Stereotypes In Of Mice And Men

975 Words4 Pages

The book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck took place in the 1930s when segregation was still present and people were treated poorly because of the color of their skin or their gender or a disability that they have. This story starts with our two main characters George and Lennie and they are moving around because Lennie gets the two kicked out of every town they go to. They go to the Ranch and meet the other characters and the main antagonist Curley. Curley’s wife flirts with everyone and gets Lennie in trouble with Curley where Curley punches him multiple times then Lennie crushes his hand. Later Lennie gets a puppy but plays too hard and kills it then Curley's wife walks in and talks to him, he accidentally kills her and runs to the original …show more content…

I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely’” (Steinbeck 86). this says that she get lonely because of curley doesnt allow her to talk to others because she flirts with them every male she talks too and the ranch is male dominated so Curley doesnt allow her to talk to the others. Another example of this is in the beginning of the book when we first meet Curleys wife she burst into the building looking for Curley then begins to flirt with Lennie and George. After she leaves George tells lennie to stay away from her shes bad news. (Steinbeck 31) This shows that George believes that if they interact with Curleys wife that they could get into trouble this is something that everyone believes. This is another reason she is an outcast because everyone believes that she could get them in trouble, her gender also has something to do with it. In the time period that this story takes place women were believed to be lower than men. Hence why her name is just Curleys wife she is his property at that time there for she doesnot need a name. ( Steinbeck 23) This shows that she is not valued as a human being among the others and its not just because Curley doesnt want her flirting with the other guys she is an outcast. Another example of discrimination based on the time period this takes place is Crooks for his …show more content…

For example he has to live separate from all the white men so he lives in the stables he also has to do everything else seprate from the others other than work so he tends to not talk to anyone out of spite. (Steinbeck 66) Him not interacting with the white men is another reason he is an outcast. His idea is that because they treat him as if he isnt a human, he wont respect anyone he doesnt have to to keep his job. That was shown when Lennie went to talk to him and he was very rude to him even to ask if lennie had been kicked in the head by a horse and suggested that george might leave him because he is a burden to george. (Steinbeck 67-69) His race also is a reason no one praises him for example “‘ he don’t give no one else a chance to win’”.(Steinbeck) If in this situation Crooks was white he would be praised for being so good but he is not and instead is spited for it. Crooks and Curleys wife arent the only ones bein g discriminated against and taken advantage of because of something they can control so is