Xiang 411 by Liang Xiang https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a Let's pool our knowledge about the 4 main themes in this novella en-us 2020-09-24 16:12:23 UTC 2025-10-24 16:21:33 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Bigthunderstorm.png Racism, sexism, ageism xiangliang2_1 https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a/wish/776471555 Of Mice and Men deals with many of America’s age-old, hot-button issues, including sexism, racism, ageism, and discrimination against those with disabilities. Most importantly, this prejudice isn’t ever explicitly noted or fought against – those who are discriminated against accept the prejudice against them as a way of life. 
 
Prejudice is a fact of life on the ranch because it was a fact of life everywhere in America at
that time.
 
Crooks said darkly, "Guys don’t come into a colored man’s room very much." (p. 76 in pdf)

Curley's wife is discriminated and isolated because she is a woman. Her name also isn't mentioned in the story. She is also like an item to Curley now that she is his wife. These are all examples of sexism.

Candy is old and disabled and feels useless on the ranch, and is scared of being kicked out. The only reason he hasn't been kicked out yet is because the boss is paying him back for the accident that disabled him.
]]> 2020-09-24 16:12:23 UTC https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a/wish/776471555 The American Dream: a reality or an illusion? xiangliang2_1 https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a/wish/776471561 Of Mice and Men captures the feel of rural America during the Depression. Different outlooks are presented: 
--the never-will-be starlet trying to make it to Hollywood, 
--the isolated black man born and raised in California, 
--a ranch full of men that like to go to whorehouses, play pool, and drink away their earnings
 --men that are constantly bouncing from job to job just shy of making ends meet. 

The America of Of Mice and Men is populated with dreamers who are constantly struggling to achieve their dreams.
 
This novella argues that there is no single America. Rather, there are many different groups
(women, blacks, farm workers, farm owners), each with their own unique struggle.
 
Quote:
GEORGE complained, "…If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground."
(p. 40 in pdf)

Curly's wife says she wanted to become an actress, but unfortunately she didn't make it. She ended up marrying Curley, and confessed to Candy, Crooks and Lennie that she is unhappily married, now that she is like an item ever since she married Curley. But she had no other choice.

Since Crooks is black, he is very lonely and is always isolated. He is not allowed to visit white people's houses. He is discriminated against just like Curly's wife, but this time it's just because of his skin color. If he wasn't he could have a way better life.
]]> 2020-09-24 16:12:23 UTC https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a/wish/776471561 Which to choose? Friendship or Isolation... xiangliang2_1 https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a/wish/776471571 In this novella, George and Lennie represent THE ideal male friendship.  They don’t talk about how they feel about each other or why they should stay loyal – they just stand by each other, and that’s that. 

In contrast, everyone else is isolated from one another.  Everyone seems to get along quite well together by talking about how isolated they are, even though the men on the ranch are constantly together and chatting.

Although they are always together, George and Lennie are isolated from the rest of the world. Friendship is a negative relationship in the novella; every time any character gets close to any other, something goes wrong. 
 
Friendship:

LENNIE exclaimed, "But I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans
with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it." (p.13 in pdf)

Isolation:

LENNIE whined, "If you don’ want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time." (p. 14 in pdf)

Friendship:


]]> 2020-09-24 16:12:23 UTC https://padlet.com/xiangliang2_1/ui2poxjupwa3k88a/wish/776471571