Having taught Of Mice and Men for 30 years in multicultural schools in London, I wholeheartedly agree that it is a difficult, problematic novel to teach in secondary school classrooms, particularly because of some of the characters using racist slurs (Would you drop Of Mice and Men from the exam syllabus? The answer isn’t black and white, 6 January). However, to imply that it is educationally redundant does not acknowledge other important positive messages it contains, still relevant today, that do not appear in less problematic alternatives.
During the 1930s, John Steinbeck was inspired by marine biologist and ecologist Ed Ricketts to describe how survival ultimately depends on diverse individuals or groups collaborating and working towards collective benefits. In his novels, Steinbeck champions the inclusive diverse group over the individuals holding power. He provides a counter argument to the sweeping enthusiasm for eugenics in California at that time.
