![Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men – Title’s Origin– Title’s Origin
The title of the novel comes from a poemThe title of the novel comes from a poem
by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759
-96)-96)
The best laid schemes o’ mice and menThe best laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft agleyGang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong]
And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and pain
For promised joy!For promised joy!
The best laid schemes of mice andThe best laid schemes of mice and
men often go wrong- referring to amen often go wrong- referring to a
little mouse who had so carefullylittle mouse who had so carefully
built her burrow in a field tobuilt her burrow in a field to
protect herself and her little miceprotect herself and her little mice
babies – and the burrow is turnedbabies – and the burrow is turned
over and destroyed by the manover and destroyed by the man
plowing.plowing.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/of-mice-and-men-powerpoint-130519063710-phpapp02/85/Of-mice-and-men-powerpoint-30-320.jpg)
Of mice-and-men-powerpoint
- 1. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men By JohnBy John SteinbeckSteinbeck
- 3. Of Miceand MenOf Miceand Men The novel deals with theThe novel deals with the issues deartoissues dearto Steinbeck’s heart -Steinbeck’s heart - poverty, homelessness,poverty, homelessness, the exploitation ofthe exploitation of itinerant workers, theitinerant workers, the failure of the Dream,failure of the Dream, America’s general moralAmerica’s general moral decline.decline.
- 4. Main Characters: Lennie & GeorgeMain Characters: Lennie & George
- 5. LennieSmall Lennieisalarge, lumbering, childlikeLennieisalarge, lumbering, childlike migrant worker. Dueto hismildmigrant worker. Dueto hismild mental disability, Lenniecompletelymental disability, Lenniecompletely dependsupon George, hisfriend anddependsupon George, hisfriend and traveling companion, for guidancetraveling companion, for guidance and protection. Thetwo men shareaand protection. Thetwo men sharea vision of afarm that they will ownvision of afarm that they will own together, avision that Lenniebelievestogether, avision that Lenniebelieves in wholeheartedly. Gentleand kind,in wholeheartedly. Gentleand kind, LennieneverthelessdoesnotLennieneverthelessdoesnot understand hisown strength. Hisloveunderstand hisown strength. Hislove of petting soft things, such assmallof petting soft things, such assmall animals, dresses, and people’shair,animals, dresses, and people’shair, leadsto disaster.leadsto disaster.
- 6. GeorgeMiltonGeorgeMilton Georgeisasmall, wiry, quick-Georgeisasmall, wiry, quick- witted man who travelswith, andwitted man who travelswith, and caresfor, Lennie. Although hecaresfor, Lennie. Although he frequently speaksof how muchfrequently speaksof how much better hislifewould bewithoutbetter hislifewould bewithout hiscaretaking responsibilities,hiscaretaking responsibilities, Georgeisobviously devoted toGeorgeisobviously devoted to Lennie. George’sbehavior isLennie. George’sbehavior is motivated by thedesireto protectmotivated by thedesireto protect Lennieand, eventually, deliverLennieand, eventually, deliver them both to thefarm of theirthem both to thefarm of their dreams. Though Georgeisthedreams. Though Georgeisthe sourcefor theoften-told story ofsourcefor theoften-told story of lifeon their futurefarm, it islifeon their futurefarm, it is Lennie’schildlikefaith thatLennie’schildlikefaith that enablesGeorgeto actually believeenablesGeorgeto actually believe hisaccount of their future.hisaccount of their future.
- 7. George and Lennie go to a ranch near Salinas, California, to work. George is Lennie’s keeper, and Lennie imitates everything that George does. Lennie previously had been kicked out of a town for grabbing a girl’s dress. He simply liked to touch soft items. That is also the reason that he has a dead mouse in his pocket: Lennie petted him too hardly. George promises Lennie that some day they will have their own farm and raise rabbits as well as other animals.
