Think about this section from the beginning of the book:
For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.
They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.
The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself. (1.2-4)
Sound familiar? Kind of like the pictures, right? In writing, compare and contrast this opening section from Of Mice and Men to the pictures you analyzed in class. What does the text and the photographs show us about the 1930s? Be specific!
One of the pictures that is similar to the beginging is the man walking north with a small bag with a stick over his shoulders. This man would be George but he is more mentally and physically stable than Lennie. Lennie is Goerge friend who is with him going to find a job. Lennie is menatlly challenge. Soemthing the text and picture show is that are on a lon road and did stop to go get something to drink. Also the man is wearing a hat in the picture as well in the text.
In the 1930s a lot of poeple are poor. they are moving to Califarna because in the west they was a huge dust bowl that caused them to many of them are farmers and there transpotian is hecked. Some of them walk and cant even bring there whole family because they might not suppourt him. Also there was no food for farmers and the water was dirty as well as people couldnt bath or brush their teeth.
Antoinette,
ReplyDeleteI can tell that you learned a great deal about the 1930s already. The 1930s was a time of extreme poverty as you said, and many people had to go off on their own to find work. It is really interesting that Of Mice and Men has two characters that are friends traveling together to find work. I wonder why John Steinbeck decided to make Lennie a mentally challenged character instead of just an ordinary man? I wonder what Lennie's character shows us about the way mentally challenged people were treated in the American 1930s?