He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. Crooks has fun teasing Lennie because the men always give him a hard time. Lennie may be a good worker, but is it really discrimination not to want to hire a "crazy bastard," or is it just good sense? WebLennie was just sitting there listening to her and he didnt say anything that couldve made her upset. It also affected the story by putting Candy in a mindset of wanting to get out of there, so he proposes to join George and Lennie in buying the little house. I aint doin no harm to you. George is already concerned that Curley's wife will be an issue. | Privacy Policy Candy was seen as old and disabled and not capable of performing certain jobs. In the novel Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck reflects on the prejudice that even still plagues modern times. In Depression era, people discriminated African-American people by using derogatory terms, physically assaulting them and limiting their socialization. (And, we have to ask: do you think Steinbeck is making a point by having the black man speak "darkly"? Prejudice is a great time saver. "An' Crooks been here a long time. This shows the relationship between George and Lennie. These authors also demonstrate various kinds of prejudice can make it difficult for many to achieve the American Dream. An Crooks been here a long time. The names she calls Crook, Candy, and Lennie represent her prejudice towards blacks, the elderly, and people with disabilities. 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. Carlson, another ranch worker, tells Candy he should get rid of his dog because it's old and smells. Eventually, he gives the dog to Carlson. He reassures him of their special relationship and that they will look after each other no matter what happens. (4.116-117). I might of knew, he said gently. George is like a parental figure to Lennie, who acts like a child playing hide and seek games. George tells Lennie if he happens to get in trouble at their new site job to travel back to the riverbed and hide in the brush. You get another mouse thats fresh and Ill let you keep it a little while., Lennie looked sadly up at him. Jesus Christ! Theyll take ya to the booby hatch. But Curley's wife doesn't feel any solidarity with Crooks: she just sees him as the one guy she can pick on instead of try to pick up. Lennie doesnt understand racial prejudice and why Crooks is not allowed into the bunk house because of segregation. Societies that discriminate against the weak are unjust. So it dont mean nothing, see?, Spose you didnt have nobody. I wont have no place to go, an I cant get no more jobs" (60). Thas good, he said. The novel is set in the rural Salinas valleys of California. Discrimination is still a problem today. Segregation was prominent in the 1930s, which meant he could not live, sleep, or eat with the white ranch workers. I dont know why I cant talk to you. While the men are playing cards, they are interrupted by Curley looking for his wife. Throughout the novel, these three characters face many hardships because they are harshly judged and often misunderstood. ", "Yeah. We're gonna go in an' see the boss. They may be friends, but we know they are not equal, as one walks behind the other, like a follower behind a leader. Curleys wife is only allowed to talk to Curley and always feels lonely because of it. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint even funny (Steinbeck 81). Some of the most clearly shown examples in John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men are gender, age and racial discrimination. WebCharacters, settings, and key themes. He accuses Slim of being in the barn with her, though none of them had seen her. I wisht I could put you in a cage with about a million mice an let you have fun. His anger left him suddenly. George understands that Lennie cannot learn from his mistakes, no matter how diligently George tries to teach him, and that others will not understand Lennie's disability. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. With the conditions old people faced it meant it was much tougher for them people to get jobs. John Stamos, A world is to be fought for, sung, and built: Love must imagine the world. There were footsteps behind her, going by. Crooks to Lennie. Its mean here. We gotta stay, George said shortly. The guys said on account of the n*****'s got a crooked back, Smitty can't use his feet." He gives the men power over him by being overly careful in what he does and says, because if he gets thrown out from the ranch, no one would take him. And now there aint a colored man on this ranch an theres jus one family in Soledad., Want me to tell ya whatll happen? Good point, but we're still not sure it's worth it. Author: Owen Arthur. I wanna get outa here., For two bits Id shove out of here. One can infer from reading the story that she is not looking for attention from another man, she is simply looking for someone to talk to. In John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, there are many example of prejudice. Thus, through Candy, Crooks, and Curleys wife, Steinbeck reveals the powerful. She started to scream, which made Lennie panic. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 3. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me.(68) White people have power over him so if he makes any mistake he can be easily cut off and canned. 