Sympathy For Crooks In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

John Steinbeck’s novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ is set in Central America and explores the sufferings and trials experienced by the people during the period of the Great Depression, 1929. This essay will argue that the audience feels a great sense of sympathy towards Crooks and Curley’s wife, but it is George for whom we feel the most sympathy. Crooks being the only man of colour is forced to deal with racial segregation whilst the only woman, Curley’s wife, has to live with hopeless and unachievable goals. George’s failed dreams and responsibility over Lennie are the things that truly move readers, however. Firstly, Crooks is an African American man who takes care of the horses and is the only coloured man on the ranch. The audience feels sympathy

She is defined by her name, being known as nothing more than a wife and only woman on the ranch, showing disrespect from the men on the ranch towards her. Adding to this, Curley doesn’t allow his wife to communicate with anyone else on the ranch besides him, which makes her feel a sense of annoyance towards him, Curley’s naturally violent behaviour towards his wife makes the audience feel pity for her. Curley’s wife is unhappy with her life mainly due to her husband and hopeless dreams of becoming a movie star. Her life on the farm disables her from achieving her dreams which make the audience sympathise with her. In chapter 5 of the novel, ‘Of Mice and Men’ Curley’s wife confides to Lennie and shares her secret of wanting to become an actress, “I tell you I ain't used to livin' like this. I coulda made somethin' of myself." After she confided with Lennie, she also adds, "Well, I ain't told this to nobody before. Maybe I ought'n to. I don' like Curley. He ain't a nice fella." And because she had confided in him, she moved closer to Lennie and sat beside him.” This quote is significant to the audience as it is showing how she has no one to talk to and because of her life on the ranch she isn’t able to achieve her dreams, like Crooks, Curley’s wife is also left to deal with segregation. Furthermore, Curley’s wife’s death also makes the audience feel compassion for her. She was murdered by Lennie, and

In Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ we see George go through many trials, one of the biggest ones being Lennie. George has always been with Lennie which prevented him from having a normal life like the other characters in the book. Unlike the other men, George feels a great sense of responsibility whilst being with Lennie - although he may get frustrated with him, they both know that they have a special bond. Adding to this, George is like a parent for Lennie, he’s always concerned and looking out for him which makes the reader feel a sense of empathy towards him. In chapter 1 of ‘Of Mice and Men’ George says to Lennie, "I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your Aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself, even if she is dead." This quote is significant as it shows George’s sense of authority over Lennie, the reader feels a need to empathise with George because of the trials he’s been through because of Lennie. The audience also empathises with George because of his failed dreams of having his own land and being free of working on the ranch. Occasionally, George and Lennie dream about having their own place however George knows it won’t come true. In chapter 5 of the book George tells Candy, “—I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed