Of Mice and Men: Context

The Great Depression

Of Mice and Men is set during the Great Depression, the decade long economic downturn which began with the Wall Street Crash in 1929.
During this time, unemployment was high and many workers had to move frequently to find temporary work.
The story’s main characters, George and Lennie, are migrant workers who travel across California looking for work.
They struggle with poverty and have a dream of owning their own land which, during the Great Depression, would have been a common aspiration for many.

The characters’ dream of owning their own piece of land is representative of the American Dream, the idea that anyone, regardless of their background or social class, can achieve wealth and success through hard work.
The novella explores whether this dream is achievable or just a fantasy. The dream is shown to be especially elusive for characters such as Lennie, a mentally disabled man, and Crooks, a black stable hand.
The hope and subsequent loss of the dream highlights the author’s exploration of isolation and disappointment in the narrative.

The character of Crooks, the stable hand, depicts the harsh realities of racial segregation and racial prejudice during the 1930s in America.
As the only black character, Crooks is made to live separately from the other workers and is subject to racist remarks and discrimination.
The novella also depicts discrimination based on age and disability. For example, Candy, an older character with a missing hand, fears that he will be discarded by society due to his perceived uselessness.
Curley’s wife is treated with distrust and scorn, illustrating the position of women in a male-dominated society.

The author John Steinbeck was born and raised in California and worked as a labourer during summers, gaining firsthand experience of the lives of migrant workers.
His experiences from these times, combined with his observations of the human condition during the Great Depression, formed the backdrop of Of Mice and Men.
Steinbeck once wrote, “I worked in the same country that the story is laid in.” Therefore, his portrayal of the scenery and characters’ lifestyles is both realistic and authentic.