Discussing Symbolism

Discuss one of the methods that Steinbeck uses to explore his ideas

 

Some of the ideas you could cover are:

Nature

Death

Companionship/Friendship

Cruelty

The World

Frailty

 

Another interesting lesson with Charlie today who was looking into how nature is presented by Steinbeck.  At the opening of the novel we see a perfect place, a beautiful and tranquil setting in which a heron is described exploding into the air and flying off down stream.  We talked about how the heron, for a bird, is a large and graceful, in some ways like Lennie, though graceful may be stretching it: it as least a powerful bird.  Our first introduction to it is quite simple.

 

In the final chapter the heron is described once more, this time Steinbeck writes that its "head and beak lanced down and plucked [the water snake] out by the head."  Charlie suggested that if the heron is Lennie then the water snake could be symbolic of Curley's wife, after all she is killed by Lennie, but furthermore snakes are symbolic of deceitfulness and malevolence, as well as distrust, just as Curley's wife is in the novel.  She is arguably as dangerous as the snake, her words are poisonous after all - remember how she speaks to Crooks when he stands up to her.

Henry and Charlie

Some thoughts from Henry and Charlie on Slim, America and the Dream

Charlie and Henry popped along after school today for some advice.  Charlie was late, but he has returned my Banksy book after 18 months so all is forgiven.

The boys were talking about Slim and there were some thoughts based on him that really got me excited.  Think of Slim and how the author presents him, a "master craftsmen", "princely" and wise.  Now remember what he says about himself were he in the position of the dog.  He tells Candy that he wishes someone would shoot him if he grew old and useless (ironic in some ways as he is telling Candy this who IS old and arguably useless, especially with his hand in the condition it is); he has decided that his life is free of aspiration.  It is interesting that such a 'perfect' character would not buy into the Dream that pervades the lives of Lennie, George, Candy and, for a time, Crooks.

Charlie began to question why Slim wouldn't, if he is so perfect.  What Charlie is suggesting is that Slim, because he is wise, sees that he should be comfortable with what he has and that to Dream is useless.  In many ways he represents the reality of the situation in America at the time.  He IS wise not to dream because at least then he cannot be hurt as Candy, Crooks and George are.

Henry agreed with this and said Charlie was tank.

Essentially the boys are also saying the Dream is foolish.  To Dream of a life beyond the clutches of the world and essentially reality was foolish: there was no escape for anyone at this time and they are all trapped.  Remember that the ranch is a microcosm, meaning it is meant to represent the rest of the immediate world at that time.  Arguably Lennie is the only one who attains his dream as he is happiest when George is telling it him "like you done before"...he dies imagining the dream, which is as close as anyone can come.

Terry's chocolate orange challenge

A Terry's chocolate orange for the best score in Section B.  Here's a bit more guidance for you.  Can you identify possible sections that might come up and why?
In the past page 75/76 has been a focus for looking at Crooks.

Where would you focus a response on Lennie, Slim, Candy and his dog, Curley's wife?

Where would you find examples of the themes:
Loneliness
Equality
Regret
Loss
Innocence
Betrayal
Perfection
Dreams
Aspiration

Can you name any others?

Interesting view on structure in 'Of Mice and Men'

A study of Todorov's theory concerning structure held really interesting insights today with Charlie Falla (Year 10).  He sorted the structure and then went on to discuss the idea of equilibrium and balance in the novel. He suggests that there is a disrupted sense of equilibrium at the beginning as we learn throughout the novel that George and Lennie's friendship is unusual especially in view of the context at the time and the idea that men actually lived lonely lives (certainly the men like Lennie and George who worked wherever they could and had no home).

He argued that this is actually the natural state for men at the time: loneliness.  So, Lennie's death which is so heavily foreshadowed by the author is done so because the world is actually out of kilter (out of balance) and needs to return to a balance.  For Lennie and George (Candy and Crooks) to achieve the dream would actually break the natural order of the time.

It's almost as if the world, at the time, was so disrupted from the ideal, which would encompass friendship, companionship and equality that disorder has become the natural state of being.

(Sorry for the blurriness, but you can still make it out: I will be telling him about his spelling of 'meant')

Charlie then went on to identify evidence from the novel to support his view.

Todorov's theory states that most stories demonstrate the following five steps:

1. A state of equilibrium (all is as it should be)
2. A disruption of that order by an event
3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred
4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
5. A return or restoration of the equilibrium

1/ At the opening of the novel Steinbeck describes a perfect setting where hillsides 'run deep and green' and the warm water twinkles 'over yellow sands in the sunlight'.  An ideal that Lennie and George step into.  It is arguably an ideal that stronger men should look after weaker men.

2/ In chapter five Lennie says"'Don't you go yellin'" and shakes Curley's wife until her body flops "like a fish".  He has disrupted the 'order' on the ranch.

3/ George and Candy realise that their order, their plan, is off: the dream is finished and George admits "I think I knowed we'd never do her" almost as though he was always aware of the disorder of their relationship in these times.

4/ George repairs the damage by killing Lennie, interestingly his hand shakes "violently" illustrating the strength of feeling against going through with it.  When Lennie's body falls the the ground he lies on the sand "without quivering" suggesting peace has been restored.

