Abstract

John Steinbeck is one of the greatest writers in the twentieth-century American literature. His work Of Mice and Men is a profound and serious novella which tells the story of migrant workers like George and Lennie who chase their land dream but end in disillusionment. This thesis probes into the anxiety of the main characters and illustrates three types of anxiety—material, spiritual and moral anxiety, respectively from the perspectives of land complex, identity and multiple personality. A further analysis finds out the roots of the anxiety lie in the economic turmoil, material deprivation.

Key words: John Steinbeck; Of Mice and Men; material anxiety; spiritual anxiety; moral anxiety

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 The definition of anxiety-2

1.2 Anxiety types-2

2. Literature Review-3

3. Existential Anxiety Types in Of Mice and Men-3

3.1 George’s material anxiety about land complex-3

3.2 George’s and Lennie’s and Crooks’ spiritual anxiety about their identity-4

3.3 George’s and Lennie’s and Candy’s moral anxiety-5

4. Causes For Existential Anxiety in Of Mice and Men-7

4.1 Economic Causes-7

4.2 Material Deprivation-9

5. Conclusion-11

Works Cited-14