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Lennie and George's Friendship & Discrimination in Of Mice and Men - Quotes & Analysis

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Zuzanna <3

25/02/2023

English Literature

Lennie character essay- Of Mice and Men

Lennie and George's Friendship & Discrimination in Of Mice and Men - Quotes & Analysis

Of Mice and Men explores societal issues in 1930s America through the character of Lennie Small. The novella highlights:

  • Discrimination against mental disabilities
  • The danger of physical power without mental maturity
  • Importance of friendship in a harsh society
  • The role of dreams during the Great Depression
  • Societal violence and its impact on individuals

Key themes include friendship, dreams, power, and discrimination, all examined through Lennie's experiences and relationships.

...

25/02/2023

421

Show how John Steinbeck uses the character of Lennie to highlight some aspects of American society
in the 1930s?
Throughout the novella, Ste

View

Lennie's Impact on Societal Themes

Steinbeck continues to use Lennie's character to explore deeper societal issues and themes prevalent in 1930s America.

Dreams and Hope

Lennie's simple dream of tending rabbits contrasts with the more complex shared dream with George. This difference highlights varying levels of aspiration and responsibility among individuals.

Highlight: Lennie's dream symbolizes a desire for responsibility over something that can't be taken away from him.

The eventual death of their shared dream with Lennie's passing reflects the harsh realities faced by workers during this period, suggesting that some dreams may be too perfect to achieve.

Violence and Society

Lennie's character, despite his innocence, demonstrates the pervasive nature of violence in 1930s American society.

Quote: "ill break their God damn necks"

This threat, even from a character as gentle as Lennie, illustrates how deeply ingrained violence was in society and how cruelty was often a learned behavior.

Conclusion

Steinbeck uses Lennie's character to highlight key aspects of 1930s America, including:

  • Discrimination against those with disabilities
  • The importance of friendship and companionship
  • The role of dreams in providing hope
  • The pervasive nature of violence in society

Through Lennie, Steinbeck reflects on the harsh realities faced by workers and marginalized individuals during the Great Depression, while also exploring themes of hope, friendship, and the human condition.

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English Literature

421

25 Feb 2023

2 pages

Lennie and George's Friendship & Discrimination in Of Mice and Men - Quotes & Analysis

user profile picture

Zuzanna <3

@zuzanna_018

Of Mice and Men explores societal issues in 1930s America through the character of Lennie Small. The novella highlights:

  • Discrimination against mental disabilities
  • The danger of physical power without mental maturity
  • Importance of friendship in a harsh society
  • The role... Show more

Show how John Steinbeck uses the character of Lennie to highlight some aspects of American society
in the 1930s?
Throughout the novella, Ste

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Join milions of students

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Lennie's Impact on Societal Themes

Steinbeck continues to use Lennie's character to explore deeper societal issues and themes prevalent in 1930s America.

Dreams and Hope

Lennie's simple dream of tending rabbits contrasts with the more complex shared dream with George. This difference highlights varying levels of aspiration and responsibility among individuals.

Highlight: Lennie's dream symbolizes a desire for responsibility over something that can't be taken away from him.

The eventual death of their shared dream with Lennie's passing reflects the harsh realities faced by workers during this period, suggesting that some dreams may be too perfect to achieve.

Violence and Society

Lennie's character, despite his innocence, demonstrates the pervasive nature of violence in 1930s American society.

Quote: "ill break their God damn necks"

This threat, even from a character as gentle as Lennie, illustrates how deeply ingrained violence was in society and how cruelty was often a learned behavior.

Conclusion

Steinbeck uses Lennie's character to highlight key aspects of 1930s America, including:

  • Discrimination against those with disabilities
  • The importance of friendship and companionship
  • The role of dreams in providing hope
  • The pervasive nature of violence in society

Through Lennie, Steinbeck reflects on the harsh realities faced by workers and marginalized individuals during the Great Depression, while also exploring themes of hope, friendship, and the human condition.

Show how John Steinbeck uses the character of Lennie to highlight some aspects of American society
in the 1930s?
Throughout the novella, Ste

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Lennie as a Lens for 1930s American Society

Steinbeck uses Lennie's character to illuminate various aspects of 1930s American society, particularly focusing on discrimination, friendship, and the power dynamics of the era.

Highlight: Lennie faces discrimination due to his mental disability, reflecting societal attitudes of the time.

Discrimination Against Mental Disabilities

Lennie's mental disability makes him a target for discrimination, mirroring the prejudices prevalent in 1930s America. Society viewed people with disabilities as inferior and vulnerable, often treating them unsympathetically.

Quote: "i aint gonna say nothing George"

This quote illustrates how George tries to protect Lennie from societal judgments by instructing him to remain silent during job interviews. Instead, George emphasizes Lennie's physical strength, describing him as "strong as a bull", to showcase his worth through work ethic rather than mental ability.

The Importance of Friendship

Steinbeck explores the theme of friendship through Lennie and George's unique bond, which defies social norms of the time.

Quote: "but not us! Because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you"

This statement from Lennie highlights the mutual dependency and companionship between the two protagonists, contrasting with the forced solidarity experienced by other ranch hands.

Power and Its Consequences

Lennie's character demonstrates the dangers of physical power without mental maturity. Despite his childlike perception of the world, Lennie possesses immense strength, which leads to unintended harm.

Highlight: Lennie's accidental violence progresses from small animals to Curley's wife, culminating in his own death.

This progression illustrates the potential consequences of misused power and reflects the inherent violence in 1930s American society.

The Role of Dreams

Through Lennie, Steinbeck emphasizes the importance of dreams during the Great Depression. The shared dream of owning land represents hope for a better life, mirroring the aspirations of many working-class Americans.

Quote: "off the fatta the lan'"

This phrase encapsulates Lennie and George's dream, symbolizing the broader concept of the American Dream during challenging times.

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Thomas R

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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

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Greenlight Bonnie

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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

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