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Character Analysis Of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck is a classic American novel, telling the fictional story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers, working on a ranch in Soledad,California. Selling 500,000 first edition copies, Of Mice and Men is a book high school students have read for generations. Forced or reading for fun, one can claim that moralistic values on compassion, dreams, and friendship can be heavily influenced through analyzing Steinbeck’s portrayal of his characters’ struggle in life. Overlooked and mistreated, Crooks is an example of a character who lacks compassion. In the 1930s, being a black slave on a ranch full of white men was the perfect breeding ground for hatred and isolation.”Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked.’ ‘Cause I’m black, They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black, They all say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.(65)” It is evident through the text that Crooks has been neglected so many times that he grew to be a lonely pessimist. The men on the ranch were never willing to get to know Crooks simply because of the color of his skin, and in return he did the same. I feel as if the men had been more tender, Crooks would not have been as miserable as he is. Walking through the halls of high school it is extremely difficult to be friends with everyone, especially when not all of us mix well together. However, it is certainly not hard to be kind. To me, this scene in the book highlights the

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