The themes of loneliness, the predatory nature of people, and discrimination are all addressed here. The novel is set in the rural Salinas valleys of California. George really cares for him and there is a strong bond between them. Curley's wife is a lonely woman, constantly wandering around the ranch looking for a good conversation. (p. 68) Discrimination is the treatment of a person based on the group, class, or category to which that person belongs. ", Crooks said darkly, "Guys don't come into a colored man's room very much." (A THREAD). He never done this to be mean. Slim nodded. The average student has to read dozens of books per year. Crooks was a victim of the most common part of discrimination; racism. real name and given the name Crooks because of his handicap. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. Thiss the first time I ever been in his room. Crooks said darkly, Guys dont come into a colored mans room very much., Awright, she said contemptuously. George repeatedly rants about how his life would be better without Lennie, he might even have a girl. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. I mean you pull the curtain away, and you see I'm just as insecure and neurotic and scared and vulnerable as anybody, you know. George is wondering what he should do about Lennie after Curleys wifes body is discovered. Discrimination shapes a way a person acts around other people. When Curley's wife enters and threatens to accuse Crooks of rape, his hope quickly dwindles. There are many examples of discrimination in the novel, Of Mice and Men. He tried to get her to be quiet and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. Steinbeck shows the realities of the time and the struggle characters face through discrimination. Discrimination plays a large role to feeling lonely. Most of the characters are lonely for the reason of they are working on a ranch with no companionship. George and Lennie. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. Jesus Christ, youre a crazy bastard! I forgot, Lennie said softly. Crooks has fun teasing Lennie because the men always give him a hard time. And if that day were to come, you would want it, wouldn't you? Id leave it all for you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sick., A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin books or thinkin or stuff like that. Crooks is angry that Lennie has barged into his room when he cannot go into the bunkhouse. Segregation was used throughout the country as a racial divide, which is why Crooks lives alone in the barn. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 3. In the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the diverse set of characters individually handle oppression on a daily basis. Lennie and George. But not us. Lennie broke in. Lennie asks George to tell him about their dream farm, as they spend a night in the open air in the woods by the river before starting work at the ranch. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 4. They was lookin for us, but they didnt catch us. Lennie giggled happily. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. George advises Lennie to avoid trouble and stay away from Curley's wife. | About Us WebBy saying this, Lennie is referring to George as his guardian. In the novel, we are able to see the strength that Lennie has and how he is not able to control it when Steinbeck talks about how Lennie killed the mouse, the puppy, Curleys wife and crushed Curleys hand. Curley treats his wife like a possession. Lennie watched her, fascinated. Later in the story, Lennies incredible strength causes two deaths, first he kills a puppy and then Curleys wife. I aint takin it away jus for meanness. George patted a wrinkle out of his bed, and sat down. Before Lennie and George got to the farm, we were told that Crooks was kicked in the back by a horse and because he was a black stable worker, he not taken to the doctor. An what am I doin? If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won't get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we're set." She dreamed of being in showbusiness and movies. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl. For a moment Lennie lay quiet, and then he said hopefully, We gonna work on a ranch, George., Georges hand remained outstretched imperiously. But should George, who keeps dragging Lennie around with him, have taken some action before the big guy wound up killing someone? He is weak because his not a complete man, and if he can't work on the farm, He cant tell. | Contact Us (4.116-117). If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the n*****. Though Terri Beth loves books and writing of all kinds, her heart lies especially with British Victorian and Modernist literature, as well as the novels of Virginia Woolf, George Eliot, the Bronte sisters, and, to mix things up a bit, Salman Rushdie! Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. Curleys wife viciously attacks Crooks and threatens to have him hung, after he tells her she does not belong in his bunk and should leave. I didnt forget that, you bet., God, youre a lot of trouble, said George. Copyright 2023 Famous Quotes & Sayings. During this time in America people were panning gold, and doing anything for just a little bit of cash. Although Lennie has a mental disability, he has the strength to do a lot of the ranch work and is a very good worker. 6 chapters | Candy made a comment to him early in the book saying, Must be nice to have a room all to yourself this way. Entire Document, Discrimination in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Crooks: A Black Stable Buck with the American Dream Book Analysis, Of Mice And Men: Alienation & Discrimination, Discrimination in Of Mice and Men Chapter 3 summary, A Major Difference Between the Movie Of Mice and Men and the Book Analysis, Of Mice and Men- How Does Steinbeck Show Loneliness in of Mice and Men. Friendship in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Theme & Examples, Crooks in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Quotes & Themes, The American Dream in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Theme & Analysis, Curley's Wife in Of Mice & Men | Quotes, Description & Personality, Allusions in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Analysis & Examples, Characterization in Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck | Traits & Analysis, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Ch. The white kids come to play at our place, an sometimes I went to play with them, and some of them was pretty nice. "An' Crooks been here a long time. With the conditions old people faced it meant it was much tougher for them people to get jobs. But they wont do nothing like that. He would never actually leave him, but his rants about wanting a life of his own symbolize his feelings of isolation. Factors contributing to their loneliness include ageism, disability discrimination, and racism. Lennie watched them go. Crooks "This is just a n***** talkin', an' a busted-back n*****. