How does Steinbeck portray human suffering within this social and historical context?

1. Who in this novella is suffering?

1.1. George, Crooks, Lennie, Candy, and Curley's wife are all suffering.

2. How do the characters cope with their suffering?

2.1. The characters cope with their suffering by dreaming of better futures. Lennie, George, and Candy dream of their house together, while Curley’s wife dreams of her lost opportunity to be “in pictures.”

3. What makes these characters suffer?

3.1. Dust Bowl, and the characters’ dreams of a better life

4. Where do the characters suffer or show signs of suffering?

4.1. The characters suffer and show signs of suffering in the ranch microcosm, and in the hideaway by the Salinas river.

5. Who in this novella causes suffering?

5.1. Many characters in this novella cause suffering, including but not limited to, Curley, Carlson, Lennie, and Curley’s wife.

6. When do the characters suffer/show signs of suffering?

6.1. The characters suffer and show signs of this suffering throughout the novella. Crooks shows suffering when he speaks to Lennie and Candy inside his room. Candy shows suffering when his dog dies, and when he realizes the group’s dream of getting their “little slice of heaven” has been taken away from them. George shows suffering when he decides to kill Lennie. Lennie shows suffering when he hallucinates just before his death.

7. Why are the characters suffering?

7.1. because of other characters actions