Discrimination has been in society for as long as we can remember, but how was discrimination in the 1930’s. John Steinbeck 's novel, “Of Mice and Men” Steinbeck uses George, Lennie, Crookes, and Curley 's Wife to show discrimination. Two characters George, a small smart hard working person, and Lennie, a big dumb strong person, get a job on a ranch where they meet others. They meet other worker and get to know each other. The workers get to know each other and realize eachothers challenges. On the ranch Lennie and Crooks are shown as discriminated characters in the novel, “Of Mice and Men”.
In Steinbeck’s novel, Lennie is a stupid man and is taken advantaged because of this. Curlys wife is moving Lennie’s hand to stroke her hair after she is told that he is not supposed to be talking to her. Steinbeck page 86 and Steinbeck 90 prove this, “Well, I ain’t supposed to talk to you or nothing.” “Feel right aroun’ there and see how soft it is. Curley 's wife is clearly told that isn’t supposed to be talked to by Lennie but yet she takes advantage of his stupidity and gets him to stroke her hair. Lennie is described and shown as a dumb giant who has the mind of a child. With this we see how challenged people can be taken advantage of because they are thought to be different than other.
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At the beginning of chapter four, Lennie comes into the room of Crooke’s and wonders why Crooke isn’t wanted. Crooks explains to Lennie that it is because he is black. Crooks states, “ ‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’ because I’m back. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.” (Steinbeck 68). This conversation between Lennie and Crooks shows another example of racial discrimination in the novel. Clearly, stated by Crooks himself, because he is black he has to sleep in a separate room than the white workers. Not only this but he isn’t wanted for playing cards. This is the second example steinbeck 's theme of discrimination that was