Oppression Of Women In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In today’s world, oppression of women, African Americans, and disabled people is still a problem, but since the era of the Great Depression society’s views of these people have greatly improved. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck it is shown how oppression among these types of people was commonplace. This novel begins with two men named Lennie and George; these men travel together and George takes care of Lennie who is mentally disabled. George and Lennie have to flee out of the town, Weed, after an incident happened. They travel to a different town and begin working on a ranch, and shortly later another fatal occurrence happens. In the end, George is forced to make an extremely difficult decision that results in him taking on the rest of his life solo. This novel explores the effects of oppression on women, African Americans, and people with disabilities. First, the women of the Great Depression were oppressed greatly. In Of Mice and Men, Curley, the ranch owner’s son, has a wife that is not treated fairly. She confined to the small area of the farm and is often commanded to return to her home. Like most women, she just wants to be out and talking to people. Whenever Curley’s wife is out strolling around the farm trying to talk to someone it is often that one of the men says to her, “You better go home now…” (Steinbeck 81). Curley’s wife becomes lonely and the other men and her husband do not take her feelings into account. Curley’s wife is not