Theme
Our View of Ourselves and the World
Of Mice and Men: Life damages man's spirit but never fully breaks it.
Flowers of Algernon: Sometimes you must learn to appreciate the view from where you are.
Analysis: Charlie's disability hinders him from being able to comprehend things that are going on around him. (His friends use him)
Analysis: Lennie being child-like interferes with his daily life. He has a hard time being able to comprehend what's going on around him making life extremely difficult. (especially during this time period)
Characterization
Research
Flowers of Algernon vs Of Mice and Men
Life with Mental Disabilities
Why did the authors create these characters?
- Both illustrated how mental disabilities affect people's lives
- Wanted the world to become more aware
- show life as is
- To offer a new perspective
Flowers of Algernon
Charlie Gordon Vs Lennie
Mental Disabilities
and how they are dealt with
During Mid-1900s
- Used surgeries to get rid of depressing thoughts
- Disabilities were segregated to protect the "normal people"
- used different things to stop the "idiot" children to stop from spreading their DNA
VS
Now Days
- people are encouraged to find help and receive treatment
- Isolation is becoming less common
- Research is being done to help those that are mentally challenged
- Many support groups
"We had a lot of fun at the factory today. Joe Carp said hey look where Charlie had his operation. What did they do Charlie put some brains in."
"Then Frank Riely said what did you do Charlie forget your key and open the door the hard way. That made me laugh. Their really my friends and they like me."
"I think I went out to buy a newspaper for Joe and Frank and when I came back no one was there."
- They both have a hard time making personal decisions (OMAM pg. 65/FFA pg.516)
- The routine is repetitive and simple (OMAM pg.7/FFA pg.520)
- Have difficulty coping with stress(OMAM pg.65/FFA pg.538)
Of Mice and Men
"Why ain't you wanted?"Lennie asked.
"Why do you got to go get killed? You ain't so little as mice. I didn't bounce you hard."
"Tend rabbits" it said scornfully. "you crazy bastard. You ain't fit to lick the boots of no rabbit. You'd forget 'em and let 'em go hungry. That's what you'd do."
http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental_health_disorders/overview_of_mental_health_care/mental_illness_in_society.html
http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/encyclopedia/en/article/143/
Charlie Gordon vs Lennie
- Lennie has George to help make decisions vs Charlie who is all on his own (OMAM pg.3/FFA pg.536)
- No one was there to help Lennie with his mental disability vs Charlie who had multiple people trying to help him (OMAM pg.106/FFA pg. 516)
- Time period and how it affects each of them (OMAM pg.7/FFA pg.522-523)
How it impacts them...
- Lennie died
- Lennie can't speak for himself very often
- Charlie loses his intelligence causes frustration
- Charlie is probably going to die
- Both feel a sense of isolation and separation
- Both have difficulty interacting with other people normally