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John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men follows two migrant farmers and their experiences working towards their dream. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley during both the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, when jobs were few and far between. George and Lennie have a dream of owning land, which is inhibited by these conditions. On the farm they come to work on, they meet the sultry wife of the Curly, the boss’ son. She was deprived of achieving her dream or stardom, and is left constantly craving attention in any way she can get it.
Most people would describe me as strong and bulky, but sometimes I don’t realize how strong I really am. I never mean to hurt people or animals, I just enjoy touching them because they are soft and I love that feeling. When I do hurt things I always try hiding it from George because he doesn’t like me keeping dead animals. I was alone in the barn when Curley’s wife came in and tried talking to me. I was ordered by George not to talk to her, but she said that it was fine, that nobody would see us.
The death of Curley’s wife is a very shocking event which is what triggers George’s decision to shoot Lennie. She does nothing wrong and without noticing Lennie kills her; just how he killed the mouse and the puppy killed the puppy. Curley’s wife’s death is a tragedy and symbolizes Lennie’s untroubled life coming to an end. Even though Lennie is not a bad person after the death of Curley’s wife, we can no longer think of him as an innocent child-like person. George and Lennie’s life was about survival, but centred on the innocent dream of the rabbits.
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
Furthermore, Crook’s and Candy’s unrealistic notions revolving ambitions prohibited them from accomplishing them. Candy’s dreams are obstructed due to ageism. Candy is in a rush to fulfill any last ambitions before he passes away. He could finally view himself in a peaceful mindset, with proper people. However, once Curley’s wife was found dead, and Lennie was dead, Candy uttered when worried his last year of life would not be fulfilled, "You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George?
Confirmation bias is heavily evident in Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck, though it is best seen through Curley’s wife. Before she is even introduced, Steinbeck (through his characters’ dialogue) paints a picture of an unfaithful, promiscuous woman who habitually flirts with different men (outside of her husband). One of the first mentions of her is while Candy is talking to George and Lennie. He says, “Well - she got the eye. [...] I seen her give Slim the eye.
Imagine being discriminated by your community due to your ethnicity, or being the only women stuck in a loveless marriage, or having to kill your friend, and bury all chances of breaking free from the life of the average migrant worker. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck develops a conclusion based off how people survived in a modern tragedy Crooks, the African American stable buck, is isolated from the community of migrant workers because of his race. When Lennie goes into the barn to see his puppy, he and Crooks have a conversation. “'Why ain't you wanted?' Lennie asked.
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.
Crooks, the only dark-skinned individual placed on the ranch, endures malice from the others making swirls of loathing, anguish and other emotions course through him. The 1930s were filled with brazen racism and Crooks felt the brunt violence of these horrific actions. On page 68 of Steinbeck’s novel, Lennie asks Crooks why Crooks isn’t wanted, and he responds with, “ ‘Cause I’m black.” Loneliness and bigotry creates a sense of despondency in Crooks life; moreover, he also explains towards Lennie that those without nobody become nuts, and he also confesses his thoughts of how he may be seeing objects only alive within his own head. While conversing with Lennie “Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture” (71), and it justifies what being
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, readers are shown the character Crooks. He was given the name Crooks because the aftermath of a horse kicking his back caused him to have a crooked spine. He is different from the others, because he is the only person of color in the book. The time period of the book is when discrimination against black people was still a major problem. One of his best character traits is that he stands up for himself when others treat him wrongly because of the color of his skin.
Curley’s wife has many unrealized dreams. Before her death, Curley’s wife confesses her desire to become a movie star, “Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes-all them nice clothes like they wear... An’ all them nice clothes like they wear. Because this guy says I was a natural.” p.89
Crooks feels discriminated against and is defensive and angry with the other men for not including him. Another quote which displays Crooks's loneliness is, "S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How'd you like that? Spose You had to sit out here an read books.
The 1930s had been a particularly difficult year for African-Americans. Prior to 1954, racial segregation was not illegal yet and thus racism was still rampant. Steinbeck usage of Crooks in Of Mice and Men reflects powerfully the racial discrimination at that time. Crooks is not only mentally but also physically separated with the others. Crooks has his own room, but the room is comparable to an animal shed, with “… [a] bunk in the harness room [and] a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn,” and “ [a] bunk [that] was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung.”
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).
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.
