The Key To Life In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Loneliness is one of the primary themes in Of Mice and Men. Throughout the novel, John Steinbeck shows the enormous effect that loneliness has on the characters. Steinbeck most clearly illustrates this theme through Crooks, Candy, and Curley 's wife. Ranch hands are ideal types of people to portray as being lonely, because their constant travel leaves them without someone to talk to or share things with. Steinbeck also shows how important it is for every human being to have a companion. Companionship is necessary in order for someone to live an enjoyable life. Although loneliness affects each one of the characters in Of Mice and Men differently, they all experience negative feelings from their lack of

Crooks was marginalized because of his race; this symbolized the marginalization of the black community during this era. Firstly,he couldn’t play cards with the other men or go into the bunkhouse because he was black. Secondly, he sleeps in the barn with all of the horses. Even though he is injured and it is hard for him to walk, he still had to work everyday. Since he was always by himself, Crooks was probably always lonely and that was also a struggle for most of the characters."Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny."(p120) Curley’s wife threatened to have him hung and she would never have said that to any of the other workers. She had just said that because he was black and she needed to feel control over someone. Out of all the men on the ranch, Lennie was the only one that ever talked to him or tried to talk to him. When Curley's wife talked to him, it was always rudely or to call him

An outcast is a person who has been rejected by society or a social group. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the is based in a small town during the 1930’s set on a ranch. Most of the workers are men who travel around individually trying to find work for a short amount of time. Each character is portrayed as an outcast throughout the entirety of the novel, to emphasize their ailments and lack of connection to other human beings.

Among many of the characters, Crooks behaves by isolating himself due to loneliness because of his skin color. Although it is not as popular as it was before, racism is still active today and has been going on for generations. The author strongly portrays loneliness within Crooks as many examples are shown throughout the story, one being easily exposed to discrimination because he is the only black person at the ranch. It’s also easy to tell he isn’t welcomed when it comes to socializing with others for many reasons; he lives in a shack where urinating on the floor is the only option, has the job of a stable buck, and is talked by no one. Obviously, Crooks is isolated on purpose and is only kept to do the dirty work. “A guy goes nuts if he

Crooks, the only black stable hand on the ranch, loved to read and because he was so lonely he liked to clean to occupy his time (Steinbeck 67). He was named Crooks because his back became crooked after he had been kicked by a horse (Griesbach). The fact that he was the only Negro on the ranch; he was forced to be isolated (Steinbeck 66). He understands that he gets treated differently because of his skin color (Steinbeck 68). No one ever comes in his room or invites him into theirs, he’s not allowed to play cards with others, and every one of them thinks he smells bad all because he’s black (Steinbeck 68).

Crooks the stable hand at the ranch that George and Lennie come to work at. Crooks has an American Dream just like George and Lennie. Crooks is African American so during this time period some people at the ranch are discriminating against him because of his race. “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (p.81). Even though Crooks supposed to be free from all discrimination people still haven’t changed. Crooks someday dreams of playing cards with the other fellows at the ranch but mostly he wants to be equal. “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black...A guy needs somebody-to be near him” (p.72). Crooks wants to be treated just like the other people on the ranch. He’s not allowed in the bunkhouse because of his race. Crooks has been forced to sleep alone, away from the other workers on the ranch who sleep and play cards together in the bunkhouse. “‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black” (p.68). The dream of all becoming equal is very common with many African Americans during this time period. Curley’s Wife also discriminating Crooks. “You know what I could do to you if you open up your trap” (p.80). Every time Crooks stands up for himself he just gets pushed over and never really acknowledged. Crooks also threatened by Curley's wife. She’s nearly at the bottom of the pile in the leadership of the ranch, but she still has power over Crooks. Crooks dreams that there will be a place and time where people won’t judge people by the color of their skin. Even though Crooks has a great American dream in mind he’s likely to not complete his dream. The Boss and Curley have shown that they do not trust Crooks at

