George

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

• George is used by Steinbeck to illuminated difficulties faced by itinerant worker
  • During the GD
  • decieved by AD
• How caring for Lennie heightens his challenges due to lack of support
• Friendship helps them overcome stuggles

Question 2

Steinbeck uses Georges relationship with Lennie to show the importance of friendship in a depression era society plagued by a loneliness epidemic. (sub points)

Answer 2

• Mutual Benefit
• Near Success of American Dream
• Exemplar

Question 3

Mutual Benefit

Answer 3

Lennie needs guidance

• “Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.”
  • George Chapter 1

George gains purpose through Lennie

• without him he is willing to throw away their money and succumb to migrant life
• Doesn’t believe that their money is worth anything
• ‘Come on George me and you will go in and have a drink’
  • Slim Chapter 6

Question 4

Near success of the American Dream

Answer 4

By working together, Lennie, George and Candy’s money would be enough to achieve the American Dream

• “Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her.” His eyes were full of wonder.’
  • George Chapter 3

Steinbeck message:

• AD will never be achieved due to
• individualistic society created by capitalism
• Anti capitalist

Question 5

Exemplar

Answer 5

When they arrive on the ranch the Boss doesn’t understand their relationship

• Lack of companionship between itinerant workers
• “I said what stake you got in this guy? You takin’ his pay away from him?”
  • Boss Chapter 2

Their relationship begins to influence other people on the ranch

George + Slim

• “You wouldn’ tell? . . . . No, ‘course you wouldn’.”
  • George Chapter 3
• Without G+L friendship G wouldn’t have been able to accept Slims friendship
• Would have had no body after Lennies death

Crooks + Lennie

• ‘Lennie smiled helplessly in an attempt to make friends.’
  • Chapter 4
• ‘”you might as well set down.” His tone was a little more friendly. ‘
• Crooks Chapter 4
• Crooks can momentarily escape his involuntary solitude

Steinbeck

• frienship is more power than we know

Question 6

Steinbeck places George as a career for a mentally disabled individual in a society with Social Darwinistic attitudes to reveal how 1930 America was unprepared to handle mental disabilities.
(sub points)

Answer 6

• Lack of Understanding
• Loneliness
• Result

Question 7

Lack of understanding

Answer 7

• 1930 alienation of mentally disabled individuals was promoted
• seen as less, accredited to widespread belief of Social Darwinism
• Many were hidden away as people didn’t care to understand them
• “I said what stake you got in this guy? You takin’ his pay away from him?”
  • Boss chapter 2

Question 8

Loneliness

Answer 8

• Lennies reduced mental capacity and their transient life style as iternant workers –> George is lonely
• ‘Lay out his solitaire hand’.
  • Chapter 3
• metaphor for loneliness as cards are meant to be a communal game
  • forced to play alone

= loneliness isn’t just about being physically alone

Question 9

Result of social Darwinism

Answer 9

Steinbeck characterises George as capricious to show the result of taking care of Lennie and the isolation that comes with it

• “Well, we ain’t got any,” George exploded’
  • Chapter 1
• Eruption of ‘id’
  • impulsive, irrational and dispropotionate responce to ketchup
• suggests anger stems not from situation but accumulated pressure
• regression into ‘id’ is only brief
  • Steinbeck exposes how the psycological strain has a controlling nature

Question 10

George is constructed by Steinbeck as deceptively smart, to critique the effects of the Great Depression and American Dream on workers. (sub points)

Answer 10

• Weed
• CW
• Killing Lennie

Question 11

Weed

Answer 11

• Lennie accused of rape
• “We run. They was lookin’ for us, but they didn’t catch us.”
  • George Chapter 1
• ‘So we sit in a irrigation ditch under water all the rest of that day’
  • George Chapter 3

Question 12

Curleys Wife

Answer 12

• “Don’t you even take a look at that bitch.”
  • Chapter 2
• Identifies that Curleys Wife is dangerous to Lennie

Question 13

Killing Lennie

Answer 13

• “I know,” said George, “I know.”
• Chapter 5
• admitting to he understands what will happen if Lennie is caught

Question 14

Georges self belief

Answer 14

• “If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart.”
  • George Chapter 3
• GD distored self worth
• To George intelligence = financial success
• As he hasn’t escaped poverty or achieved AD he believes he lacks inetlligence

Steinbeck

• AD = false promise which damages self-perception