5/ At the end of the novel, as Charlie believes the real equilibrium asserts itself.  George is now truly alone, just like he has been at his solitaire games.  Although Slim takes him away, he takes him for a drink.  This is the only thing that will now comfort him.  It is arguably tragic that Carlson doesn't recognise the loss, saying "What the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys", but this is the natural way of things according to Charlie: men don't understand companionship and it doesn't matter to Carlson that Lennie is dead, or in fact for the past few days he has been in his company.

I think I'd argue against the evidence Charlie has used in his last point, but his point definitely holds water!

 

Example Essay - Curley's Wife

Page 34-35

Part (a)

In this passage, what methods does Steinbeck use to

present Curley’s wife and the attitudes of others to her?

Refer closely to the passage in your answer.

AND then Part (b)

How does Steinbeck present attitudes to women in the

society in which the novel is set? [30 marks]

In John Steinbeck’s novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ (hereafter OMM) Steinbeck tackles many issues faced by people in the 1930s. As the 1930s were difficult times for most people it is a perfect setting to reveal the true characters of people.

The issue of sexism was very present in the 1930s compared to how it is now.  Steinbeck’s use of the character of Curley’s Wife is the only female character in the novella.  Steinbeck uses different methods to diminish the importance of Curley’s wife.

Steinbeck never gives Curley’s Wife a name.  This is done to show that she does not have any identity or position on the ranch.  As Curley’s Wife is a representation of all women in the 1930s I feel Steinbeck uses her to show that she does not have any identity or position on the ranch.  As Curley’s Wife is a representation of all women in the 1930s I feel Steinbeck uses her to show that most women back then had no identity or position in the working world.

Steinbeck uses methods of introduction to show the reader the hardships of women in the 1930s.  Steinbeck never introduces Curley’s Wife throughout the novella.  I feel Steinbeck does this to show that although to the reader she is an important character, she is insignificant in the 1930s society.  However Curley’s wife upon meeting George and Lennie never introduces herself.  This shows that the character herself feels insignificant in society.  She feels that she is unwanted and no one cares for her so no one would need to know her name.  Curely’s Wife is also only introduced to other people as “Curley’s Wife”, I think that Steinbeck does this to show that Curley, her husband, is in possession of her, like so many other women in 1930 in other situations.

No characters in the novella care for Curley’s Wife and very little attention is given to her.  However many of the men only see her as an object. I think Steinbeck conveys that idea by his description of her.  When we and George and Lennie are first introduced to her, Steinbeck takes a long time to describe her.  ‘She had full rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up.  Her finger nails were red.  Her hair hung in little clusters, like sausages…’  This I feel Steinbeck uses to present Curley’s Wife as an object to the men and society.  It is to show that Curley’s wife is worth as much as she is wearing.

But Steinbeck doesn’t only use the description of what she is wearing, he also fully describes her actions.  This is to show the physical awareness the men have towards her.  ‘She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward’  Steinbeck’s description of Curley’s Wife’s actions, I think, is to not only describe the men’s physical awareness, but to show the desperation of Curely’s Wife and the women in the 1930s.

Steinbeck presents the men’s reactions towards her as hostile through the use of language.  When George first meets her he responds to her ‘brusquely’.  I think this is to show the hesitance men have towards Curley’s Wife.  I feel Steinbeck not only does this to make us feel sympathy towards Curley’s Wife and women in the 1930s, but also towards men in the 1930s as they have to be extremely careful and hostile so they can keep their jobs.

This I think is the contrast Steinbeck is trying to make towards Lennie’s reaction.  As Lennie does not understand normal social behaviour he is in awe of Curley’s Wife.  I think Steinbeck does this to show that two people who don’t fit into society are maybe the ones that do.

John Steinbeck uses different methods to present Curley’s Wife and women in the 1930s.  I fell Steinbeck uses Curley’s Wife as a representation of injustice in the 1930s.  Steinbeck presents the character of Curley’s Wife as manipulative, however I feel he only does this to make us feel sympathy to Curley’s Wife and women in the 1930s.  The fact that Curley’s wife has to be manipulative to get attention which she is so starved for does not kill any sympathy that the reader could have for her but drives it so that the reader is more sympathetic.  I also feel that Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife as a reflection on men in the 1930s as they are manipulative yet despise Curley’s wife because she is manipulative; they do not realise that it is them that made her so in the first place.  I feel that ‘Of Mice and Men’ is a perfect representation of the treatment of human beings in the 1920s.

JPS Comments:
The candidate has failed to mark out where part b appears in her answer, however it is quite clear that context is built in throughout the answer and so addresses point 5 and 6.  The candidate achieves All band 4 as well as 5.1 and 5.2 - as the candiate is familiar and exploratory, as well as conssitent in her investigation of the novel and the idea under question.  Towards the end there is some overlapping of point and explanation and her answer could have been more concise.  The candidate makes the point that Curley's wife is manipulative but fails to back this up with evidence - an investigation of the language chosen by Steinbeck may have shown how she is sexually manipulative, but does not appear to be sexually overt with Lennie in the barn - perhaps an interesting discussion point.