Of Mice and MenHistorical Context

Central Issues

FriendshipPower

LonelinessLoyalty and Sacrifice

Dreams

John Steinbeck Born in 1902 in Salinas,

California Had an appreciation for

his surroundings. This shows in his naturalistic, realistic style.

He worked during the summers as a hired hand on a ranch nearby.

Salinas River Valley

John Steinbeck’s WritingWrote during the

late 1920’s and the 1930’s

His novels are set in California

They were considered successful among readers and critics

Of Mice and MenOriginally wanted it to be called Something

that HappenedWanted the book to be a children’s bookIssues included:

PovertyHomelessnessExploitation of migrant workersFailure of the American Dream

The Setting of Of Mice and MenSet in the farmland of Salinas

River ValleyThe ranch is near Soledad,

east of Salinas, along the riverThe ranch is based on the

ranches of Steinbeck’s experiences

The American Dream“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

--Emma Lazarus

Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty

The American DreamYou can be successful if

you work hard and work morally.

America is the land of opportunity.

The Constitution guarantees the freedom to work hard and be successful.

All Americans have equal opportunity to be successful.

The End of the American Dream

The stock market crashes in 1929.

People longed to own land and

property.

Because there was more competition for jobs, people

headed west for jobs on farms/ranches.

THE DUST BOWLIn the 1930’s, a severe

drought plagues the Midwest

Farmers have to sell their farms/can’t afford

Move out west to find fertile ground

MIGRANT WORKERSTraveling west looking

for workCalled “Okies”Lived in empty boxcars

and Hoovervilles/tent cities

Earned between 2.50 and 3.00 a day (43.00 today)

Called “Bindlestiffs”