Of Mice and MenOf Mice and MenBy John By John

SteinbeckSteinbeck

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck One of The Great American One of The Great American Writers of the 20Writers of the 20thth Century Century

A Look at the AuthorA Look at the Author Born February 27Born February 27thth in 1902 in Salinas, California, in 1902 in Salinas, California, John was the third of four children, and the only son.John was the third of four children, and the only son.

During his childhood, Steinbeck During his childhood, Steinbeck learned to appreciate his surroundings, learned to appreciate his surroundings, and loved the Salinas countryside and and loved the Salinas countryside and the nearby Pacific Ocean; it would be the nearby Pacific Ocean; it would be this appreciation that would later come this appreciation that would later come out in his writing.out in his writing.

Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired hand in nearby ranches.hand in nearby ranches.

The Fields of Salinas, The Fields of Salinas, CaliforniaCalifornia

The Beauty of SalinasThe Beauty of Salinas Rich, fertile soilRich, fertile soil

At the age of 14 he decided to be a writer At the age of 14 he decided to be a writer and spent a lot of time writing in his room.and spent a lot of time writing in his room.

In high school, Steinbeck did well in English In high school, Steinbeck did well in English and edited the school yearbook.and edited the school yearbook.

From 1919-1925 Steinbeck attended Stanford From 1919-1925 Steinbeck attended Stanford University to please his parents, but only chose University to please his parents, but only chose courses that interested him, classical and British courses that interested him, classical and British Literature, writing courses, and an odd science Literature, writing courses, and an odd science course.course.

However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree because he would drop in and out of school, because he would drop in and out of school, sometimes to work with migrant workers and sometimes to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on California ranches.bindlestiffs on California ranches.

WhatWhat’’s a Bindlestiff?s a Bindlestiff?

A hobo, especially one who carries a bedroll.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, he concentrated During the late 1920s and 1930s, he concentrated on writing and wrote several novels set in on writing and wrote several novels set in California.California.

Steinbeck gained Steinbeck gained great success bygreat success byreaders and critics.readers and critics.

In 1929, he published his first novel, In 1929, he published his first novel, Cup of GoldCup of Gold

In 1930, Steinbeck married Carol Henning, and theyIn 1930, Steinbeck married Carol Henning, and theymoved into his familymoved into his family’’s home. His father helped support s home. His father helped support the struggling couple, but unfortunately, they divorced the struggling couple, but unfortunately, they divorced

in in 1942.1942.

In 1935, he won his first literary prize,In 1935, he won his first literary prize,Commonwealth Club of California Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for Best Novel by a Gold Medal for Best Novel by a Californian for his novel, Californian for his novel, Tortilla Flat.Tortilla Flat.

In 1936, In 1936, Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men was published, was published, and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck began a book tour that led him to Europe.began a book tour that led him to Europe.

John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at his apartment in New York City.his apartment in New York City.

His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried near the land that he spent his life writing near the land that he spent his life writing about.about.

Mural overlooking The Mural overlooking The National Steinbeck Center in National Steinbeck Center in

SalinasSalinas

The BookOf Mice and Men was originally called Something That Happened. When Steinbeck first thought of the idea for the book he intended it to be for children. Steinbeck told a friend that he was experimenting with a new “dramatic form.” In May 1936, he wrote a manuscript, but his puppy (a setter called Toby) ate it!He said of the book:

"It is an experiment and I don't know how successful."

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men The novel deals The novel deals

with the issues dear with the issues dear to Steinbeckto Steinbeck’’s heart s heart - poverty, - poverty, homelessness, the homelessness, the exploitation of exploitation of itinerant workers, itinerant workers, the failure of the the failure of the Dream, AmericaDream, America’’s s general moral general moral decline.decline.

The setting in The setting in OfOf Mice and Mice and MenMen

The novel is set in the The novel is set in the farmland of the Salinas farmland of the Salinas valley, where John valley, where John Steinbeck was born.Steinbeck was born.

The ranch in the novel The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas is south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river.on the Salinas river.

The countryside The countryside described at the described at the beginning of the novel, beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself is and the ranch itself is based on Steinbeckbased on Steinbeck’’s s own experiences. own experiences.

Soledad, CaliforniaSoledad, California

California in the 1930sCalifornia in the 1930s

Why Migrant Workers?Why Migrant Workers? Before technology Before technology

created farm created farm machinery, humans machinery, humans had to do a lot of the had to do a lot of the farm work by hand.farm work by hand.

Between the 1880s and Between the 1880s and the 1930s, thousands the 1930s, thousands of men would travel of men would travel the countryside in the countryside in search of work.search of work.

Such work included the Such work included the harvesting of wheat harvesting of wheat and barley.and barley.

Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers These workers would earn These workers would earn

$2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter.and shelter.

During the 1930s, the During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was high unemployment rate was high in the U.S. 1930 it was 15. 9% in the U.S. 1930 it was 15. 9% and in 1933 it was 24.9%, and and in 1933 it was 24.9%, and with so many men searching with so many men searching for work, agencies were set up for work, agencies were set up to send farm workers to where to send farm workers to where they were needed.they were needed.

In the novel, George and In the novel, George and Lennie (the two main Lennie (the two main characters) were given work characters) were given work cards from Murray and cards from Murray and ReadyReady’’s, which was one of the s, which was one of the farm work agencies.farm work agencies.

