浅析《人鼠之间》中兰尼的悲剧,英语论文

浅析(人鼠之间）中兰尼的悲剧,英语论文ChapterOneIntroductionChapterTwoManifestationofLenniestragedyinOfMiceandMen2.1Isolatedbypeoplearoundhim2.1.1Pressedbytheupperclass2.1.2FellowmensmisunderstandingofLennie2.2DisillusionofLenniesdream2.2.1Lenniesfailuretogetland2.2.2LenniesfailuretoseekloveChapterThreeGreatDepression-theleadingcriminalofLenniestragedyinOfMiceandMen3.1Widergapbetweentherichandthepoor3.2CorruptionofsocialmoralityChapterFourConclusionReferencesACKNOWLEDGEMENTSChapterOneIntroductionAftertheWorldWarI,Americabecameacreditorcountry.UnlimitedexpansionofstockspeculationandoverproductionledtothecollapseofNewYorkstockmarketwhichresultedintheeconomiccrisis.UnprecedentedeconomicdisasterpromotedanewawakeningoftheworkingclassintheUnitedStates.JohnSteinbeckstartedtofocusonsocialproblemsandtriedtoexposehardsituationsofthelowclassinhisworks.JohnSteinbeck(1902-1968)wasborninSalinas,California.Influencedbyhismother,SteinbeckstudiedEnglishLiteratureatStanfordUniversity.Leavingwithoutadegreein1925,hestartedtomakealivingbydoingmanydifferentjobssuchaspastureworker,road-buildingteamworker,migrantworker,landsurveyorandjournalist.Theseworkingexperiencesprovidedhimthechancetogetintouchwithpeoplefromthelowclassandmanywritingmaterials.HemadeuphismindtobeawriterwhenhecametoNewYorkin1926.JohnSteinbeckachievedhisfirstcriticalsuccesswithTortillaFlat(1935),whichexpressedmoralbankruptcycausedbymaterialism.From1930to1936,asaprolificwriter,JohnSteinbeckpublishednearly15novelsanddozensofshortstories,includingInDubiousBattle(1936),OfMiceandMen(1937)andTheGrapesofWrath(1939).HealsowroteanarticleseriescalledTheHarvestGypsies(1936)fortheSanFranciscoNewsaboutthehardsituationofthemigrantworker.Manyprotagonistsinhisworksarepeoplefromthelowclassbecauseheisveryfamiliarwiththem.Hisworksshowedkindandrusticcharacteristicsofthem.JohnSteinbeckwasoneofAmericasmostinfluentialwritersofthe20thcentury.Hewasawardedthe1962NobelPrizeforLiteratureforhisrealisticandimaginativewritings,combiningastheydosympathetichumorandkeensocialperception.(Mao,2005:375)JohnSteinbeckgothugesuccessbecauseofOfMiceandMenwhichcanbeseenasthefoundationofTheGrapesofWrath.ItiscriticallyacclaimedandSteinbecks1962NobelPrizecitationcalleditalittlemasterpiece.OfMiceandMentalksaboutdreamsofapairofmigrantagriculturallaborersLennieandGeorgeinCalifornia.Theyhaveadreamofowningtheirownidyllicfarmsomedaysothattheycanbefreetoliveintheirownway.GeorgeisasmartguywhileLennieisphysicallystrong,yetmentallyslow.However,LenniesaccidentalmurderofCurleyswifedestroystheirplan.Finally,GeorgeshootsLennietodeathandtheirdreamscometonaught.SomecriticsfocusonabundantthemesandthinkthisnovelcoverscollapseoftheAmericanDream,humanloneliness,commonpeoplespowerlessness〔Wang，2006：28〕.OtherscenteronSteinbeckswritingtechniquesespeciallyhiscleveremploymentofsymbolismthattherearelotsofsymbolicimagesinthetitle,thesettings,animals,charactersinthenovel.