What is the social realism in 'Of Mice and Men'?

Answer 1

The Great Depression -> Leading the migrant workers to have hardly any possessions due to the lack of money being made (etc.)

The migrant workers were lonely due to the fact that they had to move from ranch to ranch, which meant that they didn't have time for friendship. This makes George and Lennies relationship strange and this is why the other migrant workers don't understand their friendship together.

Segregation and black torture was also a main social historical culture point in the 1930's (When 'Of Mice and Men' was written)

The American Dream -> Every migrant worker had the dream to live big and succeed in life, but as we find out by Crooks and the end of the novella, the dream isn't reachable to the migrant workers

The role of women -> They were almost seen as sexual objects/slaves.

Answer 2

It is all about how they acted and talked. Lennie wasn't very wise but he was very strong. He didn't talk proper and dressed in ragged clothing. George also wore ragged clothing but he talked a lot better than Lennie did. Although they had a southern accent they still used manners when speaking to a lady or a person of higher authority

Answer 3

Realism was used to provide the context for treatment of women, black people and old people; the selfishness of the American dream out of balance, the apparent failure of the American capitalist system, the unusual friendship of George and Lennie, the reality of survival of the fittest, whore houses, loneliness, and the duality of nature.

Steinbeck didn't get a noble prize for no reason, he knew what he was doing. The whole point was to reflect an exaggerated view of the hardships of life in 1930's America in order to force people's awareness, of what he felt was unfair treatment of migrant workers. Steinbeck wrote from his own experiences of this period.

Answer 4

The theme of human nature is a theme in Of Mice and Men for many reasons. It is apparent, throughout the book, that although many of the main characters have weaknesses, they tend to prey on the weaker human. Crooks makes fun of Lennie's dream of owning a farm and his dependence on George, after admitting that he is black, has a crooked back, and yearns for companionship. Curley's wife threatens to have Crooks lynched, although she stated that she was unhappy with her marriage and wanted a friend. It is human nature to prey on the weak, as displayed in this short story by John Steinbeck.

Answer 5

Social realism in "Of Mice and Men" refers to the portrayal of the harsh realities faced by migrant workers during the Great Depression, highlighting themes such as poverty, loneliness, and discrimination. The novel exposes the struggles of individuals striving for the American Dream amidst a society marked by economic hardship and social injustice. Steinbeck's depiction of these issues provides a critique of the prevailing social conditions of the time.