1. The American Dream
Many people immigrated to America in search of a new life and to escape persecution or poverty in their homeland.
Immigrants dreamed of making a fortune...but for many, this dream became a nightmare…
Horrors of slavery
Horrors of the American Civil War ( )
Growing number of slums that were just as bad as in Europe (People had immigrated from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe)
Corruption in the American political system

2. The Great Depression and Dust Bowl
Wall Street crashed, beginning the Great Depression
In the 1930s, over 9,000 banks failed
Many people lost their savings
Banks were unable to create new loans
People stopped buying items...which led to people being fired
As people were unable to work, they were unable to buy
Unemployment rose above 25%....even less spending to help the economy

3. The Dust Bowl
Terrible drought and environmental conditions created the turmoil for farmers in the Great Plains (AKA the Dust Bowl)
Windstorms uplifted the soil, blowing massive clouds of dust
Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes
89 million acres of land were severely damaged or destroyed
Most people traveled to California to restart their lives

4. Migrant Workers
Before technology created farm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farm work by hand
Between the 1880s and 1930s, thousands of men would travel the countryside in search of work, including the harvesting of wheat
They would earn $2.50 or $3 a day, plus food and shelter
1930s - unemployment rate was high in the US. With so many people looking for work, agencies would send farm workers to work where needed
In the novel, George and Lennie were sent to work by an agency

5. John Steinbeck Born February 27th in 1902 in Salinas, California
During his childhood, Steinbeck learned to appreciate his surroundings and the nearby countryside. This would later come out in his writing.
Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired hand in nearby ranches

6. John Steinbeck cont’d...
At 14, he decided to become a writer and spent a lot of time writing in his room
He attended Stanford University to please his parent...but only chose courses that interested him (classical & British literature, writing courses, and odd science courses)
However, Steinbeck did NOT receive a degree because he would drop in and out of school to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on CA ranches.

7. What’s a Bindlestiff?
A hobo, especially one who carries a bedroll

8. Steinbeck’s Writing Career
During the late 1920s and 1930s, Steinbeck concentrated on writing and wrote several novels set in California.
Steinbeck gained great success by readers and critics.

9. Steinbeck’s Writing Career
He published his first novel, Cup of Gold
He won his first literary prize, Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for best novel, Tortilla Flat.
Of Mice and Men was published, and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck began a book tour that led him to Europe
Grapes of Wrath was published and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
Both Of Mice and Men and Grapes of Wrath stemmed from his experience working alongside migrant farmers.
Led him to have more compassion for these workers and stirred up his concern for social injustice

10. Of Mice and Men
Tells the story of George and Lennie, two migrant farm workers during the Great Depression
The title is an ALLUSION to the poem, “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns
Was originally meant to be a play
In many ways, it is structured like one...several long scenes, stage- direction like descriptions, and large amounts of dialogue
The novel has been banned periodically in the United States for its profane language, morality, violence, and its depiction of the mentally challenged

11. Of Mice and Men Originally called Something that Happened
Originally meant for children
May 1936, he wrote a manuscript…but his puppy ate it

12. Setting Farmland of the Salinas valley, where Steinbeck was born
The ranch in the novel is in Soledad, which is southeast of Salinas on the Salinas river
The descriptions of the countryside and ranch is based off of Steinbeck’s own experiences

13. Meet George and Lennie
George Milton - small and quick witted man who travels with, and cares for, Lennie. His behavior is motivated by his desire to protect Lennie and to eventually deliver them to the farm of their dreams
Lennie Small - large, lumbering, childlike migrant worker. Due to his mild mental disability, Lennie completely depends upon George for guidance and protection. Gentle and kind, he does not understand his own strength
His love for petting soft things, such as small animals, dresses, and hair, leads to disaster.

14. Meet the Other Characters
Candy - an aging ranch handyman. Because of his age, he worries about his future on the ranch and seizes on George’s description of the farm he and Lennie will have, offering his life savings if he can join
Curley - The boss’ son. He wears high-heeled boots to distinguish himself from the field hands. He is also very aggressive who seeks to compensate for his small stature by picking fights with larger men
Curley’s Wife - Only female character in the novel. Often referred to as a “tramp,” “a tart,” and a “looloo”

15. Meet the Other Characters
Crooks - The black stable-hand who gets his name from his crooked back. He is often isolated from the other men because of his color
Slim - Highly skilled mule driver. The only character who seems at peace with himself, and the other characters often look to him for advice

16. Themes The Nature of Dreams
People’s aspirations and the forces that work against them
Humans give meaning to their lives by creating dreams
Loneliness
Humans crave contact with others to give life meaning
Powerlessness
The characters are often the underdogs of society, yet we feel compassion towards these characters through the writing
Fate
My Brother’s Keeper (are we responsible for those who are less fortunate?)
Nature

17. Movie Trailer