How Does Steinbeck Present The Theme Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men

At the height of the Great Depression in 1933, 24.9% of the nation’s total workforce are unemployed, that is about 12,830,000 Americans. Of Mice and Men, a historical fiction novel written by John Steinbeck, and published in 1937 amidst the Great Depression, is about two close friends trying to find jobs during the Great Depression. In the Great Depression, many men will travel alone to get a higher chance of getting a job, but George and Lennie will travel together. The novel Of Mice and Men should be read in high schools all over the United States because it teaches the reader about sexism and racism during the time the novel takes place in. Of Mice and Men teaches the reader how sexism is ordinary during the Great Depression, it shows

Sexism is seen when Curley’s wife appears and tries to flirt with them. Curley’s wife “put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward” (Steinbeck 31). The reason why Curley’s wife is unloyal to Curley is that he goes to the cat house with the guys despite having a wife waiting at home. She feels lonely and neglected by her husband because he is always doing something. The reason why runs around asking the guys on the ranch if they had seen her husband so she can initiate a conversation with them, she’s unloyal to Curley because he is aforementioned. Comparatively, another time sexism is seen is while Curley’s wife is lying dead, Candy calls her awful things. Candy looks down at her dead body and calls her a “damn tramp… Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good

Racism is shown multiple times by Crooks being mistreated, and when Lennie comes into his room he says he does not want him there. Crooks does not want any trouble with the guys, “you go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room” (Steinbeck 68). This reveals how Crook is not wanted by the other guys on the ranch just because of the color of his skin. He doesn’t want any trouble with the white men, because he knows that they do not like him. In addition, another time racism is shown is when Curley’s wife says that she can have him hung so easily that it isn’t funny. Crooks is told to “keep your place then, n*****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (Steinbeck 81). He is trying to defend himself, but Curley’s wife says that she can get the guys to hang him. This illustrates how Crooks is almost nothing and if he messes up they will kill him. Blacks are kept separate and looked frowned upon just for the color of their skin. Some may say Of Mice and Men should not be taught because racism may make some readers uneasy and or upset. Nevertheless Of Mice and Men should be taught in all schools because it teaches the reader how times are different during the Great