The problems faced by dependent people - Research Paper Example

?The problems faced by dependent people with issues and their caretakers/companions Nowadays, dependent people and their caretakers/companions face anumber of problems because empathy is rare in the modern world. But the fact that some are ready to take care of dependent people is important because the same proves the readiness to help others. Still the dependent people are forced to face alienation in the society. But a mental disorder does not prove that a person is worthless because that person is not responsible for his/her illness. Within this scenario, the questions raised by John Steinbeck in the work Of Mice and Men are relevant because people need to change their attitude towards dependent individuals. Thesis statement: The discussion based on the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck proves that both the dependent people with issues and their caretakers/companions are forced to face serious problems like rejection, isolation, unexpected troubles, emotional trauma, and unfulfilled dreams. One can see that rejection is one among the problems faced by dependent people/caretakers in the mainstream society. To be specific, the main characters in the novel face rejection because they were migrant laborers. Besides, Lennie Small, one of the main characters faced rejection in the society because he was not a normal individual. He used to depend upon others to lead normal life in the society. On the other hand, his friend and protector, named George Milton, faced the problem of rejection because he used to support Lennie. So, both the characters face the same problem of rejection. Michael J. Meyer states that, “But there is another dimension alongside in Of Mice and Men that implies a moral universe in which the strong are not to be praised for their oppression of the weak (as in the case of Lennie and Candy) or different (as in the case of Crooks)” (283). One can see that rejection based on one’s abnormal behavior or supporting the same cannot be justified because an abnormal individual is not responsible for his/her deeds. Instead, his/her abnormal behavior is related to the improper functioning of human brain. In the novel, George is aware of the fact that the society treats Lennie as an outcast because he is an abnormal individual. So, George decides to be the caretaker of Lennie. But this did not change the cruel behavior of the people towards Lennie. One can see that Lennie was so innocent that he did not provide any importance to the rejection faced by him in the society. Instead, he considered George a father figure and depended upon him. On the other side, rejection deeply influenced Georges mind because he was aware of the after-effect of rejection. Catherine Reef states that, “George now understands that being responsible for Lennie means protecting other people from his bearish strength” (66). But he did not decide to abandon Lennie because he was aware of the fact that Lennie cannot lead a peaceful/normal life without a supporter. So, one can see that rejection in the society forced the main characters to think about future and fight against the odd happenings in their lives. Besides, the novel exposes the far-reaching effect of rejection because both the main characters are portrayed as victims of the same. Within the context of the problems faced by the dependent people and their caretakers, rejection leads to isolation in the society. One can see that some of the dependent people are aware of their mental defects. So, they decide to keep away themselves from other individuals. They gradually reject the society and lead lonely lives. On the other side, some other dependent people are not aware of the fact that the society provides less importance to the problems faced by them. They never realize that they need support to lead peaceful lives. Within the context of the novel, Lennie is not aware of the fact that the society considers him as an abnormal individual. Instead, he tries to deal with others in an innocent way. But this innocence added with abnormality results in a number of problems. Lennie considers that other people are innocent like him. But he is not aware of the fact that his ability to do work is exploited by the society. To be specific, the society needs Lennie as a migrant laborer, who is ready to do work. Shmoop opines that, “Although they are together, George and Lennie are always isolated from the rest of the world” (14). At the same time, the society ignores the emotional problems faced by Lennie. But George is aware of the emotional problems faced by Lennie. Cynthia Burkhead states that, “Lennie would starve or find more trouble without George’s protection” (56). One can see that Lennie’s needs are limited to his private domain and he is not aware of the isolation faced by him. In other words, Lennie’s limited mental ability forces him to consider the world as a safe place. But his status as a migrant laborer in the society is symbolic of isolation. George tries his level best to save Lennie from isolation, but for vain. So, the identities of the main characters as migrant workers and dependent individual or supporter, led them to be the victims of isolation. In the novel, isolation in the society leads the main characters towards unexpected troubles in their lives. Susan Van Kirk makes clear that, “Finally, Steinbeck fills their journey with obstacles, among them lack of family, cruelty and intimidation, jealousy, fear, loneliness, and self doubt” (n. pag.). One can see that these unexpected troubles hinder the main characters from gaining importance in the society and reduce the scope of success in their lives. The first trouble faced by George and Lennie was that there existed fewer job opportunities for them in California. To be specific, both the characters were forced to face the after-effects of Great Depression, i.e. lack of employment opportunities. Another trouble was that both the characters were forced to flee from Weed because Lennie was under the suspicion of an attempted rape. To be specific, Lennie’s interest in soft things forced both the characters to flee from their workplace. Later, they happen to reach another ranch, where an individual named Curley poses threat to Lennie. Eventually, Lennie breaks Curley’s fist. So, both of the characters became entrapped in unexpected troubles. This incident infuriated hatred in Curley’s mind towards Lennie. But Lennie was not aware of the seriousness of the trouble. One can see that Curley’s wife’s sexual attraction towards Lennie was another trouble