The discrimination of people can affect a person's well-being. In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, two men are searching for jobs, during the Great Depression. The catalyst for the story is discrimination. When the main characters are searching for work, Lennie, one of the men, gets into an accident, which forces Lennie and his friend George to leave work and the town. Throughout the story, Steinbeck creates vivid scenes which depict the quotidian lives of two very typical men and the consequences of ordinary actions. Societal norms, bias, and antiquated ideologies have major implications in the lives of both George and Lennie. Steinbeck, through character’s actions, portrays how deeply inbred discrimination can affect a person’s emotional well-being. …show more content…
For example, Slim is talking to George and Lennie about Crooks, who is an African American and stable buck — this is someone who is usually a black man who works in a stable. Today this term is considered very offensive. “ ‘George patted a wrinkle out of his bed and sat down. " ‘Give the stable buck hell?’ he asked. ‘Sure. Ya see the stable buck's a nigger.’ ‘Nigger, huh?’ ” (Steinbeck 10). Steinbeck shows the social formalities of the 1930s and brings to light the offensive and derogatory nature of the people. The emotional well-being of both George and Lennie are affected by derogatory remarks — even in themselves, there is a deeply ingrained sense of discrimination. Therefore, proving the point that the deeply ingrained bigotry of the social climate can profoundly affect a person’s
Often times, verbal abuse is used to degrade by superiors. Crooks is often called racial slurs and is abused to a point where he refers to himself as these slurs. He says: “This is just a nigger talkin. A busted back nigger.” Even the narrator refers to him as slurs: “Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the stable room.”
Also, Crooks makes a dejected call to Candy after getting harsh accusations from Curley's wife, saying, "Remember what I said about hoein' and doin' odd jobs? I wouldn't want to go anywhere similar.” Overall the objectives and dreams of many individuals who are touched by discrimination are destroyed by this powerful cause. A good example of this is the major characters in John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, who have varying physical or mental
Steinbeck uses the historical setting of the Great Depression to help characterize Crooks as hopeless. First, the disdain with which the other men show towards Crooks. When George and Lennie first arrive at the ranch Candy introduces Crooks by saying, “Ya see the stable buck’s a ni***r” (Steinbeck 20). Crooks is generally referred to only as the n-word, as seen in this quote.
In John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, some characters are presented as weaker than others. This novella takes place During the Great Depression in the 1930s. At this time, money was tight for many and there were few jobs to obtain. People like indentured servants left their homes and families to find employment in the west. It was rare to find men who traveled together at this time.
In John Steinbeck's story, Of Mice and Men, we follow two men, the mentally challenged Lennie and his caretaker George, as they try to achieve the “American Dream” of owning land and away from The Depression, which was the current event during the story’s time period of the 1930s. This story hits multiple points such as how Lennie’s childish nature causes problems for certain people, and how Curly’s Wife seems to be a walking troublemaker. But what’s the real story? What’s the true meaning of such themes? In this essay, such themes like Lennie’s mental instability, Curly’s Wife’s emotional abuse/loveless marriage, and the racism toward Crooks will be pointed out and how they relate to today’s times and human right’s issues.
Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck’s use of symbolism, characterization, and imagery demonstrate the cruel instincts of mankind. Man’s cruelty to man is and will be prevalent in society, therefore Steinbeck’s
Steinbeck is a master of displaying implicit and explicit discrimination. He uses symbolism and imagery to depict the characters of his reference. The lexis conveyed the main motif of discrimination, by the representation of a microcosm of civil perspectives – a mentally challenged man, a lonely married woman seeking attention from male ranch workers, a very old yet prudent man and a Negro slave. Steinbeck tackles the stereotypical view on these civil perspectives and how they are discriminated against based on their race, gender and intellect. Additionally, his descriptions of the characters delve into their appearance, personality and dreams for the reader’s sympathy and concern.
Did you know that the book “ Of Mice and Men” was banned countless times because of Steinbeck's nefarious language, violence, and racism that is said in the book. The navel “Of Mice and Men” written by John Steinbeck is a story about two men named George Milton and Lennie Small that want the American dream. Everytime George and Lennie find an agreeable job Lennie tends to mess it up. George did the right thing by killing Lennie because Lennie would of suffered if he let Curly deal with him, lennie might of hurt someone else, and he wouldn’t be able to survive on his own if George let him run away.
Lastly, an individual should overcome discrimination to achieve one’s goal. In conclusion, bigotry are hurdles that an individual
Examine how far George and Lennie are loyal to each other throughout 'Of mice and men' In the novella 'Of Mice and Men', by the well-known author, John Steinbeck, the reader is introduced to a varied range of different characters on the ranch; within this realm loyalty between George and Lennie plays a significant role in the lonely itinerant lifestyle. The characters in this short novel act in a world of their own, having no connections to any other type of society; through this Steinbeck can strongly depict the theme of loyalty and friendship in dire situations during this period of time. During the 1930's, at the ranch, a predominant role of intelligent white-males is seen to retain power over lesser groups of people, of which Lennie is portrayed to be this part as he is mentally disabled. Despite this George and Lennie strike up a friendship of loyalty: showing firm and constant support. ' Guys like us got no fambly...they ain't got nobody in the worl' that gives a hoot in hell about 'em' sums up the reason why their loyalty and companionship is so vital and special to each other.
In April 1968, Mrs. Jane Elliot conducted an ‘exercise’, through which she attempted to educate her students more thoroughly on discrimination. She stated that blue-eyed people are inferior to brown-eyed people, and created a discriminatory hierarchy. In just one day, the brown-eyed kids were calling the blue-eyed kids names. This also affected the performance of the students in class, as formerly excelling blue-eyed students began to perform poorly, and formerly failing brown-eyed kids began to perform very well. Similarly, in Of Mice and Men, a novel by John Steinbeck, the characters who were subject to prejudice began to feel inferior and accepted it.
”(Pg.81, Chap.4) Crooks tends to be mistreated by Curley and his wife. He was threaten by Curley's wife. At this period in time, African Americans were still seen as slaves. Many were called niggers and were not treated evenly.
In the novella, Of Mice and Men, the author John Steinbeck illustrates a ranch in the 1930’s during the great depression where those who fit into mainstream society run the show, and those deemed “outcasts” are rendered useless. Steinbeck depicts characters with setbacks that diminish their value in the eyes of society, and contrasts them to characters that have no difficulties conforming to the norm. Crooks, being a black man isolated by his race, and Candy, a elderly man limited by his age and missing limb are examples of Steinbeck characters that experience hardships because of the differences. The poor treatment of Crooks and Candy by the other characters, and their chronic unhappiness in a place that doesn’t value them, comments on how
In the novel “Of Mice and Men” the theme of social injustice is presented by John Steinbeck through the characters of Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. By examining the theme of social injustice one can be taught that treating someone based on their mental capability, gender, or race is wrong. Rather treat them base on the person they are on the
The novellas Of Mice and Men and The Pearl are both often noted as social criticisms. The author, John Steinbeck addresses real-life issues that society is facing. Whether through direct statements and comments, or through a fictional characters’ situation, Steinbeck criticizes just some of the problems of society. He shows the way people are discriminated against, and why. He shows the issues society faces.