OfMiceAndMenisaclassicnovellawrittenbyauthorJohnSteinbeck,whoisrenownedforhis masteryofrealisticandimaginativewritings.Heismostwellknownforhisnovelette,OfMiceAnd Men,astorywhichfollowsGeorgeMiltonandLennieSmall,twotravelinglaborerswhoworkin ordertomakemoneytopurchasetheirownfarm.Georgeischaracterizedassmartandhavinga one–trackmind,whileLennieisslowbutfriendly.Thisbookisconsideredaclassicbymany, however,thebookshedslightontopicsthatdeemeddistastefulorabhorrentbymany.Though SteinbeckisprotectedbytheFirstAmendment,hismostnoteworthywork,OfMiceAndMen, shouldbebarredfromtheeducationsystembecause,itdisplaysableism,depictsthemurderof animalsandhumansand,featurestheN–word.Actionswhichteachersand...showmorecontent... ThoughSteinbeckusestheword17times,heusesitinsituationswhichhavecharactersusingthe wordwithcontempt"WherethehellisthatGoddamnnigger?"(Steinbeck14)Byusingtheword withanger,itexhibitsasenseofhatredandbigotrybothqualitieswhichshouldnotbetoleratednor taughttoyouthsinschool.Theuseofthatword,reallyanyracialslur,shouldn'tberelayedto students.Notonlyistheuseofracialslursliketheonesusedinthebookrude,butalsohaveeffects ononespsychologicalhealth."EthnicityandHealthinAmericaSeries"israisingawarenessabout thephysiologicalandpsychologicalimpactofracismanddiscriminationasitrelatestostress" (Physiological&PsychologicalImpactofRacismandDiscriminationforAfrican–Americans).SeeingasonesschoolenvironmentMaycontributetostress,racialslursfrombooks shouldnotbeallowedtocontributetoit.Thoughtheword'nigger'isusedasaninsulttothoseos African–Americandescent,italsoconjuresunsettlingfeelingstobothteachersandstudentsofall
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OfMiceandMen OfMiceandMenwaswrittenduringa periodofracism.Inthe1960'sitwasimportantforeveryonetogetalongwitheachotherbecausenot everyonewasequal.GeorgeandLennieshowedagreatpartinfriendshipthroughtthewholebook. AttheranchinSelinasmostlyeveryoneshowedfriendshipinsomeway.Friendshipwasagreat factorwhenthebookwaspublishedbecauseofalltheracismgoingonatthetime FriendshiphasabigparttodowithLennieandGeorge'sdream ofowningasmallfarmandraisinganimals.GeorgeandLenniebothsettheirmindtoaccomplish theirdreamandgotoworkonaranchforlittlepayAnotherfriendofGeorgeoverhearsGeorge and...showmorecontent...
Lenniekillsthepuppybypettingittohardandhegetsreallyupset.Curley'swifeoffersLennieto pethersofthair,LenniegrabshertohardwhichresultedinLenniebreakingherneck.Georgeand Lennie'sdreamofhavingafarmonedayisruinedbecauseofsomethingLenniedidwrong. ManyconflictsstarttopullGeorgeandLennieapartthroughout thewholebook.GeorgegetstiredofdealingwithallthebadthingLenniedoes,thereforeheendsup killinghisbestfriendasmuchashedidnotwantto.WhenLenniekilledCurley'swifeGeorgeknew itwasoversoGeorgedecidedtoputaendtohismisserybeforesomeoneelsekilledhim.Georgeis forcedtoshootLennieinthebackoftheheadbecauseoftheincidentthatoccured.Themendonot understandwhyabestfriendwouldkillanotherbestfriendsotheyallleaveinconfusionTheonly personwhounderstandsisSlim.SlimknowswhatGeorgegoesthroughandunderstandswhyhedid it.Friendshiphastoendsomewherenomatterhowdeepthefriendshipis.
