OMAM cruelty / unkindness / suffering

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

• a manner deeply rooted in human interaction on the ranch.
• Steinbeck’s point seems to be that the harshness of life often leads individuals to act in ways that harm others
• Cruelty becomes a means of survival or self-protection
• exposes the darker aspects of human nature in an unforgiving world.

Question 2

topic sentence 1

Answer 2

Steinbeck presents Curley’s wife’s cruelty towards Crooks and Lennie as a way for her to assert control in a world where she herself is powerless, revealing how marginalised characters often direct their frustration towards those even more vulnerable.

Question 3

topic sentence 1 quotes

Answer 3

‘an’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs’ - here there is only the most marginalised and pushed to the fringes characters, St does this to explore how these weaker characters would react without a voice of reason

‘I could get u strung up on a tree so easy’ - vivid imagery of lynching

‘a n—- an’ a dum dum’ - irony as physically Curley’s wife is the weakest character there yet she has such control over them, she is referring to the men together through uniting them in their status as outsiders

Question 4

topic sentence 1 context

Answer 4

ynchings were a horrific act of violence against African Americans during the Jim Crow Era; Curley’s wife’s treatment of Crooks reflects the racism of the period and the system of oppression and abuse faced by African Americans under Jim Crow Laws. CWs threat symbolises the wielded, unchecked authority white individuals held over black individuals

St highlights this incredibly discriminatory, abusive language to show the danger and hurt it causes throughout society.St wished to combat this - in his Nobel prize speech where he said ‘courage, compassion and love’

Question 5

topic sentence 2

Answer 5

Through Curley’s violent assault on Lennie, Steinbeck reveals the destructive nature of unchecked aggression, exposing how cruelty is used to assert dominance rather than achieve justice.

Question 6

topic sentence 2 quotes

Answer 6

‘hands closed into fists’ ‘into a slight crouch’ - posture indicates he is always ready for a fight, but his combative stance is extremely defensive so may suggest he is insecure

‘slashed’ ‘smashed’ ‘swinging’ - his assault on Lennie is incredibly aggressive, we feel pity for Lennie and hatred for Curley - a man in a privileged position exploiting the weak

Question 7

topic sentence 2 context

Answer 7

lawlessness of America in a ‘dog eat dog’ depressions - the very image of what a man should be was strong and a provider, violence was viewed as a very masculine trait furthermore him not having the body type of a typical man places Curley in a position to feel he needs to prove his masculinity at every instance

his cruelty to weaker members of the ranch yet again draws parallels with the exploitative nature of rich landownershis violence symbolizes the brutal world created by capitalism as it was highly competitive so created a need for power and to maintain power = a oppression of the weaker members of society

Question 8

topic sentence 3

Answer 8

Steinbeck uses the euthanasia of Candy’s dog to illustrate the brutal reality of a world where mercy and compassion are often overshadowed by the harsh realities of survival, exposing the dehumanising effects of a society that values utility over empathy.

Question 9

topic sentence 3 quotes

Answer 9

‘Why’n’t you shoot him Candy?’ - now the dog no longer serves a purpose the only rational decision is to get rid of it -> are essentially also talking about Candy who has no role like his dog

‘Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none’ - this seals the sheepdogs fate, suggests he supports the idea of euthanasia which links to his later support of George after killing Lennie

Question 10

topic sentence 3 context

Answer 10

Ranch is a place of ruthless, emotionless decision making with no empathy. Lots of men felt disenfranchised due to all the economic turmoil as it took away their masculinity because it made them unable to provide for their family. Therefore, some men resorted to cruelty and overly aggressive emotions to reclaim their masculinity

In 1930s there was a lack of welfare state, so the government provided no help to people unable to work -> Candy’s an example of the marginalised workers who received no support