ipl-logo

Examples Of Social Outcasts In Of Mice And Men

610 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Thematic statement of mice and men social injustice

Every human is different, and sometimes that difference leads to one being a social outcast. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there is a ranch, and on that ranch there are three obvious social outcasts. Lennie, a child in the body of a full grown man, is the first social outcast revealed in the book. As the story goes on, we meet another social outcast, an old man named Candy. The third obvious social outcast is a black man named Crooks. The differences these three men had were big enough differences to make them social outcasts. Lennie is the first social outcast introduced in the story. He has some type of mental disability; his mind appears to be that of a child’s mind and yet he is a full grown man. While other men are driven on the dream of having their own farm (76), Lennie is driven on his dream of “tending to the rabbits” (14,16,57,58,65,69,73,75,80,85,88,89,90,91,101,102,105). Another part of the package in his mental disability, is the fact that he can’t seem to remember anything. When questioned by George about his orders, “Lennie stopped chewing and swallowed. His face was concentrated. I… I ain’t gonna… say a word” (15). …show more content…

Crooks is by far the most pitiful of the three outcasts. We have to keep in mind the setting of this novel. In this time period in history, black people were oppressed. Crooks was not allowed to play cards with the other men, nor was he allowed in the bunkhouse (68). He had to stay out in the stable with the animals, because that’s how big the difference was between him and the other guys. So significant a difference, that he was counted as closer to an animal than to a human being. Crooks expresses his loneliness to Lennie, which makes his case all the more pitiful (70-73). Crooks fits the definition of social outcast better than the other two combined and what’s more shocking is that in the time period, every man of Crooks’ type would be just as

Show More
Related
1073 Words | 5 Pages

Crooks (named crooks after being kicked in the back by a horse) is a very controversial character as he is the only black member of the farm and doesn’t actually feature to much in the book. When he is in it though most of what we find out is when Lenny walks into his room. From the start its clear that crooks is a very abused and defensive because he says “You got no right to come in my room” as soon as he notices Lennie stood in his room even though Lennie doesn’t really see any difference between skin colour and doesn’t understand why this is happening. Most of what can be known about Crooks is from the items in his room. His room is actually connected to the barn showing they do not value him as a person but only as a stable buck.

Read More
708 Words | 3 Pages

In the short story, “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” by Bret Hart, a slew of misfits (a group of four misfits) find themselves in a life or death struggle after they are cast out of their settlement and are forced to brave the elements. The definition of an outcast is a person who has been rejected by society or a social group. The reader learns that the outcasts are run out of town because they are perceived to be improper persons. The four outcasts that make up this group are each run out of town for different reason, each reason to the townspeople deplorable. John Oakhurst is a gambler that most of the town has lost their money to; Mother Shipton and The Duchess are both prostitutes and Uncle Billy is a robber and drunkard.

Read More
577 Words | 3 Pages

It must feel horrible to be an outcast, especially when you do not understand that you are one. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Candy’s dog is an outcast to the men in the bunk house. The dog has multiple conditions which make it unwanted and unaccepted. Though Candy’s dog is not human it is still considered an outcast because it is old, smelly and suffering.

Read More
1001 Words | 5 Pages

“I’d pet ‘em, and pretty soon they’d bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead” (Steinbeck 58). Through this quote you can see the way Lennie’s intentions are contrary to the outcomes of his actions. His innocence is revealed by his want for the comfort the mice bring him, but doesn’t think of his strength and unintentionally kills them.

Read More
503 Words | 3 Pages

Crooks is subjected to living amongst animals, meaning that his entire space is shared from the building that he sleeps in to his possessions, “His apple box…in it a range of medicines both for himself and for the horses” (66). Having Crooks live among the animals is something that stands out, symbolizing his value as a black man in that day and age, however, this is further exacerbated by the verity of his having to share everything with the animals. Being a black person during this time period means that he “kept his distance” from the other men, while also keeping his own area “swept and fairly neat” (67). Since he is banned from the bunk house where the men all sleep, Crooks is forced to keep his own area as nice as possible so that he can be content with his space. This may seem like a healthy alternative to being among the other men, although the reality is that a clean and neat space is still empty without company.

Read More
659 Words | 3 Pages

Every human is different, and some become social outcasts. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, some characters are different and are left out. Crooks is a social outcast and is left out, because of his race. Candy is a social outcast because he is older, so he is left out. Curley’s wife is a social outcast and is left out, because she's the only girl on the ranch.

