Theme Analysis

In last week's blog response, I asked you to select a theme that "hit home" with you the most.  Now that you have set your sights on a theme you would most like work with some more, it is time to test your skills of analysis.  Scan through the last chapter (6) in Of Mice and Men and see if you can pull out a moment from the text that, upon close reading, says something about your selected theme.

        Chapter 6 was a very sad and emotional chapter. It was a very confusing chapter as well, in the sense of themes. For last weeks prompt I had chosen the theme of Friendship. I explained how Lennie and George's relationship was very special in their lives, and how they needed each other for many reasons. I explained how they were both very close and they have been together for a while. "George shook himself again. No, he said. I want you to stay with me here" (104). I chose this quote to show that George and Lennie are always gonna be together. They had a long journey in their lives together, but there are some risks needed to be taken. Lennie had told George that if he didn't want Lennie to be around, he could go off on by himself and live in a cage. But with the knowledge that George had, he knew that Lennie would never go off, and he wouldn't allow him to do that either; there was a responsibility. George could've said anything back to Lennie telling him how he couldn't live without him, but he chose to comfort Lennie in his time of despair. George understood that Lennie was to much trouble to handle and that it would've been better  to just finish his life and not allow him to suffer all the pain he would've suffered staying alive. Though Lennie had to be taken away, George and Lennie would always be together in spirit and in heart.  


The Dream

Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

What topic or theme that we have touched on during this unit has "hit home" with you the most?  Which theme or topic has a personal connection for you?  Which did you find most captivating or interesting to discuss and investigate during this unit?  Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world.

        While reading the book "Of Mice and Men," many themes were discussed in our daily language arts classes. The book was filled with many life lessons that give us an advantage to follow.  One of the themes that stuck out at me, while reading, was Friendship. This topic can bring a lot to memories and touch someones life. Friends are needed in life or we, as humans, could go crazy... Literally! Friends provide the support that our parents or any other person could provide to us. In the book Lennie and George had a very special friendship, they weren't family but they stuck together like brothers, whether it was for good or bad. Yes, George made a promise to Lennie's Aunt, that he would take care of her nephew, but that grew a beautiful friendship. They both depended on each other like we depend on nature and nature depends on us. George couldn't possibly get the jobs that he does if it weren't for Lennie and his giant figure. And Lennie couldn't possibly live without George's accompany. This theme caught my attention more than the others because, it showed that life cannot go on without the support of friends, they make up a big part of our lives. This theme effects me the most because I have experienced a time without friends, and a time where I was alone, and I learned that there was nothing like friends. At the end of the story, George shows that he had to make a tough decision, but it ended up being for the best of Lennie, he couldn't possibly live any longer without struggle and pain. George stayed faithful to Lennie until the end of his life, he told all the stories that Lennie wanted him to and he stuck up for him in every bad situation. Though George took advantage of Lennie, and Lennie disobeyed George they stuck together and they knew their limits, they knew that they were the closest thing to family and that nothing should ever separate their being together.  

>>>>>>Friendship Poem<<<<<<<

Chapter 6 Notes

Reflect;
     The part I notice in this chapter was the fact that the author decided to end the story somewhat similar to the beginning of the story. The story begins with Lennie and George by the bush, and they are both talking about the day they would be able to live on their own farm and not have to worry about debts and belonging to anyone. "Lennie said, Tell how its gonna be George" (105). The whole book begins with the fact that Lennie wanted to be told about their dreams in the future. I believe this was a great way to end the book, and I dont think anyone should change a thing. It gave more meaning and more feeling to that moment, it made me, as a reader, realize that Lennie wasn't going to make it in the world with the condition he was living in. Lennie's fate was to die, though it was going to be tradgic, it was going to change George's life forever maybe in good ways and maybe in bad ones.

Prediction;
       After reading this last chapter, and reading the details on how George killed Lennie, I believe that George is going to have a harder life without his old partner. For years, Lennie and George have been together, through bad and good, they were like brothers, nothing could seperate them. But now that George killed Lennie, I think that George is going to have a really hard time getting back on his feet, and to forget about his partner. I believe his life is going to be filled with guilt. In the beginning of the book it explains that George had promised Aunt Clara to take care of her nephew, and now he is going to have to live with the fact that instead of protecting him he had broken the promise and killed him. Though George may struggle badly, I know he would be okay with his actions because he did them for good.

Questions:
       Now that Lennie has unfortunatley died, I wonder what is going to happen back at the ranch. So many things have changed since that one afternoon. Do you think that George will get punished for Lennie's wrong doing? Do you think that George will move ranches and actually get the little house with old Candy? All these questions pop to my head when i think about George's future. Do you think that George will become someone higher in the job now that he's got Lennie out of the way?

Chapter 5 Notes

Summarize:
     In chapter 5, a lot of things occured. The chapter starts with the setting where Lennie is cautiously sitting in the barn, upset because he had killed his new pup. Then it comes to a point where Curley's wife enters the same room as Lennie. With the understanding that George didn't want Lennie to talk or get close to her, Lennie kindly warns her that George doesn't want him doing anything with her. But with the ignorance that Curley's wife has, she doesnt pay attention to the fact that Lennie is not mentally stable, and that he is dangerous. Later on in the conversation, Lennie and Curley's wife start getting closer to eachother, and they start talking about soft things. When Curley's wife gets to a really comfortable stage around Lennie, she invites him to stroke her hair, to show how soft it was. When Lennie strokes it, it's as if he went into sudden shock and he strokes her harder and harder until he unfortunatley kills her by snapping her neck. When all the men of the farm find out they set out a hunt to kill Lennie, which is of course led by curley, but Lennie remembered to what George had said and he set out for the bush.


