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Analyzing Themes In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Of Mice and Men was a bestseller then and sales still remain steady today, even though it is ranked fourth most controversial book in the United States because of its vulgar profanity and derogatory statements. The writer of Of Mice and Men was John Steinbeck. He was born February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California. The novel takes place at a ranch near Soledad during the Great Depression. It deals with the issues dear to Steinbeck's heart such as poverty, homelessness, failure of the American dream, etc. The character Crook portrays many themes that are illustrated throughout the novel. The themes that are evident in Crook are discrimination, loneliness, and the American dream. The first theme portrayed in Crook is the theme of discrimination. …show more content…

In the novel, Crook says, “......if you…. guys would want a hand to work for nothing just his keep, why I'd come an’ lend a hand. I ain't so crippled I can't work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to” (Page 38). After hearing about Lennie and George's dream, Crook started to kind of want to be apart of it. He starts to see how close they are and how real it could be to achieving the dream. It makes him believe in being able to reach the dream as well. Also in the novel, Crook states, “An’ where's George now? In town in a whore house. That's where your money's goin’. Jesus, I seen it happen too many times. I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never get none under their hand” (Page 37). Even though this qoute doesn't say anything about his dream, it does show how many times he has seen the dream and watched people try to reach it. It shows how common the American dream is even if you don't reach it, the dream still exists. Also even though Crook is denying the need or want of having a dream, it shows that without the dream you are not going anywhere in life. You will end up like Crook, a lonely crippled man stuck a ranch. Crook is not the best person to show the theme of the American dream but he still helps show its

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