Five themes to think about: Of Mice and Men
Ahead of our discussion on February 2nd...
Hey!
I hope you’re all well. A quick note that if you are struggling to find a copy of the novel, you can use this PDF version to read Of Mice and Men for free.
The next edition of the Classical Book Club will be taking place on 2nd February at 8pm GMT/3pm EST in the Substack chat.
To help prepare, I’ve got five questions and themes for you to think about while you’re reading (or to reflect on if you have finished). I’m hoping this will help kickstart some of the discussion when we come to it on the 2nd.
I’m aware that it’s not always easy to identify themes in novels if you read for pleasure, which can make discussions a little difficult without thinking about the topics prior. This year I’m going to be sharing some themes for discussion ahead of time, so you don’t have to think of them on the spot on the day.
I’m going to be sharing another post next week that delves a little bit more into Steinbeck and the context behind the novel.
The American Dream
How does Steinbeck portray the American Dream in the novel, especially through George, Lennie and other characters?
How does the economic hardship of the Great Depression shape their dreams?
Are their dreams inherently flawed, or is the shape of society what makes them unattainable?
Loneliness & isolation
How does Steinbeck manifest isolation within different characters? Particularly Crooks, Candy and Curley’s wife.
For what reason are these characters isolated in a way that others in the novel are not? Would Lennie go the same way as these characters if not for George?
Symbolism
Steinbeck uses symbolism throughout the novel, particularly in the form of animals, nature, colours and the characters themselves.
Think about Lennie’s fascination with soft things and where the novel takes place.
The role of women
How does Steinbeck write Curley’s wife? Why does he do so in such a way?
Is Steinbeck’s portrayal of women a sexist portrayal, or is he demonstrating societal attitudes towards women?
Morality and justice
Is the final act of the novel morally right? Does the novel say anything about justice in an unjust world?
How did the harsh realities of the Great Depression connect to the moral choices faced and made by the characters in the novel?
Why is Of Mice and Men timeless?
Love it or hate it - and there is certainly much evidence to suggest that the author was a deeply unpleasant man, Of Mice and Men remains a timeless novel that is still taught in many schools worldwide.
Why is it such a classic? And why do the themes from the novel remain so relevant, resonating with many people to this day?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m going to share another post in the next week or so which will delve into Steinbeck in more detail.
Is there anything you would like to know about him? Or the context of the novel? I know somewhat about Steinbeck and his controversies but I’ll be spending the next week or so reading and researching more about him.
If there’s something you want to find out, let me know in the comments and I’ll make an effort to cover it in next week’s post.
Take care & I’ll see you all again soon!