FriendshipplayedabigpartinthestoryAlltheincidentsthat happenedbetweenfriendsthroughoutthebookledtothetragicend.Onethingcanmakeyou believeyoucanaccomplishanythingintheworld.Georgebelievedinhimselftoaccomplishhis goalofhavingafarm,butattheend
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Allmendream,butnotequally.Thosewhodreambynightinthedustyrecessesoftheirminds, wakeinthedaytofindthatitwasvanity:butthedreamersofthedayaredangerousmen,forthey mayactontheirdreamswithopeneyes,tomakethempossible.–T.ELawrence.TheNovelOfMice AndMen,writtenbyJohnSteinbeckisabouthowthebiggerthedream,thehardertoreachit.Inthe novelthetwomaincharactersLennieandGeorgeareworkingmenduringtheGreatDepression whoformedtheirownfamilyandtravelandlookforwork.TogethertheytravelbecauseLennie althoughagrownmanhasamindofachildandbehaviorsthatlimitthemfromreachingtheirdream ofowningtheirownfarmonedaySteinbeckusessettingandthecharactersshowmorecontent Curley'swifehopesanddreamwastobeanactress,butwhenreadersmeethersheisjustCurley's wife.Thereasonfornotbeingabletoachieveherdreamwasbecauseherparentswantedherto marryCurleysoinsteadofherbeinghappywithherlifesheisjuststuckinwithherownthoughts andherownconsciouswhichleadsherintoamindsetoffeelingtheneedtobebusyoroccupied, butsinceinthistimetherewasnotmuchforwomentodoCurley'swifejustwantssomeattention fromsomeone.Alsothisisshowingthatwomenthistimewerenotthinkofasmuchbutmomsand wifes.Whichisanotherreasonshewon'tbeabletoreachherdreams,allofthisleadshertoher deathbecausethefactthatshecouldn'tgettoherdreamshehadtoresorttomarryingCurley. BecauseCurleyisnotgivinghermuchattentionorbeingagoodhusbandshehadtogolookfor friendshipelsewhere,andshewenttothewrongplacetolookforitanditleadtoherendingup dead.Lennie'shopeanddreaminthenovelissimplyforhimandGeorgetoowntheirownfarmand hewantstoattendtotherabbitsonthefarmwithGeorgewhichistheonlyfamilyhegotleft.This dreamleadsLennieintohisowndemisebecauseofthefactthathedoesn'twanttomessupand anymorehefearsanythingthatcouldpossiblygethimintroubleandruinthechanceofhim
YourmomB6
January13,2010
OfMiceandMenessay
AnallegoryisaworkwherecharactersaresymbolsofideasTheymaysymbolizeanythingfrom honestytosadness.Inanallegoricalnovelthesecharactersandtheideastheyrepresentform togethertosuggestamoral.Thenovel,OfMiceandMenisoneoftheseallegoricalnovels.Its themeormoralisaboutfriendship:thefriendshipofGeorgeandLennieTheactionsofthe charactersthatrepresentideasinthestorybringaboutthechanceforGeorgetoshowhiscaringand loveforLennieinapowerfulwaymakingthestoryallegorical.Allofthecharactersplayapartin thenovelwhatevertheirsizeoftherolethatconnectsthemallowingOfMiceandMentofunction asanallegory....showmorecontent...
Georgethegoodnatured,butsometimesexplosivecharacterrepresentscaringandloveCurleythe illtempered,boxingshortguyrepresentshatredandanger.Lenniethelovableoafofthisclassic storyrepresentsinnocenceinadangerouswaybecausehedoesnotknowwhatisgoingonbutcould hurtanyonehewishesto.Curely'swiferepresentsdesireandloneliness.Shedesirestohavewhat shecould'vewhichisfamesuccessandfortune,butbecauseofCurleysheisaloneanddepressed.
