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Both Lennie and Lizabeth are a product of the same historical period, the Great Depression. Both of them also behave similarly, craving a sense of belonging while behaving in an often confusing and contradictory manner. Is there a connection between the historical setting and their behavior?

User Dax Feliz
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Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, there is a connection between the historical setting of the Great Depression and the behavior of both Lennie and Lizabeth.

The Great Depression was a time of immense economic hardship, widespread poverty, and uncertainty. Many people during this time experienced a sense of displacement and struggled to find a sense of belonging. Lennie and Lizabeth are both characters who display this same struggle in their behavior.

Lennie, in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," is a mentally disabled migrant worker who seeks a sense of belonging and companionship. He often behaves in a contradictory manner, as his limited mental capacity leads him to misunderstand social norms and expectations. Lennie's behavior can be seen as a product of the economic and social instability of the Great Depression, where many individuals like him were forced to migrate in search of work and struggled to find a sense of community and belonging.

Similarly, Lizabeth, in Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye," is a young African-American girl who is also struggling to find a sense of belonging in a society that views her as inferior due to her race. Her behavior is often contradictory, as she struggles to reconcile her desire for acceptance with her own sense of anger and resentment towards the world around her. Lizabeth's behavior can be seen as a product of the racial and economic inequality that was prevalent during the Great Depression, where African-Americans faced systemic discrimination and were often excluded from mainstream society.

Thus, the historical setting of the Great Depression plays a significant role in shaping the behavior of both Lennie and Lizabeth, as they are both products of a time and place marked by economic and social instability, displacement, and a sense of exclusion.

User Fariha Abbasi
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