Loneliness in Of Mice and Men

Loneliness in Of Mice and Men Loneliness is an inevitable part of life, which many individuals struggle with. It is an emotional response to a lack of companionship and communication with others, which has a huge impact in ones overall behavior. Some impacted individuals may try to end their loneliness; others become hopeless and bitter. The theme of loneliness is presented in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men. The novel Of Mice and Men portrays loneliness as a complex emotion that often drives individuals to behavioral extremes. Steinbeck uses characters, some of the most important ones including Curleys wife, Candy and Crooks, to reflect on the discriminative time period that ultimately lead to the characters loneliness and particular behaviors. Curleys wife is a major female character in Of Mice and Men and is married to Curley, a very aggressive ranch worker that proves his masculinity by fighting other workers and marrying a physically attractive woman; moreover, he was the boss son. Curley had a huge control over his wife which was very common during the Great Depression, and the other workers. He had forbidden all of the workers from talking to his wife. Desperate for friends, attention and respect, Curleys wife uses her beauty and status with Curley to her advantage. In chapter 4, she intimidated the workers in Crooks room as of means for getting attention and threatened Crooks when he told her to leave his room, saying that he could get sprung up on a tree so easy, it aint even funny (Steinbeck 81). Her new behavior resulted in further discrimination and harassment. She was labelled as a tramp (Steinbeck 32), and other derogatory names. She felt powerless and lonely. The only person that Curleys wife could talk to was Lennie, because he was not conscious of her current situation. In her last moments with Lennie in the barn scene, she finally felt like she was being acknowledged and listened to. For the first time, she confessed that I don like Curley. He aint a nice fella (Steinbeck 89). She became vulnerable to her humanity and this ironically lead to her death. Curleys wife is a brilliant example of the oppression against women in the 1930s, sexism, and some of the behavioral changes that came along with being stripped of ones identity in society. There are other reasons why people were discriminated and isolated, some of which includes ageism and ableism. Candy was the oldest ranch worker in the book, that lost his right arm in an accident. He was discriminated because of his age and disability, and was an outcast. He had no family, except for the dog he raised. His dog used to be of great usefulness, but as the dog became older, he became less useful and helpless. This resulted in him being shot by Carlson which intensified Candys loneliness. Candys dog is a prime example of the social issue of ageism and ableism in society at that time. Workers were expected to be productive on the ranch, and if one no longer met that demand, due to age or ability to perform certain tasks, they would be dismissed and left to suffer (Steinbeck 1937).ÂÂ   Candy recognizes that the same thing will happen to him, and he tells George that Jus as soon as I cant swamp out no bunkhouses theyll put me on the county (Steinbeck 60). To escape his loneliness and eventual fate of getting kicked, Candy becames quickly invested in George and Lennies dream, offering a total of $350 towards the dream farm. Spose I went in with you guys. Thas three hundred an fifty bucks Id put in. I aint much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. Howd that be? (Steinbeck 59). He was very attached and hooked onto the dream of the farm, and persisted to have the farm in spite of what happened with Lennie later in the novel. The farm would have eliminated his fear of being alone, and develop another relationship worth cherishing. His current position in society forced him to develop a specific mindset to escape his destination. One of the biggest issues that was prevalent in the Great Depression was racism, which Crooks was a victim of. He was physically separated from the other men, and had limited contact with others. As a replacement for friendship, he kept himself occupied with books. Still, he admitted that Books aint no good, and that A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts when if he aint got nobody (Steinbeck 72). In the Great Depression, black people faced racial discrimination and segregation from the dominant, white culture (Pinckney, 2002). However, this was greatly exaggerated in the story as Crooks was the only black man on the ranch. Unlike Curleys wife and Candy, Crooks accepted his role in society because he knew that he was powerless against the oppressive forces of racism. He was aware that he was treated as if he was less important than the other men and did not have a voice in society. This is just a nigger talkin, an a busted-back nigger. So it dont mean nothing, see? (St einbeck 71). The sad reality of the Great Depression deprived Crooks from his right to be treated like an equal human being with self-worth and connection with others. His acceptance of the situation became the strongest antidote to his experience; however, it intensified his loneliness. The Great Depression was a time of prejudice present in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men. Curleys Wife, Candy, and Crooks were some of the characters who represented the loneliness and isolation brought on by their time period. These characters faced social issues like racism, sexism, and ageism, resembling the oppression of minority groups by the discriminatory nature of their society. Each character recognized their loneliness, and depending on what their current situation and role in society was, they took specific actions to fight against, or cope with it. Steinbeck has made it clear that the loneliness brought on by discrimination does significantly impact ones behavior, actions and mindsets. Todays generation better understands the societal implications of loneliness and discrimination. It should be societys goal to diminish all forms of discrimination and be supportive of what others go through in their lifetimes in order to lead a better, healthier, and more connected life for all. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York, Penguin, 1993. Pinckney, Shelley. Chapter 6: Race and Civil Rights: The 30s and 40s. Communism in Washington State, depts.washington.edu/labhist/cpproject/pinckney.shtml.

