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Harsh Truths In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Through a list of harsh truths, John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men casts humanity in an unfavorable light. These include loneliness, oppression, and imperfection. The grim realities of the hardworking characters are revealed through their actions to rise above challenges and in the end their defeats These truths are all used to build the complex main theme of friendship and the effect it can have on an individual's life.
Of Mice and Men exposes the validity,loneliness, of people during the Great Depression. For instance Curly’s wife seeks attention ,positive or negative, from anyone on the ranch because of her isolation being the only woman present. When confronted with her isolation she says,“Wha’s the matter with me?Ain’t I got …show more content…
The discrimination against the black character on the ranch, Crooks, is an example of how the ugly truth of oppression is brought to life in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck reveals how unjust the treatment of African Americans was and the way oppression was carried out. He also shows dialogue with Crooks to give a voice to a character that would not of had one in the real world of the 1930’s. However, African Americans are not the only groups oppressed in Steinbeck’s novel. Women are subjected to the stereotype of “house wife.” Curley’s wife is portrayed as someone who needs to stay in the house and should not interact on the ranch with anyone but Curley. She also has no given name other than she belongs to Curley showing that she was not worthy of an individual identity. But, the most obvious sign of oppression unfolds through Curley’s wife and Crook’s conversation. She says, “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could have you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny”(Steinbeck 81). The truth of how deep the penetration of oppression reached into the lives of the people of the 1930’s is shown through the way the Curley’s wife easily disregards her own abuse to cause equal pain to Crooks. The oppression in the novel shows the lack of friendship that people craved but were unsure how to

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