Racial Discrimination In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Achieving “The American Dream” is a great desire for all but rarely does it ever come true (website). Discrimination is a major theme in Of Mice and Men. Most of the characters are discriminated against for various reasons. Another major theme is male friendship. Friendships are symbiotic relationships, where people share their talents and qualities to help each other through life (website). An important additional theme is loneliness and companionship. Most of the characters are lonely for the reason of they are working on a ranch with no companionship. Steinbeck illustrates how the characters respond to discrimination, male friendship, as well as loneliness and companionship.

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.

Crooks is often described as a “nice fella” from those who know him. But, Crooks is African American, and in the 30s, that is all a majority of people saw in him. After being treated this way his whole life, he seemed to get used to it. This is demonstrated when

Crooks later talks to Lennie, about how society’s social norm separates him from others. ‘“S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black”.’ (72) Crooks’ dream of having someone to talk to and being in the same room as a white man creates a dream that he wants to work

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

“Want me to tell ya what’ll happen? They’ll take ya to the booby hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck 72). Discrimination plays a large role to feeling lonely. In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, characters endure attempts by society to make them “invisible.” These include racism, ageism, sexism, and isolation. More specifically, three of these characters experience loneliness from acts of discrimination. Factors contributing to their loneliness include ageism, disability discrimination, and racism. Each of these characters are migrant workers during the Great Depression who are discriminated against in different ways. Thus, through Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife, Steinbeck reveals the powerful

All of us have gone through loneliness at some point in our lives. Some more than others, but definitely at one time. Google defines loneliness as, “sadness because one has no friends or company.” In the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, this is a recurring issue that many characters face at different times throughout the story. Most of the time, the author has the character express their loneliness directly through dialogue directed towards another character, but sometimes the reader needs to analyze hints from the author or re-read sections to uncover a character's hidden loneliness.

Discrimination exists in the form of racism where they discriminate against Crooks because of skin color..Since Crooks who is the stable buck of the ranch was black, and he had a room by himself. He even had to stay away from everybody else. While everyone else goes into Lennie is entering Crooks room ,and is having a conversation with him. “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black”(Steinbeck, page 68). The quote is proven because they didn’t let him play cards because the color of his skin which shows the discrimination of race/color.

Through the characters of Crooks and Curley’s wife, John Steinbeck shows how being isolated from society because of gender, race, or class, is a consequence of prejudice and can separate people who would otherwise get along. For example, after George and the other men go to town one night, all of the weaker, or prejudiced characters are left behind. Lennie finds Crooks, the African - American stable buck with an injured back, in his room and asks him, “‘Why ain’t you wanted?’” (Steinbeck 65). Crooks then replies by saying, “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink’” (Steinbeck pg. 65). By including this, Steinbeck is

Except Crooks is lonely because of his race. He was completely isolated, forced to sleep in the stable away from the other workers. Loneliness differentiates throughout each of the characters in the story. Throughout the story each character has a story of why they are lonely. And you can see the different ways they all react to this.

Crooks, Curley, Candy and Curley 's wife are all lonely, but all for different reasons such as discrimination and prejudice. Crooks is a black man who has always been pushed aside from every group. He is treated as second class, he

One night when George goes out with the other men he leaves Lennie alone to play with his pup when he wanders into Crook’s room. Even though the majority of the time Crooks plays mind games with Lennie he ends up expressing his dream of equality. At this time period black people are still heavily discriminated against which effects how others treat him and how he accepts others. "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me." (Steinbeck ___). Even though Crooks is just like all the other men on the farm he is still viewed in a negative way because of his skin colour. Afterwards, Crooks begins to describe his child hood discrimination does not exist and giving him a sense of

Crooks represent African-Americans during this time because of the discrimination that they encountered. “Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me.”(68) Chapter 4. This idea of how discrimination towards African-Americans who in this case is crooks is relevant because in the story, it talks about how Crooks lives by himself away from the other workers that hang out and play cards together while he is sitting by himself far away from them all because of his race which is black. The evidence says that because Crooks is black he is discriminated against and is not capable of playing cards with the other workers who

Crooks was oppressed because of his race. Crooks revealed, “If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it” (70). To most people, it didn’t matter what Crooks said. He was considered less important and continued to be oppressed. If someone white said the same thing as someone black, the white man’s word would be more accepted and acknowledged in this duration. Crooks was trying to explain this to Lennie. Crooks was sick of being inequitably treated. He stood up to Curley’s Wife when he said, “You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all. Now you jus’ get out, an’ get out quick” (80). Crooks was tired of perpetually getting mistreated and criticized. However, right after he said this, he remembered that his opinion didn’t matter. She may be a woman, but she’s white. Just for standing up for himself, it could have cost him everything. If there wasn’t oppression, all minorities could advocate a cause and not get their opinion disregarded because of their color. They wouldn’t have to be subservient all the time, and they wouldn’t get penalized in the event that they weren’t. Different races could go for vital positions in the community and would not get judged solely because of their race. Everyone would be considered equal. Oppression minimizes someone’s importance and makes them feel less than they

Crooks brings into perspective the loneliness experienced by all the characters in "Of Mice and Men" by saying "a guy gets too lonely, an' he gets sick." He is telling of the need for human interaction, the need for company and the need for someone to care and provide security. The oppression Crooks experiences in living in a barn and not in the bunkhouse where he could play rummy as one of the group leads him to this desperate plea to be realised as equal. Just because when he cuts himself, the blood he bleeds is looked upon as different from a white perspective, this does not mean he is not entitled to benefit from human nature. John Steinbeck is portraying here the feelings of Americans of his day and age: their aloneness and their salvation - in the American Dream.