Literature Essay Outline: Human Fragility (student work)

Introduction

·        The theme of human fragility is significant in this novel as all of the characters are fragile in different ways. As all the characters are living in the great depression times were hard for all of the migrant workers and people on the ranch, however they all have their own specialised weakness.  

 LENNIE: 

·        Lennie lacks intelligence and is dependent on George, this means he is vulnerable to people, such as Curley, taking advantage of his total dependence on George.

·        Doesn’t understand how strong he is- fragile as it means that he is unreliable and viewed as unsafe by the end of the novel “they’ll lock him up? He’s nuts, Slim”

 

CURLEY’S WIFE:

·        Curley’s wife is fragile as she is a woman and the only woman on the ranch and so is viewed as a sexual object by the men on the ranch. She has no name- described as Curley’s wife- Curley’s property

·        Attention seeking ------ goes to Lennie for attention – neck broken—weak spine

CROOKS:

·        Skin colour seen as below everyone else on the ranch- defined by his colour “ the negro stable buck”

·        Most marginalised on ranch- separate room- Curley’s wife “ I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint’ even funny”

 

CANDY:

·        Only friend in the world is a dog- shot

·        One hand

·        Old and weak – swamper--- worst job on ranch

·        People view him as old so they don’t think he is very useful “ the old man”

·        Other people can bully him into things – dog being shot

 CARLSON:

·        Arguably he is not weak or fragile because he is not swayed by emotions and has no emotional attachments to anyone so in the end he comes out on top “ what the hell ya suppose is  eatin’ them two guys”

·        However he is a stereotypical migrant farmer so he is lonely and friendless

“Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world”

SLIM:

·        Slim is a character with few weakness as he is respected by all and although he is not in a position of authority he is respected for is skills and seems to have more power than Curley

·        However  Curley’s wife likes Slim so Curley doesn’t like slim

 GEORGE

·        George’s weakness is his unrealised dependence on Lennie, and his use of Lennie a reason to why his life is a failure.”I could get along so easy and nice if I didn’t have you on my tail”

·        Also George does not seem able to accept his situation as a migrant worker – he is always talking about what his life will be like or what it would be like without Lennie.

 CONCLUSION

·        Human fragility is a main theme in this novella as each of the characters weaknesses have a major part to play. They shape the characters and thus shape the story as each of the characters weakness are the main source of their problems, for example

·        Lennie’s not being able to recognise his own strength lead to the death of Curley’s wife and ultimately his own death.