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 4. If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was asleep, an then it would be all right. In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, characters endure attempts by society to make them invisible. These include John Steinbeck has written 27 books and I have only read one, Of Mice and Men. But since she is married she isnt allowed to talk to anybody but Curley or shell be accused of being a flirt or a tart. Not jus one, neither. One evening, George and Lennie discuss plans to buy their ranch. I aint wanted in the bunk house, and you aint wanted in my room. Why aint you wanted? Lennie asked. Curley knows about Lennie's lack of intelligence and decides to start hitting him. He accidentally kills Curley's wife, which inevitably causes a lynch mob to run after him. Ranch with a bunch of guys on it aint no place for a girl, specially like her., You go on get outta my room. He tells Lennie he cannot play cards or go to the bunkhouse because he is black. ), "You go on get outta my room. ?Of Mice and Men: Discrimination Why aint you wanted? The two begin talking, and she tells Lennie that Curley is not a good husband. Lennie is asking George to drink plenty of water even after George yelled at him for drinking too fast. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. For he knows that if the boss learns of Lennies disability, neither of them will get jobs. freebooksummary.com 2016 2022 All Rights Reserved, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. As a black man Crooks is used to being at the very bottom of the hierarchy. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Steinbeck illustrates how the characters respond to discrimination, male friendship, as well as loneliness and companionship. Although the 1930s seems pretty far back, discrimination still occurs in society today and can either be intentional or nonintentional. Candy tells George how Crooks was allowed to enter the bunkhouse at Christmas time when the boss bought a gallon of whiskey for the men. He is used feeling weak and vulnerable himself. One of those things is to deal with discrimination. Because of disabilities, they are the weakness on which the stronger majority of the other men prey upon. They may be friends, but we know they are not equal, as one walks behind the other, like a follower behind a leader. When Candy and Lennie begin discussing their hopes of buying a farm together, Crooks realizes he may also have some hope for a better life. He leaves the barn and runs to the pond where George told him to hide if he gets in trouble. And Crooks said, Sure. Lennie didnt mean to kill the puppy, he explained that he was jus playin with him an he made like hes gonna bite me an I made like I was gonna smack him an an I done it. So when Candy or anybody on the farm tries to bully Lennie, it is because he is different from them and he is not the same as anybody else. He reassures him of their special relationship and that they will look after each other no matter what happens. But being little more than Curleys property, she could not pursue her ambitions and instead lives a life of loneliness and no freedom. Lennie doesnt understand racial prejudice and why Crooks is not allowed into the bunk house because of segregation. Sexism was a very prominant part of 1930s America and led to the mistreatment of women such as Curleys wife. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing. After he. After the mens game of horseshoes, Carlson complains about how good Crooks plays. I wasnt doin nothing bad with it, George. Dont make no difference who the guy is, longs hes with you. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. If he hadnt been seen as a vulnerable person then Candy could have stopped them from killing his dog. Crooks lives in the barn away from the rest of the ranch workers and sleeps in a makeshift shed on a bed of straw under a window, with a pile of manure outside. Curley's wife makes her way into the bunkhouse, and George quickly realizes she could be trouble for Lennie. Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him. Good point, but we're still not sure it's worth it. There aint no more harm in him than a kid neither, except hes so strong (Steinbeck 43). Remember, Lennie is more in touch with the natural side of things than the "civilized" side of things, so he doesnt accept the "institution" of racism. Crooks "This is just a n***** talkin', an' a busted-back n*****. 6 | Summary, Analysis & Quotes, Foreshadowing in Of Mice and Men: Examples & Quotes, Slim from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Quotes & Character Qualities, Candy in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck | Quotes & Personality Traits, Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck: Ch. Curleys wife, Lennie, and Crooks all deal with prejudice against themselves different ways. he asked. He loves to hold mice in his big hands and pet them as they travel. But his anger always fades when he realizes Lennie is handicapped and his compassion for Lennie overtakes him. WebAs Crooks explains, his hope of fitting in is not possible, but it remains his greatest hope. This highlights the lack of understanding people had for those with a mentality disability like Lennie. After they killed Candys dog for the reason that it was old, candy felt lonely especially since it was his only friend for a long period of time, he also hated the fact that he had no power to stop it, candy looked helplessly at him for Slims opinions were law. He was depressed when his dog is shot, he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent. It reflected on the position candy was himself, filthy old, disabled, no use, features which candy and his best friend withhold. For example, when George and Lennie were kicked out of Weed, it was because Lennie had grabbed a womans dress, just to feel. A colored man got to have some rights even if he dont like em. Furthermore this shows my point,George lay where he was and whistled softly to himself.There were sounds of splashing down the river in direction Lennie had taken.
Emily Miller Nfr 2020 Rubber Bands,
Mother Daughter Spa Day Raleigh, Nc,
Articles H
