. By seeing women and African Americans as equals, they have someone to turn to who are either of a different race or gender, or someone like themselves. Steinbeck shows that Curley’s wife and Crooks are