The Ostler by Wilkie Collins and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck :: English Literature

The Ostler by Wilkie Collins and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.The Ostler was written by Wilkie Collins (1824-89), a Victoriannovelist. Collins work became popular because he wrote plots thatoften included mystery, suspense and crime. His stories al delegacys hadextremely well constructed plots.Collins also reflected the Victorian eras interest in gothic stories.These are stories that confine supernatural or horror themes. Readersat this time enjoyed stories like The Ostler and other work byWilkie Collins like The Moonstone and The Woman in White, althoughsometimes the events were a little far-fetched and improbable.TheOstler supports this, as it is improbable that a hallucination couldin fact come to life.John Steinbeck (1902-68) was born in California and used the state asthe background to his early stories and novels.Steinbeck, like his characters George and Lennie, had worked on aranch like the one in Of Mice and Men. He was shocked by the plightof many rustic workers, wh ose lives were thrown into disorderduring the depression in farming. This occurred in California, duringthe 1930s.Steinbecks novella, Of Mice and Men is effective as he was able todescribe in depth the emotions that those who worked hard on the institutefelt. He was able to empathise with his characters, as he hadexperienced these hardships himself. This means that readers are ableto sympathise with the workers far more.The book, at the time, was an extremely successful way to drawattention to a serious issue. Although the book doesnt dictate therights of workers, nor bombard you with figures, the situation of themen on the ranches is still portrayed effectively. The message stillgets crosswise due to Steinbecks excellent use of the emotions andempathy.Both Of Mice and Men and The Ostler begin with journeys inunpleasant circumstances.In The Ostler, the reader first learns of Isaac Scatchard and hisill luck. In fact, Isaac is famous for this and in the story we aretold of how Isaac had missed out on other job. Isaac had walked to alarge manor house to apply for the job of stable hand. However, Isaacarrived at his destination late at night and thought it best to lodgeat an inn.On presenting himself to the gentleman he found thatOnly a day before, the stable-helpers place had been given toanother man.As Isaac returns to his mother on the long journey home,The rain came on and the wind began to rise.This is an example of pathetic fallacy. In this case the change in the melodic phrase of the text is one towards darkness, of bad and evil.