Character Analysis

  In the book, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, this story takes place during the time of the Great Depression.  "No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want."  Stated in this quote shows this story took place during the great depression, because workers only got paid $50 per month.  When George said that, he made like fifty dollars was a fortune.   During our background research, we also researced mental retardation.  "George wunt run away and leave me. I know George wun't do that."  This relates to the book, because Lennies character is mentally retarded.  He doesn't know how strong he is, cannot remember anything, and can kill animals on "accident".  He always has to depend on George to do everything for him, from thinking to holding onto things.
   Curleys wife, as said in the book is desribed as a pretty girl, who's got the guy for a lot of people on the ranch.  "Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain't the place for a girl, especially like her." (Page 51)  In this quote, it shows what people think of her and how she is known for flirting with guys even when shes married.  She constantly goes around meeting the new guys and trying to flirt with them.  " I don't like Curley, he ain't a nice fella."  When Curleys wife says that, it explains why she acts the way she does.  She is not happy with her life and especially not happy with her husband.  The reason why she talks or flirts to a lot of guys is because she is lonely and unhappy with Curley.

The Great Depression

  The Great Depression was America's biggest economy downfall  ever.   "In 1929, one of Americas biggest stock market crashed causing the biggest economic struggle in the entire world."  America struggled in finances from 1929-1939.  This was the "longest lasting downturn in the industrialized world."  Due to the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs and became unemployed.  As the economic struggle deepened, America became not only in financial trouble, but political as well. Many hard-working individuals struggled with poverty.
   During this period, comparnies struggled in making money, and many people didn't have jobs. "About 12 - 15 million Americans were left unemployed". Since men were expected to provide for their family, they felt humiliated and disappointed that they could not get a job. Females and children sometimes had to take on new responsibilities, just so that their family could survive. "By 1933, 11,000 of the nations 25,000 banks had disappeared." Nearly half of America's banks had failed, due to the large amounts of people that needed to withdraw cash. These people needed to take back their money, so they could feed their families. The Great Depression was a time of hardships and setbacks for the people and their families.



Bibliography:
http://www.shmoop.com/great-depression/summary.html
http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression

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Vocabulary Assignment

"She paused and her face lost its sullenness and grew interested"
Word: sullenness
Definition: showing irritation or illhumor by gloomy silence
Sentence: The little boy was known for his sullenness, for he rarely spoke to anyone, and responded with one word answers when he did.

"He felt morosely silent." Page 23
Word: Morosely
Definition: Gloomy
Sentence: The girls morose personality made it unpleasent for the people around her.

vocab unit 4 & 5