Elie Wiesel: A Survivor of the Holocaust Essay -- Germany German Histo

Elie Wiesel: A Survivor of the Holocaust Elie Wiesel wrote in a mystical and existentialistic manner to depict his life as a victim of the holocaust in his many novels. Such selections as ‘Night’ and ‘The Trial of God’ reveal the horrors of the concentration camps and Wiesel's true thoughts of the years of hell that he encountered. This hell that Wiesel wrote about was released later in his life due to his shock, sadness, and disbelief. Elie Wiesel spoke in third person when writing his stories. Unlike other Holocaust stories, Wiesel gave not only the facts but also the horrific and realistic feelings of a victim in the camps. All of Elie Wiesel’s novels were based on his life. At the age of 15, Eliezer Wiesel and his family were placed into concentration camps in Auschwitz. Wiesel accompanied his family for most of the time in the camps. He parted from his mother and sister Tzipora early in life and lived with his father during the years of the Holocaust. During his time in the concentration camps, Wiesel endured tons of pain. When he first reached the concentration camp Eliezer Wiesel witnessed the most disturbing thing. Tons of babies were being thrown into the air and shot to death. â€Å"As they marched closer and closer to the ditch, Eliezer decided that rather then let himself be thrown into the fire, he would try to break away and throw himself against the electrified fence that surrounded the camp.† (Pariser 23) It was at that point that Elie and his father knew that they were going to experience the worst years of their life. On April 11, 1945, the two were free from the concentration camp. He was silent for many years and chose not to spea k of his suffering. Eventually he spoke and made a pact that he would never be silent again. Eliezer Wiesel stated, "And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.† (Pariser 40) And Mr. Wiesel wasn’t. Among those novels that Wiesel wrote, the one that captured the most attention was Night. Night was one of Eliezer Wiesel’s greatest novels. Night is the true story of his experiences in the concentration camps. Some of the main characters in Night were real people in Wiesel’s life. Wiesel is called by his first name Elie in this story. In the beginning of the story, Elie speaks of his Jewish mysticism teacher Moshe the Beadle who is a poor Jew i... ...that some credit Night as the book that altered the attitudes of people in America about the Holocaust. Work Cited Page Lang, Anson. â€Å"A Conversation With Elie Wiesel.† Bold Type 2 Jan. 1999. 17 Mar. 2002 Marowski, Daniel G. â€Å"Elie(zer) Wiesel.† Contemporary Literary Criticism. Volume 37. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1986. Pages 449, 450. Mass, Wendy. Readings On Night. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000. Pages 13-24. Pariser, Michael. Elie Wiesel. Brookfield: The Millbook Press, 1994. Riemer, Jack. â€Å"Miracle of Friendship and Hope.† Commonweal. May 25, 1979: Page 316-318; excerpted and reprinted in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Volume 37. Daniel Marowski. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1986. Pages 451, 452. Schuman, Michael A. Elie Wiesel: Voice From the Holocaust. Hillside: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1994. Pages 23-25. Stern, Ellen Norman. Elie Wiesel: A Voice for Humanity. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1996. Wiesel, Elie. And the Sea is Never Full. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. Page 12. Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York: Bantam Books, 1960. Wiesel, Elie. The Night Trilogy. New York: The Noonday Press, 1985.

