Examples Of Powerlessness On The Ranch

Laura Berger
Ms. Tenore
English 8
03/20/23

Powerlessness on the Ranch
Can one’s weaknesses sometimes affect their social, intellectual, or economic power? In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the characters prove to have less power on the ranch because of the weaknesses they have. At the start of the novella, Lennie and George venture to a ranch in Soledad, California after encountering a catastrophe that forced them to leave their previous job. Over the time they spend there, they get firsthand insight and knowledge of how ranch workers’ weaknesses can render them powerless in different ways, and how these weaknesses prove themselves to be a disadvantage for them. The characters in the novella, specifically Lennie, George,

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. He is told that he “stinks” because he is black, and they do not let him be around the others because of that. Crooks has absolutely no social power on the ranch because he is constantly treated differently and discriminated against. Crooks also says, “You got no right to come in my room...Nobody got any right in here but me.” (Steinbeck 66). This statement shows how defensive Crooks has become because he is not used to ever talking to other people. The only time people ever talk to him is to disrespect him, and he has built up a sort of protective shield, knowing that people think of him differently. Crooks’ defensiveness proves how anti-social he is. Crook’s social powerlessness puts him at a disadvantage because it makes him feel even more lonely than everyone else, considering how lonely ranch workers already are. Other people can at least talk to each other, but Crooks is completely

Ranch workers barely make any money at the end of the month, even after having to work for countless hours every day. George dreams about moving to his own farm, but he is economically powerless. He hardly has any money between himself and Lennie. As George and Candy discuss moving onto their own farm, George states, “We got ten bucks between us” (Steinbeck 59). As ranch workers, it is not uncommon to not have much money. George, though, cannot accomplish his dream without financial help from someone else. George is a very hard worker, but he constantly has to move around for Lennie, so he never has a consistent income. George’s economic powerlessness is a disadvantage because it sets him apart from everyone else. He misses out on a lot of opportunities for a normal life, where he could have a job that is not on a ranch. George struggles a lot economically because of his field of work, and the disadvantages he has compared to everyone