OMAM Themes

1. The pain of isolation and loneliness:

• Crooks - race, crooked back, can't work in the fields with the other's

• Curley's Wife - young girl on a farm with men, her marriage

• Candy - hand missing, misses his dog

• TS: Often, uncontrollable factors such as age, disability, gender, and obligation can lead to isolation and loneliness.

The inability to escape imprisonment or being “trapped”:

• Lennie - imprisoned in his mental struggles

• Curley's Wife - imprisoned on the farm, feels trapped in her marriage, her mother trapped her when she wanted to be an actress

• Migrant workers - trapped in a cycle of poverty

• TS:  Sometimes, people become trapped a prison of social construct due to mental or physical differences that force them into certain roles.

1. The objectification of women:

• Curley's wives hair is always described as sausages making her sound like a piece of meat to the men

• Lennie saw the women in Weed as a soft thing to pet

• Crooks thought George would blow all the money on women as objects

• TS: Women are sometimes trapped through male objectification, rendering them powerless in male-dominated environments.

1. The power of friendship:

• George and Lennie - They lean on each other, travel together, provide for each other

• Candy and his dog - comfort each other, do what is best for each other, provide companionship

• George and Slim - appreciate each other, equal intellectually, relate to each other, support and stand up for each other's actions

• TS: The power of friendship often provides comfort, support, hope and appreciation, enabling survival in a time of darkness or loneliness

1. The hope of the American Dream (or shattering of it):

• Lennie and George plans for their farm gives them hope

• Curley's Wife wanting to be an acter in Hollywood

• Curley should be living the American dream as the bosses son but he is too busy trying to manipulate others

• TS: Often dreams are crushed in oppressive or limiting environments by others searching for similar opportunities.

1. The plight of the powerless:

• Curley's wife is the only young women on the farm and not taken seriously by the men, trapped in a loveless marriage

• Crooks by his race and disability makes him limited in what he can do

• Although Lennie is physically powerful his disability makes him lack control over his physical strength rendering him powerless

• TS: Often, people are rendered powerless due to unique aspects or traits that alienate them from others.

1. Humans as predators who prey on the weak:

• Curley's wife threatens to have Crooks killed

• George taunted Lennie until he almost drowned

• The girl in Weed lied to threaten Lennie's life

• TS: People in superior social positions often prey upon those who are less powerful to regain their threatened status.