In John Steinbeck's novella, Of Mice and
Men, there are several themes.
The story takes
place in California, during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It describes the way of
life for two men, George and Lennie, as they travel from place to place to find work.
They are also pursuing the American dream of the time: to own a piece of land they could
call their own, as opposed to moving all the time and working for someone else.
Thousands of people were in the same situation, and people came and went so quickly that
there was little time to get to know people or become attached to
them.
Themes found throughout the novel include: idealism
vs reality, alienation vs loneliness, race and racism, class conflict, mental disability
(as seen with Lennie), loyalty, and friendship.
These
themes revolve around George and Lennie who travel together, and the people they meet at
the ranch where they go to work, but Steinbeck uses these themes to impart what he
observed among migrant workers in the California area during the turbulent times after
the Great Crash of 1929.
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