Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930s

   

   

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 Literature is often a reflection of the time period in which it was written or, in the case of historical fiction, of the time period it is focused on.  Authors will often find sneaky little ways to demonstrate the dominant characteristics of the time period by blending in details, that, at a closer glance, reveal these hidden themes.

     In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s.  John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men.  In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.

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     Let's see if you can make the connection!  Think about some of  the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1).  What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text?  What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history? 

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    To start, the example of Lennie going straight for the lake for a drink when they camp out would suggest that he was very thirsty, also meaning they didn't have much water or supplies. This would, by itself, represent how hard the time period was for people in the same realm of work as George and Lennie. They couldn't afford good water and their dinner that night was a can of baked beans. How many people today can you think of that rely on a local lake for water? And only have one can of beans for dinner, or possibly no dinner at all?

    Another example of naturalism is displayed when Lennie shows his affection for mice.  Not only is this showing extreme love for another species, but also possibly showing that Lennie has nothing else to treasure or love. They are both travelers, and it doesn't seem that they have many possessions to care for or look after, so Lennie focuses his love on the mice. I believe that both of these examples of naturalism clearly display signs of the times.