‘Of Mice and Men’ “We're imperfect people trapped in an imperfect world until we get to that place beyond.” (Gifford). The word “oppression” means, feeling trapped or burdened. In the story, three major characters show signs of oppression; these characters, are George, Curley’s Wife and Crooks. One the the many themes in John Steinbeck's ‘Of Mice and Men’ is oppression. The first character we see in the the novel that shows oppression is the main character, George Milton. In the novel, George had a partner along his journey, Lennie Small. George was very smart, quick-thinking and witty. However, his companion, Lennie was mentally disabled. George once said to Lennie after being upset, “I got you! You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get. Jus’ keep me shovin’ all …show more content…
Being a negro in 1937 didn’t earn you a lot of rights, especially at Curley’s farm. “Maybe you guys better go, (he/Crooks said) I ain’t sure I want you in here no more A colored man got to have some rights even if he doesn’t like ‘em.” (Steinbeck 82) One of people that really shows Crooks he has no rights is in fact, Curley’s wife. There is one quote after Curley’s wife has spoken to Crooks that also shows how very little rights he has. “Crooks has reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego- nothing to arouse, either like or dislike. He said “Yes, ma’am,” and his voice was toneless.” (Steinbeck 81). In a sense Crooks shows oppression because unlike like the other two characters, all he wants is to be more than a negro man, he wants rights. The other two characters had dreams and hopes, while Crooks just in a sense, just wanted to be free. In conclusion, ‘Of Mice and Men’ did show many different themes. However, I believe that the main theme shown in the story, is oppression. Oppression, or feeling trapped, is shown throughout the book, in all different characters; such as George, Curley’s wife and
John Steinbeck, an American novelist, is well-known for his familiar themes of depression and loneliness. He uses these themes throughout a majority of his novels. These themes come from his childhood and growing up during the stock market crash. A reader can see his depiction of his childhood era. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows the prominent themes of loneliness, the need for relationships, and the loss of dreams in the 1930s through the novels’ character.
The society in question is refuses to reciprocate the equality envisioned by the narrator and without any intention of compliance continually uses this man to their own advantage. It is not only this exploitation, b...
Firstly, I am going to talk about Lennie who was known as a man with
First and foremost, Crooks is a person who gets treated with discrimination, much more than anyone else. Simply because he is black and has a crooked back, from which he received his name from. People continuously treat him horribly, one person being Curley’s Wife. “Well you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even
He fondly remembers childhood memories of him and his father living on their own chicken ranch together. When he was a child, he used to let the "white kids play at our place, an' sometimes went to play with them." (70) However, only once the white people took away his father's ranch, did he understand his father's discontempt. Yet he dreams of a time when he will be treated equally. The importance of his dream can be seen when he proudly tells Lennie, that he "ain't a southern negro,"(70) which implies that he was born in America and deserves equal rights. Furthermore, Crooks is aware of his civil rights, even when they are violated, as he owns a copy of 1905 California Civil Rights Code. To further this point, Crooks constantly uses the word right in his sentences, for example by telling Lennie, that he "got no right to come in,"(68) which also highlights Crooks bitterness of being excluded by the white men on the ranch. After having dropped his protective cocoon when talking to Lennie and the old swamper, his dream is in part realized. This is due to both of them not seeing him as inferior and sharing their desire of buying a small ranch with him. Again, Steinbeck illustrates dreams' equalizing
An example of how the men are discriminative towards Crooks is that he is forced to live in a shack away from the bunkhouse and also Crooks says that "They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say "I stink" and "I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse." An example of when Curley's Wife is critical towards Crooks is when she looks into his room to see what Lennie and Crooks are doing and then she states, shaking her head, that they left the weak ones behind. Also, she threatens to have Crooks hanged because a black man should never talk to a white woman the way he just had. As a result of all of these discriminatory acts against him, Crooks feels unwanted and lonely because of his color and placement on the farm.
