Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Understand His Strength Express His Ideas - 1,684 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

The Great Depression was a difficult time for all Americans. The economy was terrible, no one was making any money, and people were forced to live on the streets or work for food. That is exactly what George Milton and Lennie Small did in Of Mice and Men. Set in the 1930 's during the Depression, Of Mice and Men deals with many moral issues such as retardation, euthanasia, and friendship. With such characters as Curley, Slim, and Crooks, this book was thoroughly enjoyable and realistic in every sense. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck illustrates the possibilities that life has and its effects on Lennie, Crooks and George.

It shows a view of two outsiders struggling to understand their own unique places in the world. Steinbeck suggests humans have the natural potential to seek happiness although the potential can be fatal or harmful. Although Lennie does not have the potential to be smart, Lennie has the potential to be a hard worker; however, Lennie's strength did not work with him and the result was fatal. Lennie is an extremely large man who had the strength of a bull. With the use of his strength, he was a great worker but did not understand how strong he was. George explains Lennie's strength by "that big b d can put up more grain alone than most pairs can, " (p. 34) Through his size and his enormous amount of strength, Lennie could out work the other men of the ranch by himself.

By using Lennie's strength he became a great worker who knew nothing more than to work. Lennie uses his abilities to work hard, but does not understand how strong he is. Without George, Lennie does not understand what to do. Lennie, who gets frightened and uses his strength to hold on to objects, is just like a child.

He will do whatever George tells him to: "Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's hand" (p. 63). George slapped Lennie in the face repeatedly and still Lennie held on. Through Lennie's actions we can see that Lennie is very similar to a child. Lennie's first instinct when he is frightened is to hold on. Just as a little kid holds on to its mum or dad when they become frightened, Lennie holds on to objects. Because of Lennie's inability to understand his strength, he becomes frightened and tries to silence Curley's wife, and, as a result, she ends up being killed: "She took Lennie's hand and put it on her head...

And then she cried angrily... Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on... He shook her and her body flopped like a fish... And then she was still" (p. 91). Lennie did not understand his strength and became frightened, and again, just like just like a little child, he held on. But he ended up breaking Curley's wife neck.

As a result of his actions Lennie, ended up dead. Lennie had an extremely great ability to use his strength and become a great worker. However, his difficulty to understand his strength lead to his death. Unlike Lennie, Crook's potential is his knowledge, and Crooks has the ability to use his knowledge to try to escape the problems he has on the ranch; however, Crooks falls back into a 1930 's attitude and chooses to neglect his knowledge. Crooks also uses his knowledge to express his ideas and feelings to Lennie. "Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody to be near him.

A guy goes nuts if ain't got nobody" (p. 72). Crooks is proving that he is a very knowledgeable man. When around others he may choose to use his knowledge to express his ideas and become a stronger influence. Crooks uses his wisdom to express his ideas and feelings and leave a very strong impact. Crooks has the likelihood to use his knowledge, but how he uses his wisdom will determine his fate. '"I said s'pose George don't come back no more. S'pose he took a powder and just ain't coming back.

What " ll you do then?' 'He won't do it' Lennie cried. 'He " ll come back tonight (p. 71). Crooks is using his knowledge as a power trip on Lennie who does not understand what Crooks is saying. Crooks is doing this because he has never had a chance to use his knowledge in such way before, but is really abusing it. Crooks chooses to use his knowledge around Lennie. But when a higher authority is around Crooks chooses to ignore it for his own safety. '"Listen n r', Curley's wife said, you know what I can do to you if you open your trap?' Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. 'Yes ma " am', and his voice was toneless" (p. 80).

When a higher authority is present, Crooks chooses to ignore his knowledge because he is scared to speak out for fear of losing his job. Despite Crook's knowledge, he chooses to ignore it around higher authority, thus ending up in a 1930 's attitude with his knowledge going to waste. Unlike Lennie or Crooks, George has the potential to be his own boss. If George does not work hard enough his potential to be his own boss will be lost and his dream will be crushed. George has always wanted to be his own boss.

When he sees that the potential is there, George tries to act on it. George says: '"We'd just go there, we wouldn't ask nobody if we could" (p. 14). George would love to be his own boss and do his own thing, mainly because George would not have to take orders from any one. To accomplish being his own boss, George tries to save his money so that he can buy the ranch: "If me an' Lennie work one month an' don't spen' nothing, well have a hundred bucks" (p. 46). To fulfil his potential to be his own boss, George says he will save his money and not spend any.

If George can accomplish this he will be his own boss. When Lennie breaks Curley's wife's neck, George realizes that the potential to be his own boss is lost. Candy says: " 'You an' me can get that little place, can't we George?' Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew" (p. 95).

Now that Lennie has broken Curley's wife's neck, George realizes that his possibility of being his own boss is gone. Without Lennie, George feels there is no hope. As a result, the potential to be his own boss is lost. George has a great potential to be his own boss, but with the death of Lennie, George loses hope. George has chosen his fate to be a worker and not to be his own boss. Of Mice and Men started out slowly, and I considered putting it away.

To me, a story about a big guy who plays with mice is not my idea of a great book. But I was wrong. I loved this book because it's about some average guys who live an average life. They didn't strike it rich, they weren't famous, they had no talent... they were just two friends, relying on each other. These two men with dreams of someday living on their own plot and living off the land truly had the right idea.

One aspect of this book that I love was the dialogue. I enjoyed the vivid language and the accuracy of the conversations. I laughed just about every time I would think about hearing one of them say "the fatta the lan'." Reading this book with all of the interesting language attributes really helps make a lasting impression. I think everyone should read this book because in some way everyone can relate to it. Most of us can relate to one of these two men. By the end of the book the reader is wondering, "am I the big dope, or the small sly guy? . " I encourage others to read it and find out who they are.

Winner of the 1962 Nobel prize for literature, the American author John Steinbeck is best remembered for his novel 'The Grapes of Wrath'. Steinbeck's story of a family of farm workers migrating from Oklahoma to California describes the hopelessness of the Great Depression era. John Ernst Steinbeck was born on Feb. 27, 1902, in Salinas, Calif. He took classes at Stanford University for several years but left without a degree.

He worked as a laborer to support himself while he wrote. Steinbeck's first novel was published in 1929, but it was not until the publication of 'Tortilla Flat' in 1935 that he attained critical and popular acclaim. In 1943 Steinbeck traveled to North Africa and Italy as a war correspondent. Steinbeck died in New York City on Dec. 20, 1968. Throughout the novel, readers can get an insight into what it is like to live those character's lives.

The novel follows and represents the lives of Lennie, Crooks and George and what they go through to survive. John Steinbeck portrayed these characters very well within following their dreams in life. The conclusion of the book takes the reader back to the beginning, and I think that all books should. Although Steinbeck is not trying to say that you can never trust the people that you call your friends, he is saying to be careful of those who call you a friend but only think of themselves while saying it. Even after spending the majority of his life calling Lennie a friend, George still betrayed him for the chance to become who he wanted to be. The anomalistic nature of people tends to come out when they have the chance to seize what they believe is rightfully ours.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book as well as exploring more than just the text, but going further into the novel and writing a paper. Sorry! No Bibliography!


Free research essays on topics related to: understand his strength, mice and men, understand how strong, express his ideas, lennie crooks

Research essay sample on Understand His Strength Express His Ideas

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com