The Marxist Concept of Alienation and Exploitation in "Of Mice and Men"

Abstract

This essay analyzes John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" from a Marxist perspective. It focuses on how the author succeeds in bringing out the alienated in capitalism from two different levels. The first level demonstrates Steinbeck's ability to successfully dramatize the condition of the alienated and exploited working class with the use of specific aesthetic elements. The second level reveals that by accurately and realistically portraying the characters and those they represent, Steinbeck achieves in bringing out the marginalized in society. These two levels together demonstrate the reason why "Of Mice and Men" is a timeless story, universally appreciated.