In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, two men, George and Lennie, find a new job at a ranch and many problems occur while they are there. Being migrant workers, George and Lennie find themselves traveling a lot, looking for new jobs. This pair of men find it even harder that it is to find new jobs because of the disability that Lennie has. Lennie’s disability doesn’t allow him to process ideas and situations in his brain as well as many others. Because of this, many problems happen when the men find new jobs which then causes them to get fired and lose their jobs. At their most recent job, a lot of problems and events occur and many characters there face the problem of discrimination. How do you think it feels to be discriminated
Conflict, by definition, is a back and forth struggle between two opposing forces. In the literary work, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, it is clear, the protagonist, George Milton, undergoes many conflicts that lead to the novel’s overall purpose. Steinbeck weaves together George’s conflicts with others, himself, and with society to illustrate what the true meaning of friendship is.
In the short story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there are many themes and literary elements that circulate around the two main characters George and Lennie. One of the most important themes in this short story is the presence of disabilities within the characters. These disabilities represent the significance of how during the Great Depression many people who had disabilities were said to be an added cost or “weaknesses”. Most characters are illustrated with some form of disability that enables them or makes it difficult to accomplish certain goals while also working against them in the environment in which they live in.
When you’re in a position of high authority, it comes with a great sum of power. Having a great deal of control can corrupt and can lead to the abuse of it. Abuse of power is using their power for their own benefit even if it may harm others. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the effects of the abuse shown by Curley and Curley’s wife to the other characters will ultimately lead to a tragic end.
When Curly’s wife went to Crooks to ask if he has seen Curly around, Curly said that he hasn’t seen him, but still she was standing there and Crooks said, “You got no rights coming in a coloured man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all.” Steinbeck’s use of Crook’s dialogue shows that Crooks had enough pride and independence to stand up to Curly’s wife. She turned on him in scorn. “Listen, Nigger,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself. Steinbeck uses Curly’s wife’s dialogue to tell the readers that Crooks was always discriminated against. When Lennie was wandering around at the ranch and went into Crook’s room, Crooks said, “You go get outta my rooms. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house and you ain’t wanted in my room.” Steinbeck uses crook’s dialogue, racism and loneliness to demonstrate that Crooks wanted to be left alone, but also from inside he wants to talk to someone. Readers may feel sympathy at Steinbeck’s idea of racism. Crooks was always treated badly and is always discriminated against.
Have mutual relationships with other people; don’t traverse life by yourself. In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie showed that being with another person can help. Without George, Lennie would have been lost, and without Lennie, George would have been nearly helpless in a fight. Without one another, the two men wouldn’t have been able to accomplish as much. Marriage is a relationship that can be quite helpful in a few ways. Marriage can help people out financially. The cost of living can be lessened if the married couple lives in the same home. If you need a person to talk to or a helper to take you to the doctor, than relationships can be extremely helpful. This is why it is essential to have fulfilling relationships. Without them,
Racial discrimination has been around for a long time, judging people for the color of their skin. Crooks is affected by this because he is black. Blacks in that time were thought as lesser than the white people. The racial discrimination affects Crooks' life in only negative ways. He is plagued by loneliness because of the color of his skin. His lack of company drives him crazy. Only when Lennie comes in to his room does he feel less lonely. He talked of his loneliness using a hypothetical scenario of George leaving Lennie. Crooks' responds to this discrimination by staying in his barn and being secluded. He doesn't want anyone to be in there but deep down he does so he can have some company. He isn't wanted in the bunk house or to play cards with the others because he is black. This effected the story by letting people walk all over him, letting them think they can do whatever they want, and ultimately making the people think they have a lot of power when really they do not.
Curley’s wife is a complex, main character in John Steinbeck’s novella, “Of Mice and Men”. She is introduced as an insignificant secondary character, but evidently posses the importance of causing the end of the novella. Despite the weight of her role, her value is hindered because of the culture towards women in the 1930s. Steinbeck uses imagery, foreshadowing, and metaphors to show loneliness analyzed through a Feminist Lens.
From the underground railroad of the mid 19th century to the civil rights movement of the 1960s', discrimination has always been a part of human culture, and for nearly as long, the courageous have been trying to fight it. Despite this effort, discrimination and prejudice are still prevalent problems in today's society. In John Steinbeck's world renowned novel, Of Mice and Men, four characters face discrimination at the hands of other characters, and society in general. John Steinbeck asserts that discrimination is a universal social problem that leads to inner turmoil. This discrimination is based upon race, age, sex, and physical ability, and causes pain in the form of peer alienation, physical fatigue, and sheer loneliness.