because it ended up in Curley’s wife’s unexpected death. One can see that Lennie’s innocence was the grass root level reason behind all these unexpected troubles. But Lennie was able to create cordial relationship with other suppressed worker in their workplaces. One can see that unexpected troubles limit Lennie’s scope as a laborer. But he was not aware of the fact that his innocence limits his development in the society. Herbert N Foerstel opines that, “The simple desire of Lennie and George to have a small place of their own is doomed by their own limitations and the tragic chain of circumstance and coincidence that destroys them” (199). Lennie cannot be blamed for the unexpected troubles because he is not aware of the pitfalls in the mainstream society. One can see that Lennie’s child like behavior is not suitable to survive in a society struck by economic problems. So, both the main characters in the novel were forced to undergo unexpected troubles because Lennie’s childish behavior added with innocence disqualifies them. In the novel, unexpected troubles force the main characters to face emotional trauma. To be specific, dependant people are forced to face emotional trauma because they never realize the fact that the society is ignorant about the emotional problems faced by them. On the other side, supporters of dependent people are helpless because others blame them and they cannot solve the problems created by the dependent people. Within the context of the novel, Lennie is not fully dependent upon his companion. One can see that Lennie is ready to do work but not ready to act as an adult. At the same time, Lennie is not ready to get separated from George. This leads George to face uncomfortable situations in his life because he cannot desert Lennie. One can see that the emotional trauma faced by Lennie and George is interconnected with the isolation faced by them in the mainstream society. June Edwards states that, “Steinbeck’s stories are filled, not with perfect people, but with those who are dispossessed, who live at the edge of society, yet who survive and cling to life, no matter how painful the present or dismal the future” (84). George is aware of the fact that Lennie cannot survive in a society where laborers are treated cruelly. So, one can see that George is forced to face emotional trauma due to Lennie’s misbehavior. On the other side, cruel treatment from Curley ignites hatred in Lennie’s mind towards others. But Lennie tries to overcome his emotional trauma by touching soft things. So, one can see that the novelist portrays the main characters as victims of emotional trauma originating from mental illness and related marginalization. Both the characters depend upon each other and this helps them to overcome the emotional trauma faced by them. To be specific, Lennie is happy with George he likes George’s company. On the other side, George faces more problems because he is responsible for Lennie’s deeds. So, the novel unveils the reason behind the emotional trauma faced by the main characters. But both the characters make use of different methods to overcome the problem of emotional trauma. In the novel, emotional trauma never allows the main characters to fulfill their dreams. One can see that human life is filled with dreams and the same help them to imagine or expect a bright future. Some people connect their dreams with creativity and move forward to fulfill their dreams. But some other people face a number of obstacles in their lives and their dreams become unfulfilled forever. In the novel, the main characters share the same dream of owning land. In John Steinbeck’s work, the introductory note states that “As fully articulated only at the beginning and the end, their dream is the terse play within the play, with George the polished actor reciting his lines and Lennie the entranced audience” (n. pag.). One can see that this dream helps George and Lennie to provide importance to their lives. They were ready to work hard to fulfill their dream. When Lennie gets upset, George used to boost his confidence by pointing out the scope of a bright future. To be specific, the habit of dreaming helps both the characters to forget hardships in their lives. In the novel, George is portrayed as an individual who likes to be independent. This positive attitude towards life helps him to expect a bright future. On the other side, Lennie considers that George can fulfill his dream. But in the end, George came to realize the fact that they cannot fulfill their dream because Lennie’s criminal act (Curley’s wife’s unexpected murder) was so serious. So, George decides to abandon his dream by killing his own friend. This twist in the story proves that a rigid society cannot solve the serious problems faced by dependent people and their supporters. Summing up, John Steinbeck makes the main characters deal with the problems faced by dependent people and their caretakers. One can see that rejection in the society forces Lennie and George to face isolation/alienation in the society. On the other side, unexpected troubles forced them to face emotional trauma and related issues. In the end, their dream became unfulfilled and proved that dependent people are not expected to be within the mainstream society. So, the novel proves that dependency cannot solve serious problems in human life. Nowadays, empathy is rare among human beings and the novel can be considered as a dedication to dependent people and their caretakers. In short, the society must try to realize the importance of caretakers because their dedication and empathy helps the dependent people with issues to lead normal lives. So, one can see that the novel helps the readers to brood over the scope of selfless service in human life. Works Cited Burkhead, Cynthia. Student Companion to John Steinbeck. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Print. Edwards, June. Opposing Censorship in Public Schools: Religion, Morality, and Literature. New Jersey: Taylor & Francis US, 1997. Print. Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Print. Kirk, Susan Van. CliffsNotes on Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print. Meyer, Michael J. The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck's of Mice and Men. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2009. Print. Reef, Catherine. John Steinbeck. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1996. Print. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. N.p.: Penguin UK, 2000. Print. Shmoop. Of Mice and Men: Shmoop Literature Guide. N.p.: Shmoop University Inc, 2010. Print. Read More