Thesemaincharactersareeverythingtothestory,itssupportanditslifeline OfMiceandMenisanovelbutnotanexceedinglylongone.Becauseofthedetailsthatitpacks intoitspages,thecharactersarenotimmenselyevolved.Youknowthestoryisallegoricalbecause itscharactersarebasedonideasJohnSteinbeckmadehischaracterssimplyideasinhumanform moreorless.Steinbeckhaddonethistomakeashortbuteffectivestory(effectiveinthesenseof moralsanddescription).Thecharactersallrepresentbasicideasandtheyplayapartinthemoral. Curley'sangercausedhimtokeephiswifeawayfromthefarmhands.Shethenbecamelonelyand wenttotalktoLennietheinnocent.Becauseofhisstupidityandherlonelinessshewaskilledand Curley'sangerwasdirectedatLennieGeorge'scaringandloveforLennieforcedhimtokillLennie himselftosavehimfromCurley'shatred
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Rationale:
OfMiceandMenisanovelpublishedin1937writtenbyauthorJohnSteinbeck.ItisabookIhave studiedinmyEnglishBLiteratureLesson,withthechosenthemeforthisspeechtobe'Dream, HopesandPlans'Inthisspeech,IwouldbeplayingtheroleGeorgeandtheaimofthistaskisto persuadeadolescentstohaveadreamintheirlife.Georgeinthisbookisaverysmartandphysically strongperson.Heisalsoaverythoughtfulandrationalpersonaswhateverhedoeshashisown reasonsandobjectivesThespeechiswritteninaformaltoneandistargetedattheadolescents
Inthespeech,IwouldbeusingGeorge'sownpersonalexperiencestobeaguideformytarget audiencestofollowandtodrawtheirattentionbasedshowmorecontent
Adreamwouldgiveusasenseofdirection.Adreamwouldlightenupyourfuture.LeoTolstoyhas oncesaid,"IdealisthebeaconWithoutideal,thereisnosecuredirection;withoutdirection,thereis nolife."Adreamwouldmotivateyoutostriveyourbest.Mydreamandobjectivewereclearinmy mindwhenIwasworkingintheranch.Mydreamwasmyguidinglightthatguidedmethrough obstaclesandbroughtmetosuccess.
Whydoweneedadream?AdreamwouldmakeourselvestobecomemoreindependentWhenwe haveagoal,wewouldnotgetinfluencedbytheexternalenvironment.Wewouldonlyworkon tasksthatwouldhelpusachieveourdreams.WhenIgotmarried,Ihaddifferentworking experiencesinvariousranchesButnomatterwhereIwork,Ihaveonlythoughtofowningafarm Therefore,Ihavebeentoilingawayintheranchandhavefinallyearnedthefirstbarrelsforopening afarm.
Whydoweneedadream?Adreamwouldprovokeyouwithambition.Itwouldenlightenyouto bringinmoregoalstoenrichyourlifeAdreamwouldmotivateyoutoliveinabetterlifeThomas AEdisonhasoncesaid,"Weshallhavenobetterconditionsinthefutureifwearesatisfiedwithall thosewhichwehaveatpresent."Dreamisallaboutvirtualprecognition.Withdreams,wewouldbe abletoshapeourfutureDuringtheGreatDepression,manypeoplegotunemployedTherefore,I hadtheAmericanDream,adreamofowningafarm.Inwhichnowithasbeenattained,andmy livingstandardwas
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OppositesAttractHaveyoueverreadanovelthatluresyouinfromtheexpositiontotheresolution?
OfMiceandMenisthatexactnovel.ThiscaptivatingbookintertwinesGeorgeandLenniewhoare completeoppositesintoafamily.EventhoughitcouldbearguedthatGeorgeislenientand nurturing,George'sobligationtoLennieleadsGeorgetowanttocontrolhim.Tobegin,George feelsobligatedtowatchoverLennieInchapterone,GeorgeinamomentofragetellsLenniethat troublewouldcometoLennieifGeorgewasn'twithhim.Georgesays,"'Iwantyoutostaywithme, Lennie.JesusChrist,Somebody'dshootyouforacoyoteifyouwasbyyourself'"(Steinbeck,13).
