Mr Birling Power Quotes

The racism shown towards Crooks also displays the age of the context of the novel. When Crooks says “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse… ‘Cause I’m black”

This is shown in the following text evidence, “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 say I stink” (68). Crooks isn't given a fair chance to show his capabilities, society automatically segregates him from the game because of his skin color. Not only was he not given the chance to interact in simple games with white people, he was ridiculed when he conversed with them. This is evident in the following text, “There wasn't another colored family for miles around. And now there ain't a colored man on this ranch an' there's jus' one family in Soledad. He laughed. If I say something, why it's just the nigger sayin' it” (70). At the end of this quote is obvious that the ranch hands and the boss mock Crooks because of his race, he is undoubtedly outcasted. Crooks is aware that he is a misfit at the ranch, the reader gets a sense of this when Crook says, “You go on and get outta my room. I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain't wanted in my room” (68). This quote suggests that Crooks was segregated at the ranch, he is not even comfortable with people in his room due to his separation from white people. The deciding factor that makes Crooks an obvious social outcast in this period, is his race, causing discrimination against him, his segregation from the ranchers, and others mocking him, leaving him as a social outcast

Being black during this time period is directly related to discrimination. During the 1930’s discrimination was based on race and Crooks did everything separately because of his skin color. Being black cost him not being able to do have certain rights white people had. Crooks is a typical example of the discrimination faced by African Americans during this time period.

The racism shown towards Crooks is nothing but ordinary in the time the book is set in, blacks were almost completely separated from whites and were given unfair treatment. They could not live with whites and they could not eat with whites. The moment that racism towards Crooks was overly revealed is when Curley’s wife comes into Crooks room and he knows he can get into a lot of trouble if Curley sees her here so he says to her “You got no rights comin’ in

throughout the play; as a result of this and when the play is set, the

Crooks was describing how some white kids were nice to him when he was young; he said, “The white kids come to play at our place… My ol’ man didn’t like that. I never knew till long later why he didn’t like that. But i know now” (Steinbeck 70). Crooks was reclusive as a result of his race. He was also afraid to go outside for the reason of people discriminating him. Crooks does not want to go outside due to society’s judgement; he said, “Cause I’m black… They say I stink” (Steinbeck 68). Crooks was compelled by the people’s judgement that he did not know that he was isolated from the world. Discrimination is also one of the problems that makes people disengaged from the

Crooks deserves the reader’s sympathy because he is treated poorly because of his race. When Lennie comes in to talk to Crooks, Crooks doesn’t want to talk to Lennie because no one ever talks to him and he’s wary. Eventually though, he starts talking, bitterly. He tells Lennie that he’s all alone and that there are no other black families nearby, so he’s not respected. He says, “If i say something why you think its a nigger sayin it?” because his word means nothing to the white men on the ranch (70).

When he says, “S’pose you wouldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you like that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books” (72). Crooks can’t do other things as most men can do on the ranch based on the color of his skin. He doesn’t have a physical or mental disability that is preventing him from doing anything, unlike Candy, but because he looks different than most respected men on the ranch would look like, it segregates him for everyone else. When someone makes prejudicial judgments on another person, based on their gender or race, it’s discrimination, and in this case, it’s racism for Crooks. This man is also being treated unfairly because he is forced to behave and do things that he would not wish to do. He tells Lennie about how he is only able to read books, possibly rereading a number of books multiple times, while he isn’t able to enjoy the company of another person on the ranch. Crooks isn’t allowed to form a friendship with someone else because nobody wants to even dare be around him, or have Crooks be a part of their life. He is being treated unfairly and horribly on the ranch, not for a good reason either, but because he is being judged by the color of his

