Outcasts In Of Mice And Men

Outcasts Of Mice and Men

The characters play a major role in the book Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck. This book is about two migrant workers who go off to work on a little ranch in California, based in the 1930s. In the 1930s, races were separated, colored people were looked down upon, women were looked at as property or as a trophy. These two migrant workers were very different from one another. On page ____, it describes the two as (change highlighted a little) George, small with sharp features, and the other, Lennie who is his opposite, large with a shapeless face. Lennie and George have traveled together from a young age, and do not know another way without having each other. They work on the ranch to try and work up a stake

Curley's wife can be seen as an outcast because Curley’s wife is the only female living on the ranch. Women were also looked at as property during this time period, and for this reason, her name was never mentioned throughout the novel. She also tends to seek attention from men other than her husband. The book states “‘If I catch any one man, and he’s alone, I get along fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an’ you won’t talk. Jus’ nothing but mad. You’re all scared of each other, that’s what. Ever’ one of you’s scared the rest is goin’ to get something on you.’” (Steinbeck 77). Curley’s wife is always looking for Curley, but talking to the other men while she is at it. Candy calls Curley’s wife a tramp, and George calls her tart. Curley’s wife flirts with the other men to make Curley jealous. Even through all these men, she still states time and time again how lonely she is, and the better life she wishes to have. She tells Lennie how she doesn't truly love Curley, and she says “‘Well, I ain't told this to nobody before. Maybe I ought'n to. I don' like Curley. He ain't a nice fella.’” (Steinbeck 89). And since she is married into the boss’ family, she has a say over the other men as well. So in this case, she takes advantage of this to get what she wants. So while talking to Crooks, she says, “‘Well, you keep your place then, N*****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny.’”

Lennie can be seen as an outcast because he is not the normal vision of how men are during this time period. Lennie is looked down upon because of his disability, so others do not treat him the same. Many believe Lennie has Autism from the signs in the book, but there's many disabilities this could be leading to. Slim says “‘Sure he's jes' like a kid. There ain't no more harm to him than a kid neither, except he's so strong. I bet he won't come in here to sleep tonight. He'd sleep out alongside that box in the barn. Well-let 'im. He ain't doin' no harm out there.’” (Steinbeck 43). Lennie has trouble paying attention, remembering things, sensory issues, trouble controlling his own body, and more. When Lennie worked back in Weed, he had a situation where he touched a girl's dress, because he liked the texture of it. The others obviously thought of this situation differently, and this is why he had to leave Weed. George said to Lennie, “‘Oh so you forget that too, did ya? Well, I ain't gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again’” (Steinbeck 7). Lennie also got into a situation with Curley's wife, where he had gone to feel her hair, and ended up grabbing and not letting go. This resulted in Curley's wife becoming deceased. “‘Don't you go yellin',’ he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.” (Steinbeck 91). There were many times in the books where all