(Wang,2020:1)AlthoughOfMiceandMennarratesashortstoryinthreedays,itcentersonthetragedyofLenniewiththepurposetoalludetothetragedyofthelowclassandproblemsofthesocialsystem.Thispaper,consequently,aimstoprobeintosocialcausesofthetragedyinOfMiceandMen.BasedonabriefintroductionofSteinbeckandhisOfMiceandMen,thepaperillustratesthemanifestationofLenniesTragedyinOfMiceandMenthroughtheisolationbetweenpeopleandthedisillusionofhisdream.ThenthepapertriestoanalyzereasonsofLenniestragedywithbackgroundingsoftheGreatDepressionintwoaspects.FinallythepaperreachestheconclusionthatitistheGreatDepressionkillsLennieasarepresentativeofLenniestimes.ChapterTwoManifestationofLenniesTragedyinOfMiceandMenInOfMiceandMen,Lennieisdescribedasahugeman,shapelessofface,withlarge,paleeyes,withwide,slopingshoulders;andhewalkedheavily,dragginghisfeetalittle,thewayabeardragshispaws,(Steinbeck,1937:2)Histragedyismainlyreflectedintwoaspects:peoplesisolationandhisdisillusionofdreams.2.1IsolatedbypeoplearoundhimCurleysfatherandCurleyenvyLenniestallheight.TheirenvygraduallybecomeshatredofLennie.Asownersofthefarm,theytortureLennieasmuchastheycould.Also,asamigrantworker,Lenniehascharacteristicsofinnocenceandchildishnesswhichothersdonothave.SoLennieisisolatednotonlybytheupperclassbutalsobyhisfellowmen.2.1.1PressedbytheupperclassLennieisamigrantworkerworkingforCurleysfather.LenniestallheightmakeshimselfaneyesoreofCurleyandCurleysfather.Becauseoftheirhighersocialstatus,theypressworkerssuchasLenniebothphysicallyandmentally.Physically,astheownerofthefarm,Curleysfatherendeavorstogetmaximumbenefitfrommigrantworkers.HeisfuriousatLennieandGeorgeslatenessatthefirsttimetheycomehere.Itisdescribedasfollows:Thebosswasexpectinyoulastnight,theoldmansaid.Hewassoreashellwhenyouwasntheretogooutthismorning.(Steinbeck,1937:18)TheownerdoesnotcareaboutwhyLennieandGeorgearebeinglate,butonlycaresabouthowmuchmoneyhelosesbecauseoftheirlateness.Inhisheart,onceLennieandGeorgepromisetocometowork,hewillstarttocalculatetheirvalues.HeseesLennieandGeorgeasworkingmachinebutnotpeople.Mentally,astheupperclass,CurleysfatherandCurleythinkthemselvesaredifferentfromworkersandlookdownonworkers,whichisvividlydescribedbywhattheywearasfollows:Alittlestockymanstoodintheopendoorway.Heworebluejeantrouser,aflannelshirt,ablack,unbuttonedvestandablackcoat.Histhumbswerestuckinhisbelt,oneachsideofsquaresteelbuckle.OnhisheadwasasoiledbrownStetsonhat,andheworehigh-heeledbootsandspurstoprovehewasnotalaboringman.(Steinbeck,1937:20)Heworeaworkgloveonhislefthand,andliketheboss,heworehigh-heeledboots.(Steinbeck,1937:25)ThesetwoparagraphsdescribeclothesofCurleysfatherandCurley.Theyallwearhigh-heeledbootstodifferthemselvesfromworkerstoexpresstheirhighersocialposition.Also,duringCurleysfatherstalkwithLennieandGeorge,thebosssquintedhiseyes.(Steinbeck,1937:21)HesendsamessagewithhiseyesthatheisdoubtfulifLennieandGeorgearegoodmigrantworkersandwillsupervisetheirworkHiscontemptuouseyesgivesLennieandGeorgeasenseofcrisiswhichismoreoppressivethanbadlivingsituationandmeagerincome.Asmigrantworkers,LennieandGeorgeknowclearlyabouttheirlowsocialstatusandtheirweakposition.Theyneedtoworkhardandkeepobedienttotheirbosssothattheycankeepthejobtomakealiving.Tosumup,migrantworkersarepressedbothphysicallyandmentally.2.1.2FellowmensmisunderstandingofLennieLennieshugebodyandstrongstrengthwillmakepeopleawayfromhim.HisfellowmenconsiderLennieasafrighteningmanandrefusetogettoknowhim.WhenLennieandGeorgeworkonthefirstfarmbeforeCurleysfathersfarm,anaccidenthappenswhichleadstotheirleaving.Lennielikestotouchsoftthings.Agirlthereaskshimtotouchherreddress.However,Lennieisobsessedwiththetouchingandwontlethergo.SothegirlstartstosquawkwhichshocksLennie.FinallyGeorgecomesandsockshimovertheheadsoLenniewouldliketolethergo.ItisonlyanaccidentwhichLenniecanexplainittootherworkers.However,theydontprovideLenniethechancetoexplainandmakethecrueldecisionasfollows:Well,thatgirlrabbitsinantellsthelawshebeenraped.TheguysinWeedstartapartyouttolynchLennie.