- 8. The setting inThe setting in OfOf Mice and MenMice and Men The novel is set in theThe novel is set in the farmland of the Salinasfarmland of the Salinas valley, where Johnvalley, where John Steinbeck was born.Steinbeck was born. The ranch in the novel isThe ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which isnear Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas onsouth-east of Salinas on the Salinas river.the Salinas river. The countrysideThe countryside described at thedescribed at the beginning of the novel,beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself isand the ranch itself is based on Steinbeck’s ownbased on Steinbeck’s own experiences.experiences.
- 11. Why Migrant Workers?Why Migrant Workers? Before technology createdBefore technology created farm machinery, humansfarm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farmhad to do a lot of the farm work by hand.work by hand. Between the 1880s andBetween the 1880s and the 1930s, thousands ofthe 1930s, thousands of men would travel themen would travel the countryside in search ofcountryside in search of work.work. Such work included theSuch work included the harvesting of wheat andharvesting of wheat and barley.barley.
- 12. Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers These workers would earn $2.50These workers would earn $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food andor $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter.shelter. During the 1930s, theDuring the 1930s, the unemployment rate was high inunemployment rate was high in the U.S., and with so many menthe U.S., and with so many men searching for work, agenciessearching for work, agencies were set up to send farmwere set up to send farm workers to where they wereworkers to where they were needed.needed. In the novel, George and LennieIn the novel, George and Lennie (the two main characters) were(the two main characters) were given work cards from Murraygiven work cards from Murray and Ready’s, which was one ofand Ready’s, which was one of the farm work agencies.the farm work agencies.
- 13. Chasing theAmerican DreamChasing theAmerican Dream ““Give me yourtired, yourpoor,Give me yourtired, yourpoor, yourhuddled masses yearningyourhuddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretchedto breathe free, the wretched refuse of yourteeming shore.refuse of yourteeming shore. Send these, the homeless,Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,tempest tost to me, Ilift my lamp beside theIlift my lamp beside the golden door.”golden door.” (( EmmaLazarus)EmmaLazarus) Written on the base of the StatueWritten on the base of the Statue of Libertyof Liberty
- 14. The American DreamThe American Dream You can be successful if you workYou can be successful if you work hard and live morally.hard and live morally. America is the land of opportunity.America is the land of opportunity. Freedom to work hard and beFreedom to work hard and be happy is enshrined in thehappy is enshrined in the Constitution.Constitution. The Dream assumes equality ofThe Dream assumes equality of opportunity, no discrimination,opportunity, no discrimination, freedom to follow goals andfreedom to follow goals and freedom from victimization.freedom from victimization.
- 15. The American DreamThe American Dream From the 17From the 17thth CenturyCentury onwards, immigrantsonwards, immigrants have dreamed of a betterhave dreamed of a better life in America.life in America. Many people immigratedMany people immigrated to America in search of ato America in search of a new life for themselves ornew life for themselves or their families.their families. Many others immigratedMany others immigrated to escape persecution orto escape persecution or poverty in theirpoverty in their homeland.homeland.
- 16. Immigrants dreamed ofImmigrants dreamed of making their fortunes inmaking their fortunes in America.America. For many this dream ofFor many this dream of riches became ariches became a nightmare.nightmare. – there were horrors ofthere were horrors of slavery,slavery, – there were horrors of thethere were horrors of the American Civil War,American Civil War, – there was a growingthere was a growing number of slums that werenumber of slums that were just as bad as those injust as bad as those in Europe,Europe, – there was also greatthere was also great corruption in the Americancorruption in the American political system which ledpolitical system which led to many shattered hopes.to many shattered hopes.
