Home › GCSE/IGCSE Notes › English Literature › Of Mice and Men Context/Theme: Elderly in 1930s America
Topics covered on this page
The Elderly in 1930s America + Links to Of Mice and Men
The Elderly in 1930s America:
The Depression hit the elderly particularly hard. Those who were retired or close to retirement watched a lifetime of savings disappear, and they weren't well enough to work or couldn't find the jobs that would allow them to rebuild their lost investments. That made many of the elderly completely dependent on their families, but hard times for younger family members often meant little or nothing was left to provide for their parents.
Link to Of Mice and Men's Theme of The Elderly in 1930's America
In Of Mice and Men, Candy is only paid $250 by the boss, or five months' wages, for the loss of his hand while working on the ranch. Candy is aware that he very soon he will be fired from work due to his hand. In this context, Candy is trying to convince George to allow him to go with him to the dream ranch because, not only does Candy have the $350 to put the down payment on the farm, but he's willing to work there since no one is going to help him, and (in all likelihood) he's going to get fired soon. The treatment of the elderly can also be compared to the context of Racism in 1930's America.
"You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wish somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs."
Link to Of Mice and Men's Theme of The Elderly in 1930's America
In Of Mice and Men, Candy is only paid $250 by the boss, or five months' wages, for the loss of his hand while working on the ranch. Candy is aware that he very soon he will be fired from work due to his hand. In this context, Candy is trying to convince George to allow him to go with him to the dream ranch because, not only does Candy have the $350 to put the down payment on the farm, but he's willing to work there since no one is going to help him, and (in all likelihood) he's going to get fired soon. The treatment of the elderly can also be compared to the context of Racism in 1930's America.
"You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wish somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs."
Mental Disabilities in 1930s America
'Unproductive' people (including the elderly) and people with mental disabilities were treated very unsympathetically by the majority of society. Abnormal behaviour and low levels of economic productivity was regarded as a burden to society. Also read the similar Disabilities in 1930s America.
People were usually placed by, or removed from, their families (usually in infancy) and housed in large professional institutions, many of which were self-sufficient through the labour of the residents. Heavy tranquillisation and assembly line methods of support were the norm. Services were provided based on the relative ease to the provider, not based on the needs of the individual.
Link to Of Mice and Men's theme of Mental Disabilities in 1930's America
Lennie's situation is different to most people during the 1930s because he wasn't placed in a mental illness institution and has someone who cares for him, both which were rare at the time. Some would some that Lennie was lucky to have George to look after him. George supports Lennie's ability to work and doesn't let the fact that Lennie has a mental disability to stop Lennie from getting a job. This can be seen in Of Mice and Men through the fact that George doesn't let the boss hear Lennie before he sees Lennie working, attempting to hide Lennie's disability to prevent the boss from discriminating against Lennie.
People were usually placed by, or removed from, their families (usually in infancy) and housed in large professional institutions, many of which were self-sufficient through the labour of the residents. Heavy tranquillisation and assembly line methods of support were the norm. Services were provided based on the relative ease to the provider, not based on the needs of the individual.
Link to Of Mice and Men's theme of Mental Disabilities in 1930's America
Lennie's situation is different to most people during the 1930s because he wasn't placed in a mental illness institution and has someone who cares for him, both which were rare at the time. Some would some that Lennie was lucky to have George to look after him. George supports Lennie's ability to work and doesn't let the fact that Lennie has a mental disability to stop Lennie from getting a job. This can be seen in Of Mice and Men through the fact that George doesn't let the boss hear Lennie before he sees Lennie working, attempting to hide Lennie's disability to prevent the boss from discriminating against Lennie.