(Steinbeck,1937:42)ThegirltellsthelawthelieandguysinWeeddonotletLennieexplainbutdecidetolynchhim.TheymakethedecisionallbythemselvesbecausetheyknowLennieischildishandhedoesntunderstandtodefendhimself.SoasLenniesonlyfriend,GeorgehastotakeLennieawayfromthisfarmtoanother.Inthesecondfarm,however,Lennieismisunderstoodagain.Itisdescribedasfollows:Lenniesmiledhelplesslyinanattempttomakefriends.Crookssaidsharply,Yougotnorighttocomeinmyroom.Thisheresmyroom.Nobodygotanyrightinherebutme.Lenniegulpedandhissmilegrewmorefawning.Iaintdoinganything,hesaid.Justcometolookatmypuppy.AndIseenyourlight,heexplained.Well,Igotarighttohavealight.Yougoongetouttamyroom.Iaintwantedinthebunkhouse,andyouaintwantedinmyroom.(Steinbeck,1937:68)Lennieisveryinnocent.HeseeslightsinCrookssroomandcomesintotheroomhimself.Whathedoesmayseemalittleabrupttoothermigrantworkerswhoareusedtokeepdistancefromeachother.WhenCrookmeetsLennie,CrookfeelsoffendedanddirectlyasksLennietogetout.HerefusestotalkwithLennieandhasnothinkingtomakeafriendwithhim.ThesefellowmensmisunderstandingofLennieisnottheirmistakes.Theyareusedtokeepdistancewithotherpeople.Iftheyopentheirheart,itiseasilytogethurt.TheyhavebeenapatheticandcannotacceptLenniesdifference.2.2DisillusionofLenniesdreamLennieandGeorgehavedreamsofowningapieceoflandandbeinglovedinharmoniousenvironment.Theycalculatetheirincomeandfinditispossibletoachievetheirdreamiftheymakeaneffort.However,thingsdonotgosmoothlyastheyimagine.OfMiceandMenismostoftenreadasoneofSteinbecksmostpessimisticworks,smackingofpessimisticdeterminism.(Owens,2008:18)Theyfinallyfail.Lenniefailstogetland.Also,hefailstoseeklove.2.2.1LenniesfailuretogetlandLenniedreamsofgettingapieceoflandtoraiserabbits.Asamigrantworker,hepossessesnothingvaluableexcepthisdream.Itishisdreamswhichdifferhimfromothermigrantworkers.HecantrememberanythingexcepthisdreamsandeverytimeGeorgetalksaboutthedream,Lenniewillbeveryquietandhappy.However,Lenniefailstogetthelandintheend.Foronething,LenniesaccidentalmurderofCurleyswiferuinstheirplanofthedream.LenniehastopaythecostsoheiskilledbyGeorgeinthelast.Theirplanisdescribedasfollows:Wegottenbucksbetweenus.Thenhesaidthoughtfully,Look,ifmeanLennieworkamonthandontsprnnothing,wellhaveahundredbucks.Thatdbefifty.Ibetwecouldswingherforthat.ThenyouanLenniecouldgogetherstartedanIdgetajobanmakeuptheres,anyoucouldselleggsanstufflikethat.(Steinbeck,1937:60)GeorgemakesafeasibleplanwithLennieandCandy,anewfriendinCurleysfathersfarm.However,LenniekillsCurleyswifeintheaccidentwhichruinstheirplanthatLenniecannotkeepworkingonthefarm.Foranother,theirdreammayneverberealizedbecauseitisjustavision.Thisritualisperformedofteninthestory,wheneverLenniefeelsinsecure.