Context (Of Mice and Men)

Context (Of Mice and Men)

1. Of mice and men came in 1937

2. Steinbeck sets Of Mice and Men against the backdrop of Depression-era America.

   • The economic conditions of the time victimized workers like George and Lennie

3. After World War I, economic and ecological forces brought many rural poor and migrant agricultural workers

   • Ie) States such as: Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and California
   • The recession led to a drop in the market price of farm crops, which meant that farmers were forced to produce more goods in order to earn the same amount of money
   • The WALL STREET crash of 1929 only made matters worse

4. Steinbeck illustrates how grueling, challenging, and often unrewarding the life of migrant farmers could be

   • Many economic migrants headed west to 'Golden' California, thinking there would be land going spare, but the Californians turned many back, fearing they would be over-run. The refuges had nowhere to go back to, so they set up home in huge camps in the California valleys
   • Against this background, ranch hands like George and Lennie were lucky to have work. Ranch hands were grateful for at least a bunk-house to live in and to have food provided, even though the pay was low