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The Use Of Disabilities In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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This historical time period inspires writers such as John Steinbeck to write and inform others about the hardships of the 1930’s. Steinbeck centers Of Mice and Men to exhibit how life’s difficulties inhibited the American Dream. The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and many acts of inequality made an impact on the American Dream in this time period. John Steinbeck tells about the American Dream using rhetorical devices such as parallel structures, paradox and pathos.
In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the use of parallelism is seen to show how disabilities can destroy the American Dream. People with disabilities in society, such as Candy’s dog and Lennie, have a harder time fulfilling their dreams or getting employed. Disabilities were treated differently and were not treated equally in society. If people were found to have a physical or mental disability, they would be put in special hospitals. Lennie and Candy’s dog represent this hardship for they represent a useless tool in society. Lennie’s dog was not needed anymore just because he “[...] stinks …show more content…

A lot of people fail trying to achieve their happiness. Readers feel emotional during Lennie’s death. When using pathos, readers can feel sad about his death, knowing that the American Dream can not be achieved for him. Pathos can bring out emotions in readers. They also felt a sense of sorrow after Lennie’s death although we at the same time feel relieved that he was killed by a true companion versus an enemy. George made the decision of putting a “[...] muzzle [...] close to the back of Lennie’s head” (Steinbeck 106). Lennie and George tried to achieve happiness, but met some obstacles on the way, changing their ability to reach their dreams. Other characters and the harsh time period affected their mindset and their dreams. Therefore, their goals can’t be met. The death of Lennie or unfair treatment can resemble the shattering hopes for the American

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"We're born alone we live alone die alone. Only through love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone” Orson Welles. In John Steinbeck's novel, “Of Mice and Men”, Steinbeck focuses on the struggle of having a disability while struggling to get by during the American Great Depression on a Californian ranch life. Even though one may have to live around their disability, they do not let that become a big stepping stone in the life, whether they know about it or not. In John Steinbeck's novel, “Of Mice and Men”, Lennie Small, Carlson and Crooks are three great examples of how they keep living their lives despite the facts that they each have a disabilities to their lives.

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As the dog lost its serviceability, it lived on with age and suffered, thus had to be put down in order to prevent it from suffering any longer. Contrary to this, Lennie was one of the most useful members of the farm. His strength making it easy to do certain things, his mentality however, was something else, like that of an ignorant, innocent child. Even when a girl screamed, Lennie became “scared all he can think to do is jus’ hold on.” (Steinbeck, 41) Unbeknownst to Lennie and George, his natural innocence and ignorance, will whittle down his usefulness until nothing's left.

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Lennie did not obtain this knowledge and had to plead and beg to have the puppy and bring him back

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People of his type would often end up in a mental institution and get treated like an animal. Slim, the wisest of Steinbeck’s characters points out the detriment this could have on Lennie when he says, “An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good, George” (Steinbeck 97). With Slim stating that, we know that people with handicaps are looked down upon in this time era.

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The misunderstanding and mistreatment the outcast characters, Lennie, Candy, and Crooks, have to endure in order to have the possibility of partaking in buying the farm, far exceeds that of all the other workers. Yet, the chance of achieving the American Dream, or in the case of Of Mice and Men, a plot of land and small farm, was a much more likely possibility for the men who fell into the norms of society. The depiction of the American Dream creates the idea that everyone stands an equal chance at being successful, but with societal roadblocks for people with mental disorders, crippling injuries, or who belong to a racial minority, there are minimal opportunities for these groups to achieve the American

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With Lennie’s mental disability, fending for himself is not always possible thus he has to rely on George’s help for everyday tasks. “‘What you gonna say tomorrow when the boss asks you questions? … I ain 't gonna… say a word’” (Steinbeck 15). This quote exemplifies Lennie’s dependency on George.

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The book Of Mice and Men is full of puzzling examples of the human condition, from Lennie and his mental disability to Curley only caring about his social appearance. With characters like these two, the book exploits the human condition that concerns circumstances life has given you. John Steinbeck brings to life what being a laborer in the American depression meant to the men and one woman who had enough personality to stand out. Steinbeck shows the human condition of men while they survive in the American depression.

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