Of MIce and Men Naturalism

John Steinbeck 's novel Of Mice and Men is a famous Naturalist work in American literature. Various elements of Naturalism is exhibited in this novel through its character types and story plot. Charles Darwin, an English Naturalist proposed a theory called natural selection, meaning that nature selects the best adapted varieties to survive and reproduce. Darwin also identified this theory as survival of the fittest. Steinbeck incorporated this belief of natural selection in many instances throughout Of Mice and Men using characters and their circumstances. One character named Candy has an injury and is old in age. They were leading factors in his fear of being unemployed. His dog’s old age and uselessness also resulted in its death. Another character named Lennie has a mental illness that caused troubles for George and himself which ultimately led to his death. Darwin 's theory survival of the fittest is one of the significant elements of Naturalism that is demonstrated continuously throughout Of Mice and Men.
An example of Naturalism in Of Mice and Men is when Candy asks to be a part of George and Lennie’s dream of getting a ranch. He overhears George and Lennie talking about what their future will be like on a farm and he offers his share to purchase the farm with them. "‘They 'll can me purty soon. Jus ' as soon as I can 't swamp out no bunkhouses they 'll put me on the county...I won 't have no place to go, an ' I can 't get no more jobs’" (Steinbeck 60). Candy will eventually be unemployed because he will no longer be needed. He will be out of a job and have nowhere to go afterwards. Candy’s situation demonstrates the Naturalist element of survival of the fittest. Candy is trying to survive after he is let go from the ranch by making plans with George and Lennie. He is not as useful on the ranch as he used to be. He will have no place to return back to and he will be left alone, with no job. During the Great Depression, living was harsh and surviving was