Chasing the American DreamChasing the American Dream ““Give me your tired, your Give me your tired, your

poor, your huddled masses poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,tempest tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the I lift my lamp beside the golden door.golden door.””

( ( Emma Lazarus)Emma Lazarus)

Written on the base of the Written on the base of the Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty

The American Dream The American Dream

You can be successful if you You can be successful if you work hard and live morally.work hard and live morally.

America is the land of America is the land of opportunity.opportunity.

Freedom to work hard and Freedom to work hard and be happy is enshrined in be happy is enshrined in the Constitution.the Constitution.

The Dream assumes The Dream assumes equality of opportunity, no equality of opportunity, no discrimination, freedom to discrimination, freedom to follow goals and freedom follow goals and freedom from victimization.from victimization.

The American DreamThe American Dream From the 17From the 17thth Century Century

onwards, immigrants onwards, immigrants have dreamed of a have dreamed of a better life in America.better life in America.

Many people immigrated Many people immigrated to America in search of a to America in search of a new life for themselves new life for themselves or their families.or their families.

Many others immigrated Many others immigrated to escape persecution or to escape persecution or poverty in their poverty in their homeland.homeland.

Immigrants dreamed Immigrants dreamed of making their of making their fortunes in America. fortunes in America.

For many this dream of For many this dream of riches became a riches became a nightmare. nightmare. – there were horrors of there were horrors of

slavery, slavery, – there were horrors of there were horrors of

the American Civil War,the American Civil War,– there was a growing there was a growing

number of slums that number of slums that were just as bad as were just as bad as those in Europe,those in Europe,

– there was also great there was also great corruption in the corruption in the American political American political system which led to system which led to many shattered hopes.many shattered hopes.

The idea of an American Dream for The idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, the many was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street crashed, marking the Wall Street crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.beginning of the Great Depression.(ended in 1939)(ended in 1939)

This era affected the whole world This era affected the whole world during the 1930s, but even in the during the 1930s, but even in the midst of hardship, some peoplemidst of hardship, some people ’’s s dreams survived.dreams survived.

Thousands of people made their Thousands of people made their way west towards California to way west towards California to escape from their farmlands in the escape from their farmlands in the Midwest that were failing due to Midwest that were failing due to drought.drought.

The characters of George and The characters of George and Lennie dreamt of having a Lennie dreamt of having a ““little little house and a couple of acreshouse and a couple of acres”” which which was their own dream. was their own dream.

Is the American dream possible in the Is the American dream possible in the historical context of the novel?historical context of the novel?

Themes in Themes in Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men The Nature of DreamsThe Nature of Dreams

– In essence, In essence, Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men is as much a story is as much a story about the nature of human dreams and aspirations about the nature of human dreams and aspirations and the forces that work against them as it is the and the forces that work against them as it is the story of two men. story of two men.

– Humans give meaning to their lives—and to their Humans give meaning to their lives—and to their futures—by creating dreams. Without dreams and futures—by creating dreams. Without dreams and goals, life is an endless stream of days that have goals, life is an endless stream of days that have little connection or meaning. little connection or meaning.

– George and LennieGeorge and Lennie’’s dream—to own a little farm of s dream—to own a little farm of their own—is so central to their own—is so central to Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men that it that it appears in some form in five of the six chapters. appears in some form in five of the six chapters.

LonelinessLoneliness– In addition to dreams, humans crave contact with In addition to dreams, humans crave contact with

others to give life meaning. Loneliness is present others to give life meaning. Loneliness is present throughout this novel. throughout this novel.

Themes in Themes in Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men PowerlessnessPowerlessness

– SteinbeckSteinbeck’’s characters are often the underdogs, and he s characters are often the underdogs, and he shows compassion toward them throughout the body shows compassion toward them throughout the body of his writings. Powerlessness takes many forms—of his writings. Powerlessness takes many forms—intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck touches intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck touches on them all.on them all.

FateFate– LifeLife’’s unpredictable nature is another subject that s unpredictable nature is another subject that

defines the human condition. Just when it appears that defines the human condition. Just when it appears that George and Lennie will get their farm, fate steps in. George and Lennie will get their farm, fate steps in.

My BrotherMy Brother’’s Keepers Keeper– Steinbeck makes the reader wonder whether mankind Steinbeck makes the reader wonder whether mankind

should go alone in the world or be responsible and should go alone in the world or be responsible and helpful to others who are less fortunate. helpful to others who are less fortunate.

NatureNature– Steinbeck uses nature images to reinforce his themes Steinbeck uses nature images to reinforce his themes

and to set the mood. and to set the mood.

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men – Title – Title’’s s OriginOrigin

The title of the novel comes from a The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 -96)Burns (1759 -96)

The best laid schemes oThe best laid schemes o’’ mice and mice and menmenGang aft agley Gang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong]And leave us nought but grief and And leave us nought but grief and painpainFor promised joy!For promised joy!

The best laid schemes of The best laid schemes of mice and men often go mice and men often go wrong- referring to a little wrong- referring to a little mouse who had so carefully mouse who had so carefully built her burrow in a field to built her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little protect herself and her little mice babies – and the burrow mice babies – and the burrow is turned over and destroyed is turned over and destroyed by the man plowing.by the man plowing.