GeorgeshowshisfeelingofbeingaccountableforGeorgethroughshowmorecontent Inchapterone,GeorgetellsLennienottobringbackamousebutLenniedoesanyway.Lenniealso precedestolieaboutit.Thebooksays,"ButLenniemadeanelaboratepantomimeofinnocence" (8).Tofollow,directedtoGeorgeLenniesays,"'Whatmouse,George?Iain'tgotnomouse'"(8). GeorgeshowshislackofcontrolbyhearingLennietellhimablatantlie.Throughoutthebook, George'slossofcontroloverLenniecanbeviewedWhenpeopleloosecontrol,mostpeopleendup cravingitmorejustlikeGeorge.Asstatedbefore,GeorgehasfullcontroloverLennie.Lennielooks toGeorgebeforedoinganything.Inchapterthree,LennielookstoGeorgetotellhimwhattodo. Thebooksays"LennielookedhelplesslyatGeorge"(62).Inchapterfive,Lenniedevisesaplanto hideapuppythathekilledandlietoGeorgeaboutit.Thebooksays,"Hescoopedalittlehollow andlaiditinthegroundandcovereditoverwithhay"(85)TofollowLenniesays,"'I'lltellGeorge Ifoun'itdead"'(85).Lennieshowsthathecannotbecontrolledbymakingaplanandlieup,solet Georgewillneverknow.Allthroughthebook,George'slossofcontrolcanbeseen.Peoplewho losecontrolcansometimesturnbitter,like
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OfMiceandMenissetintheeraofTheGreatDepression,andtheranch,wheretheeventsofthe noveloccur,isinCalifornia,aplacemanyOkiesturntoaftertheirfarmsfailinTheDustBowl.The farmsinCaliforniaarefaringwell.Therearemanyfarms,butnotenoughtosupportallofthejobs thatthemanyunemployedworkersneed.Thus,mentravelfromranchtoranchinsearchofjobs, andcommonlytheydosoaloneTheirtravelsarelonely,sosomepeopleturntoothersfor companionship.InOfMiceandMen,peoplearedriventoattempttofindfriendshipinorderto escapeloneliness.Anolderranchhand,CandytriestobecomefriendswithGeorgeandLennieby helpingthemtowardgettingthelandtheywantInhisfirstmainappearance,Carlson,anotherranch hand,istryingtoconvinceCandytoputhisdogdown.Candyishesitantsincethisdoghasbeenhis foritsentirelife,andthatdogishisonlyrealfriend;eventually,CandyallowsCarlsonandafew otherstotakeLuluoutandputherdown.Whiletheyaredoingthat,Georgeendsuptalkingto Candyabouttheirplantobuytheirownranch.Candy,havingrealizedthattheranchwasgoingto lethimgosoonanyway,andlosinghisbestfriend,decidestogivethemhislifesavingsiftheylet himliveontheirranch....showmorecontent...
Allofthecharactersarelonelyduetomorethanonereason;whetherthecausebeingtheirown choicesorstereotypes,theystruggletoescapethem.Thatisthe"blackorwhite"waytolookatit.In realitythough,somelonelycharacterspushawayoutoffear.AnexampleofthisisCrooks,an African–AmericanonanotherwisemainlywhiteranchFionaAppledescribesthisphenomena: "Whenyou'resurroundedbyallthesepeople,itcanbelonelierthanwhenyou'rebyyourself.You canbeinahugecrowd,butifyoudon'tfeellikeyoucantrustanyoneortalktoanybody,youfeel likeyou'rereally
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ThisthemeofofMiceandMenisthatthingsdon'talwaysworkoutthewayyouplan,itsdeveloped throughthecharactersdialogueandactionsthethroughoutthebook.Thetwomaincharacters ,GeorgeandLennie,despitetheirdifferences,formafamilylikefriendshiptofacetheloneliness thatcomeswithbeingaRanchworkers.LennieandGeorgebothclingtothehopethattheycanone daybuyasmallhousethroughoutthecourseofthebookTheirideaisfirstmentionedinthe beginning,butit'sclearthethisideawasthoughtofbeforethebook'splotline."O.K.Someday–we'regonnagetthejacktogetherandwe'regonnagetthejacktogetherandwe'regonnahavealittle houseandcoupleofacresan'acowandsomepigand––"Thisshows
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