Theme Analysis

In last week's blog response, I asked you to select a theme that "hit home" with you the most.  Now that you have set your sights on a theme you would most like work with some more, it is time to test your skills of analysis.  Scan through the last chapter (6) in Of Mice and Men and see if you can pull out a moment from the text that, upon close reading, says something about your selected theme.


My theme: Power vs powerlessness

Example: "Lennie obeyed him. George looked down at the gun." (Steinbeck 106)

This quote shows that Lennie is a character that has little power. When George tells him to do something, he does because he is afraid of what will happen if he does not.We see in the book that George can be very powerful. Lennie has little power because he does everything George says. He may be strong, but when it comes to making decisions, he is not the one in power. In the last chapter, Steinbeck shows how powerful George is when he takes the gun and uses it to kill his alliance. The theme of power vs powerlessness is evident in the last chapter.  

So why did George kill Lennie any way? Check out this article to see for yourself!
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6350367/1/Why-Did-George-Kill-Lenny-Essay

Chapter 6 Notes

Prediction

When George found Lennie by the bush, I predicted that Lennie and George would run away together. I thought this because earlier in the book, when Lennie was accused of rape, George helped him and they ran away. I thought that George would do the same thing, but instead he ended Lennie's life.

Question

When Lennie started to picture the rabbit  I got confused. Why was he picturing the rabbit? Was it a symbol of guilt? Is Lennie losing his sanity? What point is Steinbeck trying to make by including the rabbit as a character?

Connection

When George shot Lennie, it reminded me of how Slim shot Candy's dog. Candy's dog was very sick, and was probably going to die soon. Shooting him would put him out of his misery. Like Slim, George shot Lennie to make someones life less painless.

Summary

The last chapter in Of Mice and Men  was a section full of unexpected twist and turns. It started with Lennie hiding by the bush, waiting for George to be his savior. When he is their, imaginary visions appear in his head of his Aunt, who is dead, and a big rabbit. These visions symbolize the guilt Lennie feels about killing Curley's wife and it also symbolizes his guilt for letting George down. George finally reaches the bush, to find Lennie. George does not scold him, nor does he yell, he just told him to look away from him and look at the ocean. George begins to tell Lennie the story about how they will live in the future, and how Lennie will get to tend the rabbits. George has a gun aimed at Lennie, and as Curley and the rest of the men start to appear, George kills Lennie to put him out of his misery.

Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

We have investigated many captivating themes that exist in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men over the last few weeks.  You have explored the desperation and poverty of the American 1930s through pictures and video.  You have witnessed how John Steinbeck used naturalism to portray certain characters as "human beasts" acting on impulsiveness and instinct for self-preservation.  You have examined how the author used literary devices such as sentimentalism, diction, tone, parallelism, and foreshadowing in order to propel these themes.  You have close-read and analyzed the text digging deeper and deeper for evidence of themes such as Power vs. Powerlessness, Individual vs. Community, The American Dream, Euthanasia, Racism, Loneliness, and maybe even a little Sexism.  Pat yourself on the back!  You have been critically thinking about this novella on so many different levels. 

For this week's blog response, you need to make some pretty serious decisions!  We are quickly approaching the time where you will be expected to write your Research Paper based on a topic of interest from Of Mice and Men.  If you have been keeping up with your reading, completing your notes, participating in conversations and activities during class on the various themes, and completing your blog responses this choice will be fairly easy!  If not, you may be in for a struggle....
What topic or theme that we have touched on during this unit has "hit home" with you the most?  Which theme or topic has a personal connection for you?  Which did you find most captivating or interesting to discuss and investigate during this unit?  Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world

The theme that "Hit Home" the most for me was the theme of power vs powerlessness. I was very familiar with that topic.

Again, the theme of power vs powerlessness has a personal connection for me. I always think of my dad and I because he has power over me because he is my father and sometimes he'll take advantage of that.

I found the theme of sexism very interesting. The fact that women were so different from men in this time period really caught my attention.

The theme of power vs powerlessness is strangely fascinating to me. I really like how the book shows how powerful some people are and how they can control another person like a puppeteer controls his puppets. 

This theme is evident in a lot of areas in the book. Specifically, the theme is shown through the characters Lennie and Curley's wife. When Lennie was feeling Curley's hair for too long, she screamed, "Let go" (Steinbeck 91). Lennie did not let go. Curley's wife was powerless; she had no control over the situation. Lennie was powerful and would not let go.  

This theme is relevant in our world today. In jobs, or simply in a family, there is those who rule and those who struggle to obey the ruler. For example, in current jobs today, bosses have control over their employers. If the boss says jump, the employer says how high. In our society, power vs powerlessness is a grievous event that occurs in everyday life. Also, in families this is seen. Some parents use a controller to manipulate their children. It's as if in our society children sometimes do not have a mind of their own, their actions are controlled by the one who holds their controller. 

