Racial Tension In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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When one thinks of discovering America, Christopher Columbus usually comes to mind. However, to broaden the meaning symbolically is to encompass the finding out about where one lives, how others live, and the life that can result from discovering America through a personal journey. In Travels With Charley and Of Mice and Men, the landscapes, racial tensions, and pursuit of the American dream all figure into Steinbeck's distinctive portrayal of what it means to truly discover America. Breathtaking landscapes are what make up the most beautiful parts of this Earth. The numbers of stories about self discovery and self worth happen all while watching a sunrise, lying by a streaming riverbed, hiking a forest trail, and so on. The point is that …show more content…

Racial tension has played such a big part in American history that it appears as themes for even the most famous novels. In Of Mice and Men, the character of "Crooks" is the biggest symbol of racial discrimination throughout the entire novel. Crooks is a worker on the ranch, just like the main characters Lennie and George, but Crooks is an African-American man. Since there is a difference in race between Crooks and the other workers on the ranch, Crooks has to live in smaller, filthier quarters than the other ranchhands. An article written by eNovels.com goes more in depth about the racial discrimination that Crooks faces in the novel. The article explains an event in the book, where Curly's wife just walks right in to Crooks' room because she thinks she is higher in status than him. The source quotes a line by Crooks that says, "You got no rights comin' in a colored man's room. You got no rights messing around in here at all," in which Curley's wife replies, "Well, you keep your place then. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny," (Steinbeck 17). The source also points out that Crooks and Lennie are both social outcasts. Crooks is because of his race, and Lennie is because of his awkward personality and mental handicap ("How Does Steinbeck Show Racial Discrimination with Crooks in Of Mice and Men?"). Steinbeck shows the audience the discrimination Americans …show more content…

Everybody wants a job that pays nicely, but doesn't take up all thier time. Everybody wants love and wants to be loved in return, and everyone wants a home to go to when the day is done. This American Dream was all the hype back in 1848 when settlers would travel thousands of miles across the United States just to reach gold, and to ultimately reach a new life. The California Gold Rush is just one example of how the American Dream has shaped the American people. In Of Mice and Men and Travels With Charley, Steinbeck engages the audience with the protagonist(s)' search for their perfect American dream, ("Steinbeck's Theme of Friendships"). On page 103, the character George describes to his best friend Lennie how they are going to be different than the rest of the other ranchhands. "“George's voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before. 'Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. They come to a ranch an' work up a stake, and the first thing you know they're poundin' their tail on some other ranch. They ain't got nothing to look ahead to. But not us. We gon be different," (Steinbeck 103). In Travels With Charley, the main character, Steinbeck himself, emphasizes the theory that all Americans are constantly searching for a better American dream. He says, "I saw in their eyes something I was

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