(PeterLisca,1958:135)EachtimeLennieandGeorgemeetwithdifficulties,LenniewillaskGeorgetotellhimthedream,suchasthetimewhentheyrunoutofthefirstfarmorafterLenniebeinghitbyCurley.Theyneedafaithtolivewithsotheycanhaveafuturetolookforwardtoandforgetthecruelreality.Thedreamisjustlikealightintheirlife.2.2.2LenniesfailuretoseekloveLennieisveryinnocentandchildish.Heiseagertobeclosewithothers.HoweverloveishardtofindduiringtheperiodoftheGreatDepression.Ontheonehand,Lenniefailstoseeklovefrompeople.Firstly,inLenniesearlyperiod,hehasnotgotmuchlovefromhisfamily.Hehasnoparentssinceheisalittleboy.Heonlyhasanauntwhoalsodiesearlyanddoesntpaymuchattentiontohim.Secondly,duringtheworkingperiodonthefarm,Lenniealsofailstoseeklove.Crookisablackmansoheispushedasidebyotherworkersandlivesinhisownroom.ButCrookrefusestomakefriendswithLennie.Also,whenLenniecommunicateswiththered-dressgirlandCurleyswife,hedoesntunderstandhisstrongstrengthandeasilyhurtthem.LenniejustwanttofeelsoftnessofthereddressandCurleyswifeshair,however,hiswrongcontrolofhisstrengthhurtthered-dressgirl,andhekillsCurleyswife.Hefailstogetlovefromthesewomenbutmakeothermigrantworkersmisunderstandhim.Thirdly,LennieisabandonedbyhisbestfriendGeorge.LennieandGeorgestaytogetherformanyyears.Theyhavethemutualdreamandthefuturetolookforwardtoasfollows:Guyslikeusthatworkonranchesaretheloneliestguysintheworld.Theygotnofamily.Theydontbelongnoplace.Theycometoaranchanworkupastakeandthentheygointatownandblowtheirstake,andthefirstthingyouknowtherrepoundintheirtailonsomeotherranch.Theyaintgotnothingtolookaheadto.Lenniewasdelighted.Thatsit-thatsit.Nowtellhowitiswithus.Georgewenton.Withusitaintlikethat.Wegotafuture〔Steinbeck,1937:14〕Intheirlasttroublewiththered-dressgirlwhentheyworkinthefirstfarm,GeorgehelpsLenniegetawayfromthere.However,AfterCurleyswifesaccidentaldeath,GeorgestartstobedisgustedwithLennie,consideringthatLenniecouldonlybringtroublesanddragtheirdreamsdown.ThinkingthatLenniewillbetorturedbyothers,GeorgefinallydecidedtoshootLennie.SoLenniealsofailstoseeklovefromGeorge.Ontheotherside,Lenniefailstoseeklovefromanimals.Helovesanimalsbutinthewrongway.Helovedlittleanimals,suchasmice,puppiesandrabbitsandwantstoraisethem.However,heisunawareofhisstrongstrengthandoftenkillslittleanimalswithoutconsciousness.Thenitmakeshimregretful.Hejustshowslovetotheselittleanimalsbuthurttheminstead.Hecannotgetanylovebackfromthem.Asaresult,Lenniecouldonlystayawayfromthesesoftanimals.ChapterThreeGreatDepression-theLeadingCriminalofLenniesTragedyinOfMiceandMenAmericanindustrializationhappensfrom1890to1920,whichnotonlybroughtAmericasubstantialincreaseingrossnationalproductbutalsoledtothesurplusofcapitalsothatworkersandpeasantsweregraduallytrappedinaseriousshortageofthepurchasingpowerandfinallyinthehistoryofhumancivilizationthenotoriousGreatDepressionbrokeoutinthe1930s.TheGreatdepressionisthoughttoinfluencetheAmericanofSteinbeckstimesintwoaspects:thewideningthegapbetweentherichandthepoorandthecorruptionofsocialmorality,whichisfullyreflectedinSteinbecksOfMiceandMen.3.1WidergapbetweentherichandthepoorTheGreatDepression,thelongestoneinthehistoryofthenation,leftmanyAmericanshaken.Sufferingsweremostacuteamongagriculturemigrants,AfricanAmericans,Latinos,andAmericanIndians.(Gienapp,Stoff,2006:715)OfMiceandMenmainlytalksaboutthegapbetweentherichandthepoorinagriculturewhichcomesfromagriculturalmechanizationandwidenedbytheGreatDepression.Americanindustrialization,thetransitiontonewmanufacturingprocesses,leadstotheagriculturalmechanizationwhichmakesmanydevelopmentsinagricultureandinfluencemigrantworkers.LennieandGeorgeconsiderthingstoosimplethattheycanaffordthelandinmonthsthroughplanningtheusageoftheirmoney.However,duringtheindustrialization,agriculturehasdevelopedalotintwoaspects.Firstly,industrializationbringsadvancedproductionmethodswhichhavehigherefficiencyandlowercostcompetingwithpersonalstrengthsoitcandefeatmanpowereasily.InthesecondyearafterOfMiceandMenpublished,halfofthecountryscropswerereapedbycombineharvestersratherthanmanpowerintheUnitedStates.