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Explore how the characters in Of Mice and Men trapped? The novel Of Mice and Men explores various aspects of life during the 1930s whether it is, being an African American facing racism or a woman yearning for equality and acceptance.Steinbeck uses the characters in his novel not only to be a microcosm of society during the 30s but also as a way to explore the boundaries that exist keeping the characters “trapped”.
One central character who is trapped within the confines of society’s expectations for her is Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife is the only female character in the novel and is expected by others in the novel to act a certain way. Contextually, during the 30s woman were expected to be ideal housewives carrying out mundane tasks such as cooking, cleaning and child-bearing. Curley’s wife is perhaps the polar opposite of this stereotypical image of womanhood set out by society.The only females during that time who experienced any freedom, in comparison to their female counterparts, were movie stars. As she states herself, “ I coulda been in the movies”. This quotation is significant in the sense that it gives an insight into Curley’s wife’s personalaspirations: to gain freedom, attention and perhaps be provocative without being chastised for it.Alternatively, she could be trapped because the other ranchers don’t look behind the sexual image she portrays to resemble the movie star she could never be. Leading on from this idea we could argue that Steinbeck’s use of the colour red, as seen in the description – for example, “full, rouged lips” – could have been to mimic the richness and glamour that comes with being a movie star that Curley’s wife could never have. To summarise Curley’s wife is trapped in two different ways: firstly she is confined by the social standards that are in place during the 30s and secondly by the fact that her promiscuous image has masqueraded her true identity and physically trapped her in an unfulfilling reality.
Another character that is trapped in this novel is Crooks, an African American. As many other African Americans during the 30s, he faces racism and prejudice from various characters in the novel. He is openly referred to as a “nigger” who helps the reader see that the ranchers view him as almost specie and nothing near equal. The fact that he has a crooked back exemplifies the idea that African Americans were at the time thought of as somewhat deformed. As an African American, Crooks has no viable dreams or aspirations he can achieve due to his race. As Crooks mentions he can make “no difference”, due to his position is social hierarchy due to his race.Perhaps this is why, Crooks offers himself to work for free on the dream ranch that George and Lennie aim towards, in the phrase “why I’d come an’ lend a hand”. The fact that he himself chooses to work on this dream ranch that Lennie outlines may be the first time where Crooks has actually aspired towards doing something; indeed it could be the first time where he has volunteered for something and the first sense of freedom he has experienced. The word “lend” itself is significant. In modern English the word lends means to give or contribute willingly.Alternatively, it could mean that you grant the use of something on the condition something of equivalence is given. The fact that Crooks gets to grant something or have any power may emphasise on the situation itself. Crooks feel that this is the first time where he has ever been to have power. However, later in the novel we realise that this momentary collapse in the socialhierarchy of power was only for a second or so. It is not soon before Crooks is once again the useless African American residing upon the ranch literally under everyone. Crook’s whole life seems to be dependant on his race and for this reason he cannot have any achievable dreams or a life equal to a white rancher.
Another pair of characters who are trapped is George and Lennie themselves. George has the constant burden of being the primary guardian of Lennie who has the mental age and awareness of a young child. George therefore has to take care of Lennie who cannot protect himself.Sometimes we see George vocally express his anger about having to constantly take care of Lennie. For example, he once states that “If I was alone I could live so easy”. The use of the word “If” infers the idea that the situation being outlined is a possibility which seems to have a miniscule chance of becoming reality. Lennie therefore is also trapped by his mental and physical inadequacies. Due to him having a younger state of mind he can never truly be happy and free. Lennie can never be able to do as he pleases due to the physical threat he poses to others, due to him not being fully aware of his strength. He’s essentially a small child trapped in a man’s body. George and Lennie have an inter-dependent relationship George needs Lennie for companionship, something that travelling ranchers during the 30s never really had. Lennie needs George to take care of him and protect him from society which does not truly understand his condition. Both are trapped in a never-ending cycle of dependency where neither can explore the world on their own and achieve their own aspirations.
Candy is an old, handicapped rancher who is trapped due to his disability. The main reason, as to why Candy is trapped in this novel is due to his physical inabilities and his limited abilities.Candy’s age and disability traps him because to others on the ranch, he has served his purpose and no longer has any use. The strongest message of this concept is conveyed through the metaphor of Candy’s old dog. Candy and his dog both are old and near the end of their lives.However, when the other ranchers decide that the dog has outlived its uses and decide it is time it was shot and buried, we can see that Steinbeck has used the dog to mirror what the ranchers and society perceive of Candy. Candy is old and disabled therefore he has no more purpose in the ranch’s work therefore he might as well relief himself from life because has no greater purpose.In this sense Candy is trapped because he has no use to everyday life and he never will.
To conclude, Steinbeck’s main characters in the novel Of Mice and Men are all trapped in some way or another. Curley’s wife is trapped by the expectations of her held by society to be good wife and a woman. She also is judged by her promiscuous appearance and no one looks past the image she conveys to the world and to the ranchers themselves. Crooks faces prejudice and has no future that is achievable due to his race and position as an African American during the 30s.George has to deal with the burden of looking after a grown man with the mental age of a young child, who cannot fend for himself. Lennie is confined by his inadequacies and his mental inabilities and can never truly venture out on his own. Finally Candy is thought of as a useless old man who’s usefulness is long gone. All characters are somewhat bound by unbreakable bonds either placed in society or brought on by others.

