The hardships and adversity that people face in society is explored through the narrative Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and the song Family Portrait Pink. Both texts demonstrate the tough times individuals endure in society because of their struggle to unfulfilled dreams and the tough relationships you can have with people. Both authors in a variety of ways including characters and themes have represented the area of study ‘tough times’.
Through Steinbeck’s choice of characters he has portrayed ‘tough times’. He uses characters with distinct personalities that have been forced to go through tough times in the society they live in. Curley’s Wife is a character that went through a tough time in Of Mice and Men. She is lonely, isolated and obsessed by her unfilled dreams of becoming an actress. Her unfulfilled dreams is emphasised through the novel where she admits to Lennie, “I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda’ made somethin’ of myself” which shows the audience that she regrets her choices of marring Curley because he was the result of her life being the way it is. It is through Steinbeck’s characterisation of Curley’s wife that ‘tough times’ is represented.
Pink’s choice of making the main character a small female child gives the audience a better understanding of what the story is about and how divorce can affect the child. As the protagonist of the song, you get her point of view of the struggles in the divorce. She asks, “Can we work it out? Can we be a family? I promise I’ll be better, daddy please don’t leave.” This is the main focal view of the song and is repeated constantly. Forcing the audience to hear the voice of a young girl, begging her father not to leave her family and promising him that she will ‘be better’. Pink characterises the girl as being insecure, lonely and has the unfulfilled dream of