- 17. The idea of an American Dream forThe idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, themany was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street crashed, marking theWall Street crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.beginning of the Great Depression. This era affected the whole worldThis era affected the whole world during the 1930s, but even in the midstduring the 1930s, but even in the midst of hardship, some people’s dreamsof hardship, some people’s dreams survived.survived. Thousands of people made their wayThousands of people made their way west towards California to escape fromwest towards California to escape from their farmlands in the Midwest thattheir farmlands in the Midwest that were failing due to drought.were failing due to drought. The characters of George and LennieThe characters of George and Lennie dreamt of having a “little house and adreamt of having a “little house and a couple of acres” which was their owncouple of acres” which was their own dream.dream.
- 18. IstheAmerican dream possiblein thehistoricalIstheAmerican dream possiblein thehistorical context of thenovel?context of thenovel?
- 19. DreamsDreams Georgeand Lenniehaveadream,Georgeand Lenniehaveadream, even beforethey arriveat their neweven beforethey arriveat their new job on theranch, to makeenoughjob on theranch, to makeenough money to live"off thefat of theland"money to live"off thefat of theland" and be their own bosses. Lenniewilland be their own bosses. Lenniewill bepermitted, then, to tend therabbits.bepermitted, then, to tend therabbits.
- 20. DreamsDreams When Georgegoesinto afull description of theWhen Georgegoesinto afull description of the dream farm, itsEden-likequalitiesbecomedream farm, itsEden-likequalitiesbecome even moreapparent. All thefood they want willeven moreapparent. All thefood they want will beright there, with minimal effort. AsLennieberight there, with minimal effort. AsLennie says:says: – " We co uld live o ffa the fatta the lan'."" We co uld live o ffa the fatta the lan'." When Georgetalksabout their farm, hetwiceWhen Georgetalksabout their farm, hetwice describesit in termsof thingsheloved indescribesit in termsof thingsheloved in childhood:childhood: – " Ico uld build a smo ke ho use like the o ne" Ico uld build a smo ke ho use like the o ne gran'pa had..."gran'pa had..." Georgeyearnsfor hisfutureto reflect theGeorgeyearnsfor hisfutureto reflect the beauty of hischildhood.beauty of hischildhood. – " An' we'd keep a few pigeo ns to go flyin' aro und" An' we'd keep a few pigeo ns to go flyin' aro und the win'mill like they do ne when Iwas a kid."the win'mill like they do ne when Iwas a kid."
- 21. Meet the Other CharactersMeet the Other Characters CandyCandy CurleyCurley Curley’s WifeCurley’s Wife CrooksCrooks SlimSlim CarlsonCarlson
- 22. CandyCandy Candy isan aging ranch handyman,Candy isan aging ranch handyman, Candy lost hishand in an accidentCandy lost hishand in an accident and worriesabout hisfutureon theand worriesabout hisfutureon the ranch. Fearing that hisageismakingranch. Fearing that hisageismaking him useless, heseizeson George’shim useless, heseizeson George’s description of thefarm heand Lenniedescription of thefarm heand Lennie will have, offering hislife’ssavingsifwill have, offering hislife’ssavingsif hecan join Georgeand Lennieinhecan join Georgeand Lenniein owning theland. Thefateof Candy’sowning theland. Thefateof Candy’s ancient dog, which Carlson shootsinancient dog, which Carlson shootsin theback of thehead in an alleged acttheback of thehead in an alleged act of mercy, foreshadowsthemanner ofof mercy, foreshadowsthemanner of Lennie’sdeath.Lennie’sdeath.
- 23. CurleyCurley Curley istheboss’sson, CurleyCurley istheboss’sson, Curley wearshigh-heeled bootstowearshigh-heeled bootsto distinguish himself from thefielddistinguish himself from thefield hands. Rumored to beachampionhands. Rumored to beachampion prizefighter, heisaprizefighter, heisa confrontational, mean-spirited,confrontational, mean-spirited, and aggressiveyoung man whoand aggressiveyoung man who seeksto compensatefor hissmallseeksto compensatefor hissmall statureby picking fightswithstatureby picking fightswith larger men. Recently married,larger men. Recently married, Curley isplagued with jealousCurley isplagued with jealous suspicionsand isextremelysuspicionsand isextremely possessiveof hisflirtatiousyoungpossessiveof hisflirtatiousyoung wife.wife.