(Li,2021:90)Lessandlesspeoplearechoosingthejobasamigrantworker.LennieandGeorgeareverylikelytolosetheirjobsatanytimewithoutsupportingmeasurementsandthentheylosethewaytogetmoney.Secondly,fewerpeoplecanownthelandwiththeadvanceddevelopmentsofagricultureintwentiethcentury.Duringthe1930s,agricultureinCaliforniahasbeencontrolledbyseveralranchers.SoevenifLennieandGeorgecanaffordapieceofland,theyhavenowaytokeepitforlong.RunningafamilyfarmisveryhardcomparingwithrunningaranchsothatLennieandGeorgefinallywillbemergedwithranches.WiththeexistenceofgapresultingfromagriculturalmechanizationandnaturaldisasterDustBowlwhichhappensduringthe1930s,theGreatDepressionwidensthegap.Peopleinthelowclasssuchasmigrantworkersareinthedepthsofdespair.Migrantworkersandpeasantskeeplong-hoursofhardworkwiththesameoutput,butsalesofvolumedecreasessothattheycanonlysellcropsoutwithlowpricewhichisevenlowerthancost.However,thegovernmentrefusestotakeactiontohelpthepoorinsuchsituation.ThepresidentHooverholdstheconceptofpoorlawinBritain,thinkingthatcharitywouldmakeaccepterspoorersohesupportstheideathatthepoorshouldsavethemselves,startingfromfamiliesandneighbors,andthenfrompersonalorganizationsuchasfarmersandcapitalists,finallyfromthegovernment.Thelowclassisingreaterexploitationbecausetheupperclassincludingfarmersandcapitaliststrytotransmittheirpressuretopeasantsandworkerswhichleadstoexacerbatedclassdivisions.Asamigrantworker,Lennielivesaverytragiclife.Heloseshisparentsinaveryyoungageandonlyhasanauntwhoalsodiedyearsago.Withhismentallydisability,heshouldhavegotfundfromsocialservices.However,itisimpossibleduringtheGreatDepression.Instead,heisexploitedforhisobedienceandstrongstrengthwhichmakeshimthebestworker.3.2CorruptionofsocialmoralityThemostserioussocialimpactoftheGreatDepressionisthelossofmoralityandfaithofAmericanpeoplewhichismoreseverethantherecession.DuringtheGreatDepression,whenthegovernmentcallspeopletocheerup,itsoundsonlylikeemptytalk.(Liu,Li,2008:20)TheGreatDepressiondestroyspeoplesspiritlife.Ontheonehand,theGreatDepressioninfluencespeoplesgrowingenvironmentwhichcanmaketotaldifferenceinpeoplesfuturelife.Firstly,theGreatDepressionaffectsfamilies.AreportofCaliforniaUnemploymentCommitteesaysthatlossesofjobsandincomebreakmanyfamilymemberswhoaredejectedandhavenorespectforthemselves,whichdecreasetheirworkingefficiencyandemployability.(Liu,Li,2008:18)Thesefamilymembershaveverylowlivingstandardsothatmanyofthemleavechildrentorelativesorcharities.Someleftchildrencanneverseetheirparentsagain.Breakoffamiliesalsobringscrimessuchasstealing,hittingandmurdering.Secondly,theGreatDepressionaffectssocialeducationthatlessmoneyareusedforit.In1933,aroundthreehundredandthirtythousandchildrenaredeprivedofeducation.NoonecanevercalculatehowmuchpriceAmericancivilizationpaysofpooreducationduetotheGreatDepression.