Historical Context... or what you should know in order to reference the social and historical context for the OMAM paper (OCR)

The Depression

In the United States, on October 29, 1929, millions of dollars were wiped out in the event that became known as the Wall Street Crash. It led to the Depression which crippled the country from 1930-36, and also to the death of the American Dream

America had been populated by the poor of other countries who believed it was a land of opportunity, and offered a dream of security and prosperity.

• However, as a result of the Wall Street Crash people lost their life savings when firms and banks went bust, and one third of America’s population became unemployed. There was no benefit system to fall back on: food was short, and the unemployed in cities couldn’t pay their rent;

• In the mid west agricultural land was decimated by the Dustbowl. This was a series of droughts in southern mid-western states like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas which led to failed harvests and dried-up land. Farmers were forced to move off their land: they couldn't repay the bank-loans which had helped buy the farms. They had to sell what they owned.

• 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 refugees had nowhere to go back to, so they set up home in huge camps in the California valleys living in shacks of cardboard and old metal. They sought work as casual farmhands

The Disadvantaged Struggle to Survive

In the time of great economic hardship, it was the most disadvantaged groups who had to struggle hardest to survive:

the elderly the African Americans women the disabled: both the physically disabled and the intellectually challenged.

(As Crooks rightly points out if it weren’t for George, Lennie would be taken ‘to a booby hatch ’ where he would be tied up ‘with a collar like a dog’).

All these groups of people are represented in the novella. The world of ‘Of Mice and Men ‘is a harsh ‘dog eat dog’ world. There are

numerous examples of violence, exploitation, anger, frustration, thwarted dreams, and characters with little control over their lives.

Migrant Workers Exploited

Against this background, ranch hands like George and Lennie were lucky to have work, a roof over their heads and food provided, even though they were thoroughly exploited and had to ‘ buck barley’ for eleven hours a day.

Like George and Lennie, many of these workers had a dream that they would one day own their own smallholding, and’ live off the fatta the land’, although this seemed impossible.

When Lennie rightly surmises that the ranch ‘aint no good place’, he has no option but to stay.

All Candy has to look forward to is getting canned and put out on the road as soon as he is incapable of doing any work and ’there won’t be no more jobs’.

Another example of the desperation amongst the itinerant migrant workers can be found in the way in which the men agree to keep quiet about the fight between Lennie and Curley, and claim Curley’s injured hand was caused by a machine: they know that Lennie would be fired if the Boss were to hear of it, and George and Lennie would be left with nothing.

Racial Disadvantage

Crooks represents those who are trapped in the racism and poverty of 1930s America.

He is excluded from the bunk house addressed by the N word, is at the receiving end of the boss’s frustrated anger he receives no compensation for his injury is entertainment value at Christmas: something to fight. Curley’s wife has the power to get him lynched as a result of her false

accusations. Because of the abuse he has suffered himself, Crooks is initially cruel to

Lennie, suggesting that George will abandon him..

Attitudes to Women

Curley’s Wife epitomises the role of women in 1930s; she exists only in relation to her husband, hence her name.

She married to escape her mother, but was treated like a possession, and a sex object by Curley.

There are many other names for Curley’s wife: all of them derogatory. She has had little education or career opportunities, and her only positive role

models are the women in ‘pitchers’ She is regarded as a threat, owing to her flirtatious behaviour and dress; she

could trap men sexually and even ruin their lives.

Her sense of isolation makes her cruel and the description of her newly-dead body implies innocence: she has been corrupted by a harsh social environment.

Indeed Steinbeck himself said,’ She’s a nice girl, not a floozy’, and would have been devoted to any man who had treated her properly.

The American Dream-Beliefs about America:

"life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth

• America was seen as a place to escape religious persecution

• The land of the free

• “…unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” Declaration of Independence

• It was a land of opportunity and great natural resources

• It was a fairer society

• People could carve a farm out of a piece of wilderness and make it their own –“Live off the fatta th’ land”

The American Dream has been credited with helping to build a cohesive American experience

But has also been blamed for inflated expectations. Despite deep-seated belief in the egalitarian American Dream, the modern

American wealth structure still perpetuates racial and class inequalities between generations.

Lennie and George want to own a farm Candy also wants to buy into this dream Crooks wants to be accepted and work for them for free Curley’s wife wants to become a movie star Everything seems possible for the characters