Crooks reason for being isolated from the other men was because he was a different race, different color. In the story Crooks is shown as a type of guy who shouldn't be respected because of this. They act cruel towards him and this

Crooks is the only black man on the ranch, and is often discriminated against by all the other workers at the ranch. He is usually excluded from many activities that all the other men participate in, and is ignored by most of the workers. “I ain’t wanted in the bunk house…cause I’m black…” This quote shows how the other men who work at the ranch reject and isolate Crooks, and how he is forced to have his own bunk house, since he isn’t allowed to reside in the same bunk house as the other workers. Crooks leads a harsh, lonely life, only because the

Every person needs a kind and loving soul in order to escape the misery of being lonely. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, it is shown through an isolated environment that characters with little human interaction are affected negatively. Lennie, a mentally challenged character, escapes this environment through the touch of soft objects. The character of Candy uses his old dog as a friend for the same purpose. A lonely and powerless character referred to as Curley’s wife shows what happens when unsatisfied with their companion. John Steinbeck demonstrates in his novella the basic human need for companionship through the characters’ desperate attempts to seek comfort in a lonely world.

Crooks is one of the prime representations of loneliness. Being black at the time of the great depression, he is treated as an inferior being, despite being clever and literate (a rare thing for a farm worker in those times). He is also considered disabled, although he only has a minor injury that does not prevent him from doing his job on the farm. This is because he is a “negro buck”, since black people were treated as slaves and had no place in society during these times. Steinbeck shows this by giving Crooks his own place in the barn alongside the ranch animals, and using a specific choice of words to describe Crook’s shed “a little shed that leaned of the wall of the barn” as if to say that Crooks is not strong enough to survive on his

The novel discusses the topic of racism through the character Crooks as he is a symbol of racial injustice. Throughout the entire novel, Crooks has never been in the bunk house where the white ranchmen sleep and play cards. He realizes he is different and that once he has no more use on the ranch, he will most likely be fired or sent off. "This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see?" (39)

Segregation and exclusion for African Americans was widespread in this time period. Crooks has been negatively branded throughout the whole duration of the book, and has his personal dreams and aspirations shattered because of racial discrimination. Crooks lives by himself in the barn with the ranch animals simply because he is the only African American on the farm. Unfortunately, Crooks is an outcast, the lowest ranking male on ranch hierarchy entirely because he is black. Furthermore, Crooks is also discriminated against because his ability to manoeuvre and walk has been limited and restricted due to a crippling accident with a horse when he was a child, because of this, Crooks is easily dismissed because of his permanent back injury.

Crooks is a negro stable buck who is oppressed because he is not white. First, Crooks has to live apart from all the other ranch workers because he is black. He has to live by the barn with horse manure under his window, all by himself without any company whatsoever. An instance when he was maltreated was when Crooks attempted to stand up for himself by telling Curley’s wife to get out of his room. In return Curley’s wife threatens Crooks by saying, “Well, you keep your place then, nigger.

Understand that Crooks is black, and this book takes place in a time in which African Americans weren´t walking around with pockets full of cash. Crooks worked and lived on the ranch. Heś discriminated throughout portions of the book, and appears to have a bitter personality. This is evident when Crooks has a little conversation with Lennie; (¨Well, go see your pup then. Don´t come in a place you aren´t wanted.) Pg 69. As you may have been able to figure out, Crooks was not the only African American to be discriminated against during the mid 19th century. There is still a good amount of discrimination in the world today, and there are plenty of people who may not really be too happy with being treated poorly. Crooks’ social status is still relevent, and needs to be given some thought.

In link to the previous two themes we have discussed in this essay, the next point will talk about the theme of racial discrimination, in regards to Crooks. It can be said that all of the negativity towards Crooks, throughout the entire Novel, can be linked to the racial discrimination, and subsequent segregation of blacks during the Depression era in the 1920s. From quotes such as “Crooks, the Negro stable buck had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn”, we can already learn that Crooks is segregated from the rest of the