of mice and men historical context. central issues friendship power loneliness loyalty and...
TRANSCRIPT
Of Mice and MenHistorical Context
Central Issues
FriendshipPower
LonelinessLoyalty and Sacrifice
Dreams
John Steinbeck Born in 1902 in Salinas,
California Had an appreciation for
his surroundings. This shows in his naturalistic, realistic style.
He worked during the summers as a hired hand on a ranch nearby.
Salinas River Valley
John Steinbeck’s WritingWrote during the
late 1920’s and the 1930’s
His novels are set in California
They were considered successful among readers and critics
Of Mice and MenOriginally wanted it to be called Something
that HappenedWanted the book to be a children’s bookIssues included:
PovertyHomelessnessExploitation of migrant workersFailure of the American Dream
The Setting of Of Mice and MenSet in the farmland of Salinas
River ValleyThe ranch is near Soledad,
east of Salinas, along the riverThe ranch is based on the
ranches of Steinbeck’s experiences
The American Dream“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
--Emma Lazarus
Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty
The American DreamYou can be successful if
you work hard and work morally.
America is the land of opportunity.
The Constitution guarantees the freedom to work hard and be successful.
All Americans have equal opportunity to be successful.
The End of the American Dream
The stock market crashes in 1929.
People longed to own land and
property.
Because there was more competition for jobs, people
headed west for jobs on farms/ranches.
THE DUST BOWLIn the 1930’s, a severe
drought plagues the Midwest
Farmers have to sell their farms/can’t afford
Move out west to find fertile ground
MIGRANT WORKERSTraveling west looking
for workCalled “Okies”Lived in empty boxcars
and Hoovervilles/tent cities
Earned between 2.50 and 3.00 a day (43.00 today)
Called “Bindlestiffs”