Review of Blue Lagoon Essay

The Blue Lagoon Explores the Garden of Eden The Blue Lagoon is often ridculed as a fluff piece of adolescent nudity. However I believe The Blue Lagoon raises interesting questions about human sexuality. How did we discover sex, and what about our sexuality is innate? The movie presents the case of an innocent boy and girl from the Victorian Age, shipwrecked on a beautiful tropical island. They are soon without any adult guidance whatsover. As children, the two are inseparable, but the movie presents a plausible change in their relationship as they start to go through the changes of puberty. They don’t understand the physical changes that are happening to their bodies. And they start to become distant and secretive and angry with each other and they don’t quite understand why. What they don’t realize is that these changes are part of the process of moving apart and developing a separate sexual indentity from each other. Only after we see the steps of this transformation to sexual maturity completed do we see they are ready to discover human’s oldest instinct in each other, which comes naturally to them in time. They then go on to discover the mysteries of parenthood and the psychological changes that come with that. Other themes such as religion and law are explored as well. What keeps this movie watchable is the beauty of the actors and the beauty of the island. The scenes on the lush tropical island and the bright blue ocean are beautifully shot and dreamlike. The natural beauty evokes a Garden of Eden. And this movie seems to try and explore the relationship that might have existed between Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, learning about love, sex, and children all on their own. And I think the movie gives it a pretty good shot. The Blue Lagoon is much deeper than people give it credit for.

Bowling Green State University Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

Bowling Green State University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 72%. Located about half an hour south of Toledo, Ohio, BGSU has strengths in many academic areas including business, biology, English, and fine arts. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Bowling Green State University was awarded a chapter of the prestigious  Phi Beta Kappa  Honor Society. In athletics, most teams of the BGSU Falcons compete in the NCAA Division I  Mid-American Conference  (MAC). Popular sports include football, basketball, soccer, and track and field. Considering applying to Bowling Green State University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students. Acceptance Rate During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Bowling Green State University had an acceptance rate of 72%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 72 students were admitted, making Bowling Green States admissions process somewhat competitive. Admissions Statistics (2017-18) Number of Applicants 17,034 Percent Admitted 72% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 27% SAT Scores and Requirements Bowling Green State University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 21% of admitted students submitted SAT scores. SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 500 610 Math 500 590 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing This admissions data tells us that most of Bowling Green States admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to BGSU scored between 500 and 610, while 25% scored below 500 and 25% scored above 610. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 500 and 590, while 25% scored below 500 and 25% scored above 590. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1200 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Bowling Green State University. Requirements Bowling Green State recommends, but does not require, the SAT writing section. Note that Bowling Green State does not superscore SAT results; your highest composite SAT score will be considered. ACT Scores and Requirements BGSU requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 90% of admitted students submitted ACT scores. ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile English 19 25 Math 18 25 Composite 20 25 This admissions data tells us that most of Bowling Green States admitted students fall within the top 49% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to BGSU received a composite ACT score between 20 and 25, while 25% scored above 25 and 25% scored below 20. Requirements Note that Bowling Green State does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. BGSU recommends, but does not require, the ACT writing section. GPA In 2018, the average high school GPA of Bowling Green State Universitys incoming freshmen class was 3.42. This data suggests that most successful applicants to BGSU have primarily B grades. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph Bowling Green State University Applicants Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex. The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Bowling Green State University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account. Admissions Chances Bowling Green State University, which accepts fewer than three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the schools average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. While Bowling Green State does not have a  holistic admissions  process, the admissions committee will consider more than grades and test scores in reviewing applications. The admissions officers will want to see that you have taken  rigorous college preparatory courses  and that your grades are trending upward. Note that some majors at BGSU have special requirements and higher admissions standards. BGSU will also take into consideration factors such as campus diversity and special talents. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside Bowling Green States average range. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. Successful applicants typically have high school averages of B- or higher, combined SAT scores of 900 or higher (ERWM), and ACT composite scores of 17 or better. If You Like BGSU, You May Also Like These Schools   Kent State University  Miami UniversityOhio State UniversityCase Western UniversityOberlin CollegeDenison University All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Bowling Green State University Undergraduate Admissions Office.