Theme Of Discrimination In Of Mice And Men

The discrimination of people can affect a person's well-being. In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, two men are searching for jobs, during the Great Depression. The catalyst for the story is discrimination. When the main characters are searching for work, Lennie, one of the men, gets into an accident, which forces Lennie and his friend George to leave work and the town. Throughout the story, Steinbeck creates vivid scenes which depict the quotidian lives of two very typical men and the consequences of ordinary actions. Societal norms, bias, and antiquated ideologies have major implications in the lives of both George and Lennie. Steinbeck, through character’s actions, portrays how deeply inbred discrimination can affect a person’s emotional well-being.

For example, Slim is talking to George and Lennie about Crooks, who is an African American and stable buck — this is someone who is usually a black man who works in a stable. Today this term is considered very offensive. “ ‘George patted a wrinkle out of his bed and sat down. " ‘Give the stable buck hell?’ he asked. ‘Sure. Ya see the stable buck's a nigger.’ ‘Nigger, huh?’ ” (Steinbeck 10). Steinbeck shows the social formalities of the 1930s and brings to light the offensive and derogatory nature of the people. The emotional well-being of both George and Lennie are affected by derogatory remarks — even in themselves, there is a deeply ingrained sense of discrimination. Therefore, proving the point that the deeply ingrained bigotry of the social climate can profoundly affect a person’s