How Does Steinbeck Present The Abuse Of Power In Of Mice Of Men

Khoder Ali El-Hallani
English11
Harseny
August 23, 2023 Mice of Men
Of mice of men, a novel written by John Steinbeck, tells the story of two migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie small, and their journey for a better life during the great depression. The book explores several themes, including the need for companionship, the corrupt nature of power, and the struggle for survival; Steinbeck's use of characterization and symbolism helps to bring these themes to life.
One of the most important themes in the book is the need for companionship: George and Lennie's relationship, which is a tight friendship, is the centerpiece of the story, and throughout the story it is 100% clear that they rely on each other for emotional support, which

Curley's position of power over all of the other characters gives him a sense of control/entitlement, which he abuses throughout the novel. The way Curley treats his wife, who is never named throughout the story and is only ever called “Curley's wife,” is a clear example of his abuse of power: he is possessive and jealous of her, and he uses his power of authority to separate her from all of the other characters during the story. This lack of communication with the other characters and her husband's authority, leads her to her death. The fact that she is never given a name during this whole story just adds on to help highlight the sexist attitudes during the time period of the Great

For example, Candy, who is an old swamper, fears being fired from his job because of his age and his injury; he tells George, “I wont have no place to go, an’ I can't get no more jobs” (Steinbeck, 60). This line demonstrates the harsh reality of the time period and the constant threat of unemployment faced by all of the characters. The fact that Candy is willing to sacrifice his life savings to be a part of George and Lennies dream farm shows how desperate he is to hold on to a sense of purpose and hope.

Steinbeck uses characterization and symbolism to bring all of these themes to life. For example, the character of Crooks, the stable hand, is excluded because of his race; he tells Lennie, “S'pose you didn't have nobody… S’pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy cause you was black” (Steinbeck, 72). This line right here highlights the racism going on during the time period of the Great Depression. The fact that Crooks is literate and has a copy of the California civil code demonstrates his intellect and education, which makes the whole situation he is in even more