First of all, some aspects of john Steinbeck’s life are of interest. On thing of importance is that he was born in Salas, CA in 1902. Another important connection between the author’s life and the novel is: that he lived through the time period. He was alive and old enough to know what was going on during the great depression. He probably included this because he wanted other people to know what the event actually felt like. Steinbeck wrote books of places where he grew up. Also in 1929 the stock market crashed. Soon after that in the 1930s farm men earned $2.50 to $3 a day. Another fact about the time was that under the new deal alliances set up to provide more and new jobs for unemployed farmers in CA.
Next, conditions for people with intellectual disabilities during the 1930s were very poor. For example, there were serious limitations in functioning and their IQs were under 50. At the same time there were many levels of severity. There were 87% of the mentally disable populations affected mildly. And the rest 13% were as described as above. Steinbeck revels some of these poor conditions through the character of Lennie. For example, he uses Lennie do all of the not so smart things like holding the woman’s dress too long and also breaking Curley’s wives’ neck by holding her hair and covering her mouth. Also during the time people that were mentally retarded were screened on 3 criteria. One, IQ is below 70. Next, significant limitations exist in 2 or more adaptive skill areas. Last, conditions are present from childhood (18 years or younger). In the 1990 Census, there was an estimated 6.2 to 7.5 million people affected by this. How retardation is diagnosed is by one or more intelligence tests; to describe the person’s strengths; last to interdisciplinary team to see needed supports of the four dimensions. Lastly, the cause of this is impairments in the brain’s development. Also there are genetic conditions, problems during pregnancy, problems before and after birth, and or poverty/cultural deprivation
Migrant workers also had it very hard during the 1930s. Some of the challenges they faced were going to war or being faced to or in the shipyard or even the defense plants. There was also a 30% unemployment rate was a result at the time, and the Great Depression was happening. The Great Depression was a recession led a drop in market price; farm crops causing farmers to increase land amounts for their farming. During the Great Depression there was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was a drought and lead to other people moving out of the southern states to go find work in California. The people usually came from Okolona, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. These people that moved tended to be farmers that lost their “lushes” land that turned to dust. At the same time the United States geared up for WWII and economy improved very slightly. Steinbeck included this in the novel because he wanted to show that it was also hard for others not just George and Lennie.
In conclusion the novel tied well into the book. Steinbeck was very clear that he wanted to incorporate the worldly things into his novel. Things like things having to do with his life. Also other details like the conditions that people with intellectual disabilities faced. Last but certainty not least, the migrant workers of the time and how hard it was to find a job to keep steadily.
Next, conditions for people with intellectual disabilities during the 1930s were very poor. For example, there were serious limitations in functioning and their IQs were under 50. At the same time there were many levels of severity. There were 87% of the mentally disable populations affected mildly. And the rest 13% were as described as above. Steinbeck revels some of these poor conditions through the character of Lennie. For example, he uses Lennie do all of the not so smart things like holding the woman’s dress too long and also breaking Curley’s wives’ neck by holding her hair and covering her mouth. Also during the time people that were mentally retarded were screened on 3 criteria. One, IQ is below 70. Next, significant limitations exist in 2 or more adaptive skill areas. Last, conditions are present from childhood (18 years or younger). In the 1990 Census, there was an estimated 6.2 to 7.5 million people affected by this. How retardation is diagnosed is by one or more intelligence tests; to describe the person’s strengths; last to interdisciplinary team to see needed supports of the four dimensions. Lastly, the cause of this is impairments in the brain’s development. Also there are genetic conditions, problems during pregnancy, problems before and after birth, and or poverty/cultural deprivation
Migrant workers also had it very hard during the 1930s. Some of the challenges they faced were going to war or being faced to or in the shipyard or even the defense plants. There was also a 30% unemployment rate was a result at the time, and the Great Depression was happening. The Great Depression was a recession led a drop in market price; farm crops causing farmers to increase land amounts for their farming. During the Great Depression there was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was a drought and lead to other people moving out of the southern states to go find work in California. The people usually came from Okolona, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. These people that moved tended to be farmers that lost their “lushes” land that turned to dust. At the same time the United States geared up for WWII and economy improved very slightly. Steinbeck included this in the novel because he wanted to show that it was also hard for others not just George and Lennie.
In conclusion the novel tied well into the book. Steinbeck was very clear that he wanted to incorporate the worldly things into his novel. Things like things having to do with his life. Also other details like the conditions that people with intellectual disabilities faced. Last but certainty not least, the migrant workers of the time and how hard it was to find a job to keep steadily.
