Mr Darren Onwuzuruoha

Mr Darren Onwuzuruoha

  • Submitted By: DonDazz
  • Date Submitted: 02/07/2010 6:39 AM
  • Category: Book Reports
  • Words: 1903
  • Page: 8
  • Views: 437

How Does Steinbeck Use Character’s Dreams to show the reader what life was like in 1930’s America?

‘Of Mice and Men’ is mostly based around the style of dreams because in the story the whole novel is based around each and every characters own goal in life. It effectively shows what life was like in the 1930’s because the author has portrayed the characters to show the effectiveness of what life was like in the 1930’s.

Of Mice & Men is set in California within the 1930's during the time
of the depression. During this time many people lived in poverty,
struggling to find employment, and had to resort to travelling from
ranch to ranch in search of it. Unemployment had risen to 25% in the
United States. At this time the 'American dream' that so many had
sought after out had become nothing more than a lost dream.

George tries to be a good example to Lennie of how a man should be. He
teaches Lennie from what he has learned himself through travelling
"You never oughta drink water when it ain't running, Lennie, he said
hopelessly." Lennie doesn't always seem to respond to George's
knowledge because of Lennie's mental state. George must teach Lennie
by example sometimes as Lennie often imitates George, like when George
washed his face and neck before they reached the ranch. After George
washed "Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly".

There are many reasons why John Steinbeck added Candy to his book Of
Mice and Men. The first and foremost reason, which may not be so
obvious at first, is that Candy is in fact the narrator. He is the
narrator in a way because he is the one telling George and Lennie
about the ranch. Candy describes to them the people, their
personalities and who to stay away from.

When Candy is first introduced, he is called the 'old swamper'. We
only discover his name after a while. The first person Candy talks
about is Crooks, the 'nigger' stable. From this you can make out that
the others on the ranch are...

Similar Essays