Reply 21

multiplexing-gamer

How does the novel depict ranch life in Of Mice and Men?
In Of Mice and Men Steinbeck portrays, through the characters, a predatory view of ranch life where machismo is dominant. We see through this microcosm of 1930s America, how brutal life can be for these itinerant workers and how loneliness caused by the Great Depression can be corrosive.
In the ranch itself there are many main characters that go through certain events which help us realise the brutality of ranch life. In the ranch itself, Steinbeck describes how the Crooks arealienated by the other ranchers due to his position as a Black American, in the quote “I can’t play because I’m black”. The use of the word “play” may seem as though he is only excluded from games and entertainment with the other ranchers but his exclusion extends further ; to being able to socialise with other ranchers. Crooks is the character is treated the worst by the other ranchers. Whilst the other ranchers like George and Lennie are trapped in their own loneliness, they at least have each other for companionship of some sort. Crooks, however, is totally isolated with no one acting as a confidante for him, in the way the other ranchers have each other. Crooks only redemption is by refusing entry to Lennie, who does not understand the social hierarchy between White and Black Americans. By refusing entry to Lennie, Crooks clasps onto any dignity he has left.
Through Candy’s portrayal, Steinbeck portrays how the elderly are treated. Steinbeckemphasises that once you have outlived your usefulness, you are no longer welcome on a ranch.The ranch itself functions on the idea that every rancher contributes to its up keeping, with every one earning their stay. Candy on the other hand, has become futile on the ranch, due to his disability as well as his age. Candy receives a violent reminder of his uselessness through the killing of his old dog, which serves as an extended metaphor of the old. Slim comments on the death saying “I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I get old an’ cripple”. Slim, is portrayed as the most sympathetic and understanding of all characters and the idea that even he accepts death as a remedy to old age emphasises upon how Candy is no longer needed on the ranch. Notice that Slim’s words of consolation about Candy’s dog is also relevant to Candy himself.
The social hierarchy that is presented in Of Mice and Men also highlights upon the inequality that exists in ranch life. Curley seems to be at the top of the pyramid even though his accomplishments seem to be no greater than others on the ranch. We can also see the work ofhierarchy in the nature depicted in the novels. The image of the heron eating the snake with its “silent head” emphasises upon the brutality of nature and the idea of the “silent” reinforces the idea that you can never truly know when death has arrived. This hierarchy that exists in the ranch emphasises upon how unfair these ranchers’ lives are especially with the futility of their dreams.

Reply 22

multiplexing-gamer

Original post by shyamshah

Yeah, thats a good idea. PM me as soon as possible and i will try and send it to you quickly :smile:

All work above is due to the kindness of shyamshah!

Reply 23

multiplexing-gamer

Compare how poets present the experience of soldiers in ‘Bayonet Charge’and one other poem from Conflict.

In Bayonet Charge we follow the protagonists view throughout a battle, and Hughes questions the reasons behind war and if it's justified. A point further reinstated in Futility.

The lead character in Bayonet Charge "suddenly" awakes and is now "running". We feel that the protagonist is unprepared, and here this is a metaphor to portray how men are joining the war unaware of what is to come, a sense of bewilderment in a result of the misleading propaganda via the government. Moreover, this emotion is exemplified again when Hughes incorporates imagery to describe his uniform as "hot khaki", suggesting he's sweating with fear, as if he's been misplaces into a battle scenario. We feel terror for him as if it's like ourselves being there, we aren't expecting it, the effect is one of fear for the soldier.

The point is further reinstated in Owen's Futility, as once again the narrator describes how men were hushed into war, unaware of the grunt of what is to come. The fields are "half sown" almost as if the person worked on his farm was thrown into a battle ground, without even having the chance to finish his farm. Also suggesting a sense of potential, this man could have been an avid farmer, yet all this has been crushed due to the aftermath of war on his life.

Moreover, both poets express their potent views on the stupidity of going to war. Hughes brings a cynical tone nearing the end of his poem, making a mockery of the reasons to join the forces - "King, honour, human dignity, etcera". The last word - etcetera - suggests that he believes war isn't even worth going through, and therefore crushing all the quotes before hand. He immerses it into the list of common reasons why people join the war, making the reader rethink the generic excuses to join the war, suggesting the leaders who feed the public this information don't really understand.

This opinion can be seen in Owen's Futility, as he asks "what made fatuous sunbeams toil", the anger and animosity of war is clear, and we begin to discover his views on the matter. This is because "fatuous" indicates stupidity and foolishness, and in the context of the poem he's suggesting the unjustified reason to go to fight for your country.

In Bayonet Charge Hughes uses emjambement to express the ignorance the prospective soldiers harness in terms of preparation. The effect on the reader adds a sense of haphazardness and it portrays the urgency of the soldier on the battlefield. Moreover, the structure of the poem represents their feelings, the second stanza is almost a freeze in time, whilst the third stanza introduces the violent action once again - "His terror's touchy dynamite" (suggesting he could loose control of his emotions) . Here Hughes is trying to show us the confusion and bewilderment harnessed by the soldiers. They froze in shock of what the war was actually like, then they had to move on and find protection, an example of the harsh realisation of war.

In Futility Owen uses half rhyme - "seeds" and "sown" - instead of the more formal full rhyming structure. The effect of this adds to the shock of warfare. It isn't the full experience promised by the government, far from it, like the half rhyming scheme, it isn't finished, similar to the stories of the war - not finished with the truth.

To conclude both Futility and Bayonet Charge both express a sense of panic and fear that the soldiers must have harnessed due to their ignorance of what is to come. Owen describes the narrator moving him "into the sun", this could suggest the truth the people need. The sun, a shining of light, a metaphor for the truth, and Owen suggests the soldiers should be told it as he "moves him into" it. They both also portray the "fatuous" involvement of the men going to war, as Hughes perfectly put it - "crawled in a threshing circle". The imagery used adds a revolting scene, and suggests pain and fear beyond expression. Here, Hughes uses a hyperbole to shock the reader into why anyone would want to go through that, just for "honour" and "human dignity"