The ranch is a microcosm (miniature world) in which each character represents an archetype (a type) person. Which character has interested you the most? Why? What type/archetype does he/she represent? What do you think Steinbeck is saying about this type of person? (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight Wednesday, March 30, 2011).
Monday, March 28, 2011
"Guys like us.."
The ranch is a microcosm (miniature world) in which each character represents an archetype (a type) person. Which character has interested you the most? Why? What type/archetype does he/she represent? What do you think Steinbeck is saying about this type of person? (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight Wednesday, March 30, 2011).
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So far, I'm honestly most interested with Crooks. He seems to be a distant individual, and he is a large contrast to most of the characters. He seems to be the secretly knowledgeable character. Steinbeck is saying that these types of people are often found where we least expect them to be.
The character that has interested me the most is Slim. He is kind of like "God" around the ranch, and the men respect him a great deal. He stands out from the rest of the characters. Slim seems to be the very respected character whom everyone likes and listens to. He seems to have some kind of unspoken "power" around the ranch. Steinbeck is saying that this type of person is one of a kind, and one is lucky to run into someone like Slim.
I am very interested in George's character. George seems to be very caring, considering he takes care of Lennie. George is the caring character who is very helpful. Steinbeck is saying that these people are very rare. There are few of these people, especially during the time of the Great Depression.
I am very interested in Lennie. Although he is mentally disabled, he can do whatever he sets his mind to. He never means any harm and is very skilled in bucking barley. Steinbeck is showing that people can not always be judged by their cover. By just talking to Lennie, no one would hire him because he is not bright at all. However, Lennie is the best worker anyone could have. People like Lennie are commonly underestimated and taken advantage of and, therefore, do not get to show their full potential.
I am mostly interested in Candy. He is old and a rather interesting character. His age is now limiting him to the physical work that he can do. Even though he is a tough man who has worked many days before, he also has a soft side to his character. He cares for his dog, who became his best friend, and he worries about being laid off since he is getting too old to work. Steinbeck is showing that during the Great Depression people hid their feelings to help them keep their jobs.
I am interested in Slim's character. He is very unique because of his perfect personality. Slim is also the type of person that is a natural born leader and at the same time he is respectful. He tries to listen to what others like George say to him and he does not judge them. Anything Slim says, the other workers listen to him and no one would dare question his authority. Steinbeck is saying that someone can still have authority and show kindness.
I am interested in Carlson. He is interesting because he is not a big character, but important to a major event in the novel. He seems to be an arrogant guy with a lack of emotions. He understands that Candy loves his dog, but he doesn't seem to be sympathetic towards Candy. I believe Carlson is the type of person who works hard but lacks a sense of feeling. During the depression, people like Carlson were common. Steinbeck uses a character like Carlson to show the type of person who thinks he/she is the best at stuff, but lacks feeling.
Which character has interested you the most? Why? What type/archetype does he/she represent? What do you think Steinbeck is saying about this type of person?
In the book, Crooks intrests me the most because he may have a hard exterior, but inside he actually is very lonely. Crooks representss an alienaited person. He is the outcast of the ranch and dislikes being left out. Steinbeck included Crooks in Of Mice an Men to show how Black people were treated during this tme period. Also, Steinbeck was trying to show that Black people are actually equal to white people, although he was not treated equally.
The character that has striked my interest the most is Slim. He is the godlike figure of the ranch and understands anything someone will tell them. His character always does what is right for each situation. He is the hero of the ranch and everyone's instant friend because he is one person that everyone can trust. I believe Steinbeck is trying to illustrate the type of person people strive to be and few ever achieve. I say that few ever achieve it because his presence is seen as godly for he listens to others with more than just his ear. He takes what one says and anaylzes it and understands exactly what they mean. For example, when George told Slim what happened in Weed Slim was very understanding and listened without judgement.
The character who interests me most is George. He is very much like a dog owner towards Lennie (Lennie being the dog). It is interesting because although he may act this way at times he is also very caring towards Lennie, always looking out for him. He represents the caring people in the world; they are rare to come by.
I am really interested in Candy. Being a cripple in this time period, when there were no handicapped rights, makes him a worker of far less value than the others, though this is not his fault. This, along with the death of his prized dog, makes him an individual of incredible suffering. Yet, he is still kind and helpful to others, though this may be to ensure that he does not have to worry about them abusing him. I think that Steinbeck makes him the type of the handicapped do-gooder. I think he was trying to express how common people like this were, that there was one on every ranch, and how one accident could practically ruin a person's working prospects.
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