Have you been discriminated against because of your skin color? In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men the main characters, George Lennie, have a dream of buying their own house so Lennie can have rabbits. They went to a ranch to work and they met the characters Crooks,Candy,Curley. Steinbeck uses discrimination in Of Mice and Men by the character of Crooks because of his skin color and he is black.
First, Steinbeck uses discrimination by the character Crooks due to his color of skin. The character in the novel is introduced by him being a stable buck Crooks is also described as a very smart black person. . According to the book “ they play cards in there but I Can't but I can’t play Im black” ( P.68 ). This quote states,other characters
As a black man in the 1930s, Crooks is treated as less than because he is black, despite having worked at the ranch for a significant amount of time. Crooks is lonely and does not have much of a chance at communicating with others since he is separated from everyone else. The text states, “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I'm black. They say I stink” (Steinbeck 68). This quote shows how discriminated against Crooks is.
Additionally, When Crooks is talking to Lennie, he says, “Cause I’m Black. They play the cards there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well. I tell you, all of you stink to me.”
Crooks is the only black man on the ranch who has a crooked spine, which gives him his name. He is a stable buck on the ranch. Because of his race, Crooks is limited to many things. “‘They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black…” (68). This puts him in a bad mood in general, and he is mean to others on the ranch.
Page 2: Character descriptions The antagonist and the protagonist in this story are Curely and George respectively. George: small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and strong features, strong hands, slender arms and thin bony nose. Is like the protector of Lennie, and saves him from every trouble he gets into.
Humanity and reason is a necessity in a sane society, and racism is furthest from humane. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is all about humanity and integrity. There are many examples of the book including racial prejudice, but also having morals of compassion, and companionship. Of Mice and Men also includes the feeling of loneliness and chasing your dreams. An overall argument John Steinbeck is trying to make in Of Mice and Men is that racism is not humane.
Lennie walks into Crooks’ room wonders why Crooks isn’t playing cards with the others and Crooks explains why he’s not wanted. Stenbecks writes, “...ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse… cause I’m black… They say I stink” (Steinbeck 68). This proves Crooks becomes reconciled to discrimination by his peers because of his own race. Back then, men and women in color were mistreated so Steinbeck is giving a good idea on how people abused the basic human rights to hurt others physically and mentally.
‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black’” (Steinbeck 68). In this quote, Steinbeck is symbolizing how the cards represent life itself and how Crooks is not allowed to experience or play life like the white ranch men. This was not the last time that Crooks would mention his skin color affecting his life and he is using it as a boulder and chain keeping him at the ranch.
In the story of mice and men crook states “‘ Cause I’m black. They play cards in there but I can’t play because I’m black’”(of mice and men 68). In this part of the story, crooks is expressing his feelings on how he feels about the people not letting him play cards because of his skin color. “‘Curly likes a lot of little guys he hates big guys”’(of mice and men 26).
He is African American and is colored by the color of his skin. His dream is to have equal respect from the other men. Crooks explains to Lennie how he is unable to achieve the dream. “””I ain’t wanted in the bunk house,… they play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black.””” (68).
Crook’s character is being discriminated due to his skin color which soon caused him to be disregarded. Although at a certain point, Crooks stood up but no good has come to him. Challenging discrimination is strenuous, however it is necessary in order for an individual to advance. One of the most lousy assumption made during the novel’s time period is the hierarchy between the color of men.
Another example of Crooks getting discriminated because he is black is when he and Curley’s wife are arguing. She completely shuts him down by saying how she could get anyone to lynch him at any time. Crooks can say nothing but “Yes, ma’am”. Even Curley’s wife, who is considered weak, can pick on even weaker people, like Crooks.
Crooks is constantly being discriminated against which is the effect of being colored at this time. During the book talks to Crooks about the farm he desires, Crook says to Lennie, “S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that?” () Crook is at the bottom of the social hierarchy because of his race. This inequality is the barrier to his dreams of being
Crooks is a character that is very overlooked in the novella. The book took place a little after the American Civil War, and lots of these vets are still alive and well. So, the basis of racism is still prominent around the nation and especially in the vast regions of the farming lands. Which keeps Crooks contempt from reaching his dreams in life because of his race. For example he says, "S'pose you didn't have nobody.
Crooks is an African American farm worker that works with horses on the land. Being a colored person in this era was harsh, and the color of your skin automatically determined the amount of power you would have, so African Americans did not have power compared to everyone else in society. “Lennie watched her, his mouth half open. Crooks had retired into the terrible protective dignity of the negro.” (79;ch.4).
In the novel “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck portrays the theme of social injustice throughout the story in the lives of several characters that include Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and the stable buck, Crooks. All of these characters are mistreated in some way, shape or form. The hardships that these characters faced help guide us to see the social injustice that is prevalent in the story. Lennie is a victim of social injustice due to the fact that he is mentally disabled. He is not treated fairly when he was accused of rape.