Due to the fact that he is a different color from the others workers shows discrimination. Crooks is distant, defensive, judgmental, bitter, but also lonely. For example, “ Must be nice to have a room all to yourself this way” (Steinbeck 75). This quote states/ explains that Crooks has to be separated from the other men. When he was younger he used to play with his neighbor, which was white. Until later he started to notice that most people did not like him being black. The quote proves that Crooks is limited because he has a room all to himself despite the fact that he can not sleep in the bunkhouse with the rest of the guys. Just because he is African American he has to be treated differently. He never really understood that in his time period that most people thought that blacks were “bad” . Once he grew up he understood that some people were racist. “ Cause i'm black. They play cards in there, but I cant play because i'm black” (Steinbeck 68). This is also another sign of discrimination, but it also shows that he does not have as much rights as the other workers. Again living in this time period it is harder for things to work out with a colored man like Crooks. The quote shows that he does not wish that there was racism and discrimination because he to would like to play cards with the other guys. All day he stays in the same room reading books, it can get boring. By being discriminated on Crooks is limited

Since Crooks is African American, the audience can infer that he is treated poorly and is treated as an outcast; as a consequence, Crooks feels lonesome and wants to be accepted. Knowing that Crooks is treated poorly helps the reader understand why he pushes people away: “You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me”(68). As Lennie tried to explain that he just wanted to talk, Crooks added, “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black”(68).

Consider the ways in which Priestley's portrayal of Inspector Goole and the way in which he carries out his investigation of the Birling family and Gerald Croft create dramatic interest? ' An inspector calls' was written in 1945 by J.B Priestley. The play is set in 1912 and centres on Arthur Birling, a prosperous manufacturer and his family, who are celebrating the engagement of their daughter, when they are suddenly and dramatically interrupted by the arrival of the police inspector. The inspector, investigating the suicide of a young working-class woman, uncovers each of the family's shameful secrets that link them with the young girl and her death.

The main victim of racism in Of Mice and Men, is Crooks. Crooks is a black man and he does not live in the bunkhouse like all the other white ranch workers. This kind of behaviour was very present in the 1930’s. In the Jim Crow law, it shows that white and coloured people should not live in the same area. John Steinbeck portrayed this law very well because in a few quotes, it should how Crooks lives in a separate area. ““I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room”” and ““Why you ain’t wanted?” Lennie asked. “Cause i’m black”” From these examples, it is clear that Crooks lives separately from the white workers. He is forced to live in the stable with the horses instead of with the others in the bunkhouse. The second example of racism is the fact that the other workers always called him names and made him feel worthless. This is how most black men were treated in the 1930’s. “Sure. Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger” In this quote, it is shown how the other workers call him derogatory names used to describe coloured people. “If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it” This quote demonstrates how Crooks is aware that his opinions do not matter to the others because he has a different skin colour. Also, he is referred to as “Crooks” because his back is crooked from being kicked by a horse. The third example of racism is about how Crooks had a negative mindset about his goals and dreams. This

Racial discrimination was legal therefore segregation was at its peak, and black people were considered as 2nd class citizens, because of the colour of their skin. The Jim Crow laws were enforced between 1876-1965, they provided legal basis for segregating and discriminating against black people. Crooks character in the novel significantly reflects the racial discrimination in the 1930s. The nickname given to him, ‘crooks’ is a derogatory term referring to his crooked back. The fact that he was also disabled as well as being black, classed him lowest in the hierarchical system. During the novel Curley’s wife threatens to have Crooks lynched because he wasn’t being courteous. She threatened him by saying, “You know what I could do”. This made him fear for his life as he knows she is a higher status than him so his simply replied with, “yes ma’am”. During the novel we slowly see crooks starting to let down his guard with Lennie. Although, when Curley’s wife calls him “nigger” the wall instantly goes back up and his voice turns melancholy and toneless similarly to the beginning of the novel.`

In chapter 4, Steinbeck is make social commentary about racism in America with the situation with Crooks. In the scene where Lenny comes into Crooks room Crooks said “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(68)”. Crooks represents black Americans at the time and how they’re segregated even in California, a state that is seen as forward compared to the rest of America and especially the south. This is shown when Crooks said “I ain’t a southern negro, he said. I was born right here in California… He laughed. If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it(70)”. The segregation is viewed by Crooks having his own room and not being able to play horseshoe with the other

At the start of the play, the first hint of power we see is through the appearance of Mr Birling when Priestly describes him at the start of the play. Mr Birling is described as a ‘thickly built’ man, which gives us a sense of power due to his size. The audience (only being able to see the actor playing Mr Birling) may respect Mr Birling due to his appearance,