Reflect:
       What impacted me the most in this chapter was the fact that Lennie was so concience about Georges rules, and how he understood that if George found out he would probably let hell on him. "Oh! Please don't do that. George'll be mad," (91). Even though Lennie might not be so concience about what he is supposed to do, adn what he is expected to do, he clearly understands George and how to respect his wishes. Lennie had great fear of what George might do to him, if he found out what he had done. But he was mostly scared that George wouldn't let him tend to the rabbits in his new barn, that they were gonna own in the future.


Question:
       Through reading this chapter I only had one thing in my head, and that was "Why would George ever leave Lennie alone, knowing he was dangerous?" I honestly believe that some of the bad occurences that happened in this chapter were caused because George had left Lennie; with the faith that Lennie wouldn't do anything wrong. In the story it specifically explains that George knew that Lennie was'nt to be trusted. I don't understand that fact that George would loose sight of his own "family" knowing the condition he's in, and just leave him there on his own with this old man. I believe that George should've had more caution with Lennie knowing that he was not to be left alone.

A Portrait of Racism

Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s.  Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter.  Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s.  What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter?

    In chapter 4 racism is shown clearly with the characters that are in the book. One way racism could be shown in this chapter was when Lennie showed up in Crooks room, and he realized that Crooks had his own room, and that he had many things in it as well. "You got no right to come in my room" (68). Because Crooks is the only colored man in the job, he has his own room separated from the other workers. From the text above, Lennie shows up in Crook's room and Crooks doesn't understand why he would want to come in; knowing that they are not allowed to interact. Crooks has his own room and he doesn't work with any one else. He doesn't have the same rights as all the other white workers. Lennie obviously, doesn't know the racism concept because he doesn't see any wrong in going to visit a colored man. Also, racism is shown through the language that is used toward the different colored workers that are in the farm. "Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny" (81). Here in the quote above it shows how white people take advantage of colored people and how they are treated. The other white men in the farm are not spoken to in that matter. It is very easy for the higher class to look at colored people so low. Curley's wife here threatens Crooks to not open his mouth because he is so low in the ranks, she  could get him tossed out so easily, which makes Crooks realize how little power he has over his self.
      As a result in reading this chapter, readers could see that racism was very common in the old times. In the 1930's colored people didn't really have the privilage of being with other people and working together, they had to work separate, and they were lucky if they got to work with another colored person together. In the chapter, we had realized that Crooks, a colored black man, had stayed on his own, in his own room, and no one to share a conversation with. There wasn't really segregation, but at that point in time Blacks and Whites were still separated, and the colored were treated unfairly. Coming into the 1930's I believe that racism calmed down a little bit. I believe that it has fairly improved from the other times where blacks were really hurt and damaged. Life still was very unfair and poor for the colored but they have come a long way, and we know that one day everyone would have the same exact rights to desire "The American Dream."

Racial Segragation and The Great Depression









 

Chapter 4 Blog Notes

Reflect:
        The thing that impacted me the most in this chapter was the defense Lennie had on his "american dream." Lennie's american dream is to live in a house with George and have all kinds of different animals, and especially rabbits. When Crooks begins to tell Lennie that he has no chance in getting that dream to come true, Lennie begins to get angry and fustrated with him and begins to defend the dream. With all the doubt that was in the atmosphere at that time, Lennie conforts himself with the fact that George will come through with the promise, adn that it will come true no matter what happened. I belice because the author decided to put this part in the book, it really shows the innocence in Lennie and how he would not be able to live with doubt. I think it shows alot about the character that Lennie has and the effects that the disability is bringing to his life as an individual.

Predictions:
      In the story so far I believe everything is going well for Lennie and George. They met good friends who will help them and they have a place to stay, eat, and accomodate themselves. There is this one part that I believe makes a difference in the book, and that is the part in the book where Curley's wife always ends up where Lennie is. Ever since Lennie and George showed up to the barn the other workers warned them not to get involved with her. Though a warning was told, it hasnt stopped Lennie from thinking she is pretty, and she brings his attention to herself. Lennie doesn't know any better so if George were to leave Lennie unattended, and Curley's wife showed up, Lennie would be in a lot of trouble. With the incident that occured in their old job, it wouldn't be a good thing to leave Lennie alone. But i believe that something will happen where Lennie is going to end up alone with Curley's wife and something will happen, something that will change the fate of their lives forever.

Question:
        I wonder if Curley's wife has the fault of flirting with other men while she is married to Curley. Today we spoke in class about the "american dream" and i realized that maybe Curley's wife doesn't have the fault to be called a tramp. Does Curley's wife feel like she is to be forced to stay in the marriage with Curley. In the 1930's women didnt really have any rights for anything, some of them were even forced to marry men that they didnt want to marry, just for the land and the wealth. I see Curley's wife as a woman who desires to be free and date whoever she wants while having land and a good life. I dont really see her as someone who is bad, a character who is at fault. I mean it was pretty hard to find a job and to have a wealthy life as a single woman, so I can sort of put myself on her side. I understand her conditions and I appreciate her as a woman because she is a strong woman, some one who knows what she's doing. But does Curley ever have doubts of her as his wife? Doesn't he have a mind to see past her play?