Check out this link on the powerlessness of children in our society
http://www.parentingforsocialchange.com/power.html

Chapter 5 Notes

Predictions

I predict George will not let Lennie tend rabbits  Lennie killed his pup, which shows that he is not trusting and probably cannot handle small animals like rabbits. I believe George will no longer just Lennie with small animals.


Connections

Like Curley's wife, when I am rambling on about something, I keep asking the person I am talking to if they are listening. Curley's wife asked Lennie if he was paying attention because she wants to make sure he's listening. I tend to do that to because I want to make sure the person I am talking to is listening.

Questions

When Lennie is feeling Curley's wife's hair, I had was confused. Why wouldn't Lennie let go? Why wouldn't he stop holding on? I know Lennie covered Curley's wife because he did not want George to find out, but why would he do something so mean that can be considered rape?

A Portrait of Racism

Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s.  Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter.  Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s.  What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter?

Racism is explored in two ways. First, the reader learns that there is racism in the 1930's by the way Curley's with talked to Crooks. Crooks is African American, so he is treated differently. Curley's wife said, "Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny."(Steinbeck 81) By this quote from the story, it is obvious that African Americans were not treated fairly during this period of time. Curley's wife called Crooks a "nigger," as if it was no big deal to call a colored man nigger. Also, Curley's wife said she could hang him on a tree. That shows how harsh racial difference is. Another way racism is explored is when Crooks yells at Lennie and Candy for being in his room. He says  that is is not okay for a white man to be in a colored mans room.Through these two moments, racism is evident. 

The reader learns that racism was tough in the 1930s. It was hard to be colored because you did not have the same rights as everyone else. You could not share a room with men with other skin colors. Colored people were called "niggers," instead of African american. Racism was harsh during this time period. 

Check out this link on racism in the 1930's
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/newyorker/race.html

Chapter 4 Notes

Prediction

When Lennie and Crooks are talking, Lennie told Crooks about his dream to live and tend rabbits. I predict that Lennie is going to get yelled at by George because he was not suppose to tell anyone. Also, I think Crooks will want to join them because he is not treated nice at the bunkhouse because of his race.

Question

When Crooks starts talking to Lennie about George leaving him, I got confused. Why was Crooks purposely making Lennie worry? Is Crooks making Lennie feel bad because he feels bad? Does Crooks find himself similar to Lennie, because in a way, they are both less powerful in society?


Connection

Like Lennie, sometimes when I get really excited about something, I have the need to tell everyone about it. Lennie told Crooks about how Candy, George, and himself are going to live on their own land and tend rabbits because he was so excited. This reminded me of how I told my mom about her surprise birthday party. I was not suppose to tell her but it slipped out because I was so excited. Like Lennie, when I get excited, I sometimes tell people things I should not have.

Investigating Themes in Of Mice and Men

1.)  What different forms of power exist in Of Mice and Men?  What kind of power does Lennie have?  What kind of power does George have?  What kinds of power or powerlessness do other characters possess?  

Different forms of power is shown in Of Mice and Men. Through characters, power is shown. First, the power the brain exists in the book. Lennie is a character who has power over Lennie because he is smart. Being smart is a type of power. In addition, power of strength is shown in the story. For example, Lennie is a character that has the power of strength. Although he is not smart, he is powerful because he is strong and George needs him to make money. Different kinds of power appear in Of Mice and Men.

George is very powerful character. Although George is small, he is powerful because he has control over Lennie for the most part and is smart. For example, when Curley was in a fight with Lennie, George yelled, "Get 'im , Lennie." (Steinbeck 63) By this example, the reader can tell that George has power to tell Lennie what to do. Unlike Lennie, George is very smart, so he knows what to do, which makes him powerful. George is a powerful character because he is smart.

Some characters from Of Mice and Men possess powerlessness. For example, Lennie can be considered powerless because of he is not smart like George. When Curley tried to beat up Lennie, he let him attack him because he did not know what to do. He lacks in making good decisions, which makes him appear powerless. Also, George can be considered powerless because of his size. For example, when George was being mean, Lennie said, "I could go off in the hills there. Someplace I'd find a cave." (Steinbeck 12) When Lennie said that, George realized that Lennie is actually very powerful because he is the one that makes them money. George needs Lennnie as much as Lennie needs him. George and Lennie may have their strengths, but are also both powerless in some things.

Check out this link I found about the powerful!
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/09/science/how-does-power-affect-the-powerful.html



This pictures shows how Lennie and George both need each other.