- 24. Curley’sWifeCurley’sWife Curley’swifeistheonly femaleCurley’swifeistheonly female character in thenovel, Curley’swifecharacter in thenovel, Curley’swife isnever given anameand isonlyisnever given anameand isonly referred to in referenceto herreferred to in referenceto her husband. Themen on thefarm referhusband. Themen on thefarm refer to her asa“tramp,” a“tart,” and ato her asa“tramp,” a“tart,” and a “looloo.” Dressed in fancy, feathered“looloo.” Dressed in fancy, feathered red shoes, sherepresentsthered shoes, sherepresentsthe temptation of femalesexuality in atemptation of femalesexuality in a male-dominated world. Steinbeckmale-dominated world. Steinbeck depictsCurley’swifenot asavillain,depictsCurley’swifenot asavillain, but rather asavictim. Liketheranch-but rather asavictim. Liketheranch- hands, sheisdesperately lonely andhands, sheisdesperately lonely and hasbroken dreamsof abetter life.hasbroken dreamsof abetter life.
- 25. CrooksCrooks Crooks, theblack stable-hand, getshisnamefrom hiscrooked back. Proud,Crooks, theblack stable-hand, getshisnamefrom hiscrooked back. Proud, bitter, and caustically funny, heisisolated from theother men becauseof thebitter, and caustically funny, heisisolated from theother men becauseof the color of hisskin. Despitehimself, Crooksbecomesfond of Lennie, andcolor of hisskin. Despitehimself, Crooksbecomesfond of Lennie, and though hederisively claimsto haveseen countlessmen following emptythough hederisively claimsto haveseen countlessmen following empty dreamsof buying their own land, heasksLennieif hecan go with them anddreamsof buying their own land, heasksLennieif hecan go with them and hoein thegarden.hoein thegarden.
- 26. SlimSlim A highly skilled muledriver and theacknowledged “prince” of theranch, Slim isA highly skilled muledriver and theacknowledged “prince” of theranch, Slim is theonly character who seemsto beat peacewith himself. Theother characterstheonly character who seemsto beat peacewith himself. Theother characters often look to Slim for advice. For instance, only after Slim agreesthat Candyoften look to Slim for advice. For instance, only after Slim agreesthat Candy should put hisdecrepit dog out of itsmisery, doestheold man agreeto letshould put hisdecrepit dog out of itsmisery, doestheold man agreeto let Carlson shoot it. A quiet, insightful man, Slim aloneunderstandsthenatureof theCarlson shoot it. A quiet, insightful man, Slim aloneunderstandsthenatureof the bond between Georgeand Lennie, and comfortsGeorgeat thenovel’stragicbond between Georgeand Lennie, and comfortsGeorgeat thenovel’stragic ending.ending.
- 27. Other CharactersOther Characters CarlsonCarlson - A ranch-hand, Carlson complainsbitterly about Candy’sold, - A ranch-hand, Carlson complainsbitterly about Candy’sold, smelly dog. HeconvincesCandy to put thedog out of itsmisery. Whensmelly dog. HeconvincesCandy to put thedog out of itsmisery. When Candy finally agrees, Carlson promisesto executethetask without causingCandy finally agrees, Carlson promisesto executethetask without causing theanimal any suffering. Later, GeorgeusesCarlson’sgun to shoottheanimal any suffering. Later, GeorgeusesCarlson’sgun to shoot Lennie.Lennie. The BossThe Boss - Thestocky, well-dressed man in chargeof theranch, and - Thestocky, well-dressed man in chargeof theranch, and Curley’sfather. Heisnever named and appearsonly once, but seemsto beCurley’sfather. Heisnever named and appearsonly once, but seemsto be afair-minded man. Candy happily reportsthat heoncedelivered agallonafair-minded man. Candy happily reportsthat heoncedelivered agallon of whiskey to theranch-handson ChristmasDay.of whiskey to theranch-handson ChristmasDay. Aunt ClaraAunt Clara - Lennie’saunt, who cared for him until her death, doesnot - Lennie’saunt, who cared for him until her death, doesnot actually appear in thenovel except in theend, asavision chastising Lennieactually appear in thenovel except in theend, asavision chastising Lennie for causing troublefor George. By all accounts, shewasakind, patientfor causing troublefor George. By all accounts, shewasakind, patient woman who took good careof Lennieand gavehim plenty of miceto pet.woman who took good careof Lennieand gavehim plenty of miceto pet.