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. They let the n***** come in that night. Lennie, Curleys wife, and Crooks are all misunderstood and discriminated against because of it. George often gets angry with Lennie because the physically very strong Lennie cannot control He keeps his distance from the others and expects them to do the same. Although she intends to deal with loneliness, George describes her as a tart and rattrap. He cant tell. 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. WebLennie is discriminated against in this way because of how he is misunderstood. In of Mice and Men the main characters have different levels of struggles. Lennie tells her he loves to feel soft things like fur and velvet. Crooks is the only black man working on the ranch. She sees Lennie alone and acting a bit strange. he asked. Not jus one, neither. Lennie asked. That aint no good, George.. Discrimination is displayed in many ways in the book, especially with the characters of Lennie, Crooks, Curleys wife, and Candy. He sleeps in a makeshift shed alone because he isn't allowed in the bunkhouse, which reflects the racial segregation common during this period. The final type of discrimination shown in the novel is discrimination against the physically and mentally disabled, in this case, Candy, Lennie, and once again Crooks. Blubberin like a baby! George said brusquely, Well he aint now. If he aint, I guess I better look someplace else, she said playfully. Curleys still mad about his hand. Slim is the only character who shows respect for Crooks. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. The two men travel together throughout the Salinas Valley of California to find steady work. Sure, its swell. You take a good big drink. He smiled happily. The boss makes Crooks the whipping boy of the ranch and lashes out at him whenever he is angry. Curley's wife is a weak character; the only power she has is threatening those with a disability or a person of color to control the situation. In the end, intolerance leads to tragedy for each one of them. As the only black man on the ranch, he is shown extreme discrimination. He is used feeling weak and vulnerable himself. The victims of these types of discrimination are Curleys wife, who is unhappy and bitter about her life, Candy, the old, disabled swamper and Crooks, the black stable buck. Michele L. Rivera How crazy it is to be "yourself" by trying to live up to an image of yourself you have unconsciously created in the minds of others. It's not true. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. What are two examples showing how Lennie is discriminated against because of his disability in the book Of Mice and Men? One example of Lennie being discriminated against because of his mental disability takes place when Curley views him as an easy target and vents his rage by punching Lennie in the face. She closed on him. Crooks and Candy give her a hard time and ask her to leave. When George and Lennie first arrive at the ranch, they meet Candy, who tells them how Crooks was beaten one Christmas by another worker. People discriminated against because of their differences and how they dont fit in. He cant turn to some other guy and ast him if he sees it too. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 2. The story revolves around and Lennie and George, two workers who travel together. George stopped whistling and listened.Poor bastard, he said softly, and then went on whistling again.(Steinbeck 's 8) George in this quote brings down Lennie, because he is not as smart as him or he is slow compared to other people to George and you can say he is not normal. Lennie doesnt do anything back until George tells him to fight back. Maybe hes showin off for his wife., Don?t you even take a look at that bitch. Lennie tells George about his dream of having rabbits. Cause Im black. What you want of a dead mouse, anyways? I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along, said Lennie. If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was asleep, an then it would be all right. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. They was lookin for us, but they didnt catch us. Lennie giggled happily. "Listen, N*****," she said. Debasish Mridha, People look at me and go, 'You must have it made. Lennie got them kicked out of many jobs, but they landed a spot as a ranch hand bucking barley. But not us. Lennie broke in. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. I could get along so easy and so nice if I didnt have you on my tail. Carlsons exit is related to the discrimination lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a producer fired by the network last month, the sources said. Designed for GCSE English Literature Examinations Prejudice and Discrimination. Steinbeck shows how easily someone was discriminated against in the 1930s. Jesus Christ, youre a crazy bastard! I forgot, Lennie said softly. What is Steinbeck's message about discrimination? Lennie explains to George about the killing of the mice. Everbody! Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1. - Description & Quotes, Of Mice and Men Chapter 5: Summary & Quotes, Who is Curley's Wife in Of Mice and Men? Couldn we maybe bring him in an theyll lock him up? Les go, George. What this means is that people are not truth to themselves so they have to reform in bullying and discriminating each other. Lennie copes by petting mice or soft material. Curleys wife, Crooks, and Candy are discriminated against on the ranch just like they would be in society. Curley knows about Lennie's lack of intelligence and decides to start hitting him.
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