Justice

Question 1

-Judicial system on ranch:

Answer 1

• constituted by privileged members (Curley , Boss, Slim)
  -leaves oppressed minorities largely unprotected + no ability to justify actions
• microcosm for wider 1930s society, laws enforced were oppressive + inequal and were established by most privileged (rich, white men)
• ‘I guess we gotta get im ‘ , ‘copy of California civil code 1905’ , ‘none of them cares how I gotta live’

Question 2

Danger of society

Answer 2

-George + Lennie fleeing from mob in Weed: trial by others’ opinions
- example of rough justice, taken into hands of the people, no chance for Lennie’s defence
- ‘they run us outta Weed’ , ‘out to lynch Lennie’
- 1930s – lynchings common during mob attacks due to social + economic instability + anger towards minorities (outlet/scapegoats for problems within society)
- Steinbeck shows immediacy with which things can escalate and how dangerous it was to live in this society

Question 3

Merciful justice achieved through Lennie’s death

Answer 3

• merciful justice displayed when Georges shoots Lennie, as he spares him of a brutal mob attack.
• he shoots him, so justice is obtained but out of mercy not malice as George does what is best for him
• ‘I just done it’ – not proud of it but knows its for best
• also demonstrated when Curley is humiliated after attacking Lennie, as he deserves the spectacle, ‘Curley was flopping like a fish on a line’
• Steinbeck demonstrates to reader how some justice is necessary and sometimes is beneficent for the greater good of society
• In society there was large in justice and when white supremacies lynched black people, there was almost never any Justice. Steinbeck shows that Justice is essential and society needs to change