Read More
708 Words | 3 Pages

Loneliness and Alienation in “Of Mice and Men” In John Steinbeck’s novel, “Of Mice and Men”, many characters were plagued with loneliness and alienation, and most characters were in need of acceptance. The harsh time period of the Great Depression affected three characters in, “Of Mice and Men” greatly. Three characters that are plagued by loneliness and alienation and are in need of acceptance the most include George Milton; the protagonist of the novel, Crooks; the negro stable buck with a crooked back, and Curley’s wife; a young woman who just wants somebody to talk to. In this essay, you will learn why George, Crooks, and Curley’s wife were the loneliest and why other characters were not plagued with loneliness and alienation as much as these three characters. George Milton is the protagonist of the novel.

Read More
168 Words | 1 Pages

A theme that is emerging from the story is discrimination against people with disabilities. The central problem is about Lennie’s struggle to remember things. For an example, when Lennie and George were at the Weed, Lennie touched a girl’s dress, refusing to let go of her. When Lennie refused to let go of the girl’s dress, the girl accused Lennie of rape. Another example is when Lennie is talking to Curley’s wife Lennie explains to Curley’s wife that when Lennie was playing with his pup, the pup looked like he was going to bite Lennie, so Lennie smacked him.

Read More
880 Words | 4 Pages

We all may have had the feeling of loneliness and isolation, wanting companionship feeling abandonment. In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, there are men living on a ranch having their own reasons for loneliness or being isolated. The three characters Crooks, George, and Lennie crusade dealing with own ways of loneliness and isolation. Crooks has no one that likes him because he’s black, Lennie struggles mentally and George struggles with always having to care for him. They all can’t decide whether it is that they want to be alone or not.

Read More
1125 Words | 5 Pages

Loneliness and isolation is an ongoing theme throughout the novel Of Mice and Men, experienced by several characters to different degrees. Some characters are more isolated and lonely than others, yet every character in the story goes through this theme during one point in the story. There are various reasons why each character is lonely or isolated. In general, all the ranch workers feel some sort of loneliness because they move alone from ranch to ranch and do not have real connections with others, Curley’s wife experiences this theme because she is the only woman on the ranch and nobody wants to interact with her because Curley is very protective and hostile of her. Thirdly, Candy struggles through being lonely and isolated after Carlson shot his dog and because Candy does not work with the others since he is a swamper.

Read More
796 Words | 4 Pages

Steinbeck’s characterization and setting expresses his belief that it is both social barriers and personal choice that causes the loneliness and isolation of the characters. Civil rights caused separation and isolation towards black people when Of Mice and Men took place. As Crooks mention himself “Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I 'm black.

Read More
571 Words | 3 Pages

“And her eyes traveled from one face to another. ‘They left all the weak ones here’” (77). This quote appears late in the novel when Slim, George, and a few others from the ranch left to go into town. This means they left the others that were considered ‘the outcasts’ behind. In Of Mice and Men, these outcasts, Candy, Crooks, Curley’s Wife, and Lennie, are discriminated for their physical capabilities, race, gender, and mental abilities.

Read More
282 Words | 2 Pages

Crooks is very lonely and solitude for being alone every day. As a result, he wants to have friends who he can communicate with. No one has come into his room except for Slim and the boss, so when Lennie and Candy come, it is difficult for Crooks to “conceal his pleasure with anger” (75). Although he wants to express anger about people coming into his room, inside he is happy about it and enjoys it. This instability and loneliness that he has leads him to say how he could work for George, Lennie, and Candy on their farm.

Read More
513 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1469 Words | 6 Pages

Lennie cannot change his mental disability nor can Crooks change his race, but due to these inalterable characteristics, Lennie hurts others unintentionally, and Crooks is hurt by others. “Naturalism does not deal primarily with individuals in themselves, but rather with social groups, settings, or movements…”( ), which relates to the story, because Lennie’s actions not only affect him and his future, but the other characters in the book. In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the concept of naturalism is portrayed through the experiences of Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. Lennie’s mental disability and physical strength often lead to trouble, because he can never fully comprehend his actions. When Lennie is the barn, he ends up

Read More

More about Examples Of Social Outcasts In Of Mice And Men

Related Topics

Open Document