- 28. Themes inThemes in Of MiceandMenOf MiceandMen The Nature of DreamsThe Nature of Dreams – In essence,In essence, Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men isasmuch astory about thenatureisasmuch astory about thenature of human dreamsand aspirationsand theforcesthat work againstof human dreamsand aspirationsand theforcesthat work against them asit isthestory of two men.them asit isthestory of two men. – Humansgivemeaning to their lives—and to their futures—byHumansgivemeaning to their lives—and to their futures—by creating dreams. Without dreamsand goals, lifeisan endlesscreating dreams. Without dreamsand goals, lifeisan endless stream of daysthat havelittleconnection or meaning.stream of daysthat havelittleconnection or meaning. – Georgeand Lennie’sdream—to own alittlefarm of their own—Georgeand Lennie’sdream—to own alittlefarm of their own— isso central toisso central to Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men that it appearsin someform inthat it appearsin someform in fiveof thesix chapters.fiveof thesix chapters. LonelinessLoneliness – In addition to dreams, humanscravecontact with othersto giveIn addition to dreams, humanscravecontact with othersto give lifemeaning. Lonelinessispresent throughout thisnovel.lifemeaning. Lonelinessispresent throughout thisnovel.
- 29. Themes inThemes in Of MiceandMenOf MiceandMen PowerlessnessPowerlessness – Steinbeck’scharactersareoften theunderdogs, and heshowscompassionSteinbeck’scharactersareoften theunderdogs, and heshowscompassion toward them throughout thebody of hiswritings. Powerlessnesstakesmanytoward them throughout thebody of hiswritings. Powerlessnesstakesmany forms—intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck toucheson them all.forms—intellectual, financial, societal—and Steinbeck toucheson them all. FateFate – Life’sunpredictablenatureisanother subject that definesthehuman condition.Life’sunpredictablenatureisanother subject that definesthehuman condition. Just when it appearsthat Georgeand Lenniewill get their farm, fatestepsin.Just when it appearsthat Georgeand Lenniewill get their farm, fatestepsin. My Brother’s KeeperMy Brother’s Keeper – Steinbeck makesthereader wonder whetherSteinbeck makesthereader wonder whether mankindmankind should go alonein theshould go alonein the world or beresponsibleand helpful to otherswho arelessfortunate.world or beresponsibleand helpful to otherswho arelessfortunate. NatureNature – Steinbeck usesnatureimagesto reinforcehisthemesand to set themood.Steinbeck usesnatureimagesto reinforcehisthemesand to set themood.
- 30. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men – Title’s Origin– Title’s Origin The title of the novel comes from a poemThe title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 -96)-96) The best laid schemes o’ mice and menThe best laid schemes o’ mice and men Gang aft agleyGang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong] And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and pain For promised joy!For promised joy! The best laid schemes of mice andThe best laid schemes of mice and men often go wrong- referring to amen often go wrong- referring to a little mouse who had so carefullylittle mouse who had so carefully built her burrow in a field tobuilt her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little miceprotect herself and her little mice babies – and the burrow is turnedbabies – and the burrow is turned over and destroyed by the manover and destroyed by the man plowing.plowing.
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