(Shannon,1960:16)InOfMiceandMen,asanabandonedchild,lossofloveandeducationisapossiblereasonforLenniesmentaldisability.Ontheotherhand,moneyplaysmainroleduringtheGreatDepressionwhichleadstopeoplesmoreattentiontomoneyandintereststhanrelationshipsbetweenpeople.Curleysfatherisarepresentativeoftheupperclass.Astheownerofthefarm,heusesmoneyasastandardofallthings.HefeelscuriousabouttheirrelationshipwhenheseesLennieandGeorgebecauseheconsidersLennieastrouble.HecannotimaginewhyGeorgewouldliketotakeLennie.Itisdescribedasfollows:Thebossdeliberatelyputthelittlebookinhispocket.Hehookedhisthumbsinhisbeltandsquintedoneeyenearlyclosed.Say-whatyousellin?Huh?Isaidwhatstakeyougotinthisguy?Youtakinhispayawayfromhim?No,courseIaint.WhyyathinkImsellinghimout?Well,Ineverseenoneguytakesomuchtroubleforanotherguy.Ijustliketoknowyourinterestis.(Steinbeck,1937:22)CurleysfatherthinksthatGeorgetakesLenniebecauseGeorgewantstosellLennieouttogetmoney.HeconsidersmoneyshouldtakepartineverythinganddonotunderstanditisfriendshipbringsLennieandGeorgetogether.Carlsonisarepresentativeofthelowclass.Heisalsoamigrantworker.WhenheseesCandysolddog,heexpresseshishatredofit.Itisdescribedasfollows:Anditstinkstobeathell.Tellyouwhat.Illshoothimforyou.Thenitwontbeyouthatdoesit.CandyImsousedtoit,hesaidsoftly.Ihadhimfromapup..Idontseenoreasonforit,saidCarlson.Letsgetitoverwith,hesaid.WecantsleepwithhimstinkinaroundInhere.Heputthepistolinhidhippocket.(Steinbeck,1937:47)CandyisoldandalonealltheseyearsandallCandygetsisthedog.Theystaytogethersincethedogwasapuppy.However,CarlsonconsidersthedogasastinkinganduselessdisturbanceoftheirlifeanddoesnotunderstandthecompanybetweenCandyandthedog.Afterthedogsdeath,Candystaysinsilenceforalongtime.ForCandy,thatdogishisbestfriend.Also,peoplefromthelowclasslosetheirhopeandfuturebecauseofhardsituations.Migrantworkerisajobwhichisrepresentativeofthelowclass.Georgeusedtotalkaboutothermigrantworkersasfollows:Guyslikeus,thatworkonranches,aretheloneliestguysintheworld.Theygotnofamily.Theydontbelongnoplace.Theycometoaranchanworkupastakeandthentheygointatownandblowtheirstake,andthefirstthingyouknowtherrepoundintheirtailonsomeotherranch.Theyaintgotnothingtolookaheadto.(Steinbeck,1937:14)Whenthesemigrantworkersgetmoney,theyjustusethemoneytobuydrinkstointoxicatethemselvessotheydonotneedtothinkabouttheirhardlives.Theyjustmuddlealong,takingonedayatatimewithouttheintentiontoliveabetterlife.ChapterFourConclusionAsawriterwhogrowsupinCaliforniawithmanydifferentworkingexperiencesandpersonallygoesthroughtheAmericanDepression,JohnSteinbeckisveryfamiliarwithpeoplefromthelowclassandhasadeepinsightintosocialproblems.Hisworksarecruelandbarewithasenseofcoldhumor.Steinbeckgiveshissympathyfortheoppressedandcomparesthepurejoyoflifewithbarbarousdesireofmoney.However,hisaffectionsofnature,farmlandsandwastelandsexpresshisloveofAmericawhichbringshiminexhaustibleinspirationofwriting.SteinbecksOfMiceandMenisconsideredasagrandlittlebook,forallitsultimatemelodramabyNobelPrizecitationin1962,whichtellsatragicstoryhappeningjustinthreedays.CharactersinOfMiceandMenareallveryaloneexceptLennieandGeorgewhoarecompanyofeachotherformanyyearsandmostdifferently,theyhaveadreamandtrytorealizeit.However,Lennieisisolatedbypeoplearoundhimandhisdreamfinallybreaks.BasedonthetragicfigureLennieinSteinbecksOfMiceandMen,readerscaninferthattheindividualtragedyreflectsproblemsofthesocietyatthattime,whichisthemajorthemeofthenovel.AlthoughSteinbeckdoesnotdirectlydescribehowhardmigrantworkerslifeis,heinfiltrateshisincisiveandfamiliarunderstandingoftheirdifficultpositioninhisOfMiceandMenbydescribingLenniestragedythatheisisolatedbypeopleandhisdisillusionofdream,thusrevealingtothereaderofthehelplessdestinyoftherootclassinsuchanerathathugegapexi