In the book there is some physical and social limitations placed on the working-class. For example Crook he is an african american and he is crippled because when he was little he got kicked in the back by a horse. For these reason he is isolated away from the other people that work on the ranch. It impacts the class because it helps the go and look for companionship even though back then it was not okay for african americans to talk to white people because of their skin color. In addition Candy another worker that lives on the ranch lost his hand. He lost it in the machine while working on the ranch. For this reason he thinks they only keep him around because he got hurt their but when he can’t do no more work he is gonna have to leave. They
... during this time. Problem involving the racial order in society caused many deaths not only in the book but in real life. Jane was free but lived as a slave her entire life. Jane tried to escape to the south but failed and work the same jobs as she did when she was a slave. Black people were not slaves but law anymore but they still lived in mental slavery, bound by the racial order. Black people suffered for many years after slavery and fought for civil rights just as Jane, Ned, and Jimmy “The One” did.
But I think this book is more for those people who aren’t that aware of social class, or for the ones who feel that we live in a society that is classless, rather than the actual people who have realized the consequences that class really has on someone’s life. Many people can relate to what stories are told in the book; if not, they know of a person that can relate to these stories. As a person that grew up in the lower class, I can definitely relate to most of the stories told in this book. From experience, there is a big difference in this country between the rich, middle class, and the poorest that we see daily. Even those in the so-called working class have to make continuous sacrifices and live very differently from those positioned firmly in the middle class.
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.
A main character in the novella that is affected by marginalisation is Crook. The marginalisation of Crook’s character is used by Steinbeck to represent the black community in which the time period of the novella was set in. Crook is an important character in the novella as he presents a vision of the truth of the ‘American Dream’ and all the emotions of the people at the bunk house. Crook finds himself pushed out of the social circle in which the other predominantly white ranchers are in. Crook is then pushed to live in the barn and not live with the other white ranch workers in the bunk house. The alternative men don’t enter this area because they are scared of Crook because of his skin colour. For, as he tells Lennie, "I ain't a southern negro." (Page 79) In his novel of socialist motifs regarding the socially and economically voteless travelling employee of the Great Depression, Crooks character represents the ideal voteless
One of the factors that create an imbalance of power within a society is a person's socioeconomic status. Often people with low socioeconomic status are undervalued in society. This imbalance can cause issues with the feelings of security and confidence. Also opportunities and choices can be limited for some people, but expanded to others. People often identify with roles of different socioeconomic status groups, based on their own socioeconomic status, and this can limit creativity and the potential of groups or individuals. If the world believes that people can go from “rags to riches” in America, then there should be an opportunity for all socioeconomic groups.
Several characters in the novel Of Mice and Men are presented with additional obstacles throughout the book. Whether because of color, sex, or disabilities, John Steinbeck purposefully did this to illustrate oppression. Of Mice and Men explores the
Thomas Carlyle, philosopher, once stated, “Isolation is the sum total of wretchedness to a man.” There is nothing in this world more heartbreaking than the lack of healthy relationships. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is an insightful story about man-to-man bonds. It is set during the 1930s, when the United States was going through the Great Depression. At this time, everyone, including migrant workers similar to the ones in our story, had difficulties finding secure jobs. This resulted in an attitude of every man for himself. Some of the characters in the story can connect well with others; however, the rest have a hard time fitting in. Slim, the jerkline skinner, is one of the people who can blend in with the other ranch workers. This
and has no family and the only old man on the ranch. We are told him
The book takes place in the great depression where power was everything and if you were weak you were killed off by the strong so that they could survive. The characters understood this and tried to appear stronger and more powerful than each other to get by. Curly fights larger men, to appear strong. Crook threatens Lennie with the thought that George will leave him, and this is meant to scare him because Lennie has a special relationship with George that is irreplaceable. Carlson shoots Candy’s dog to show masculinity in a way and strip Candy of the one thing he really loves. And Curley's wife threatens to hang crooks to prove that even though she is a woman she still has a voice on the farm.
This aspect is reflected by use of the time period’s race standards, as revealed in the following quote. Crooks whined in sorrow, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” (Steinbeck 73). This quote suggests that Crooks’ exposure of discrimination has forced his isolation, preventing him from a healthy amount of human interaction and possibly driving mental illness. The indifference to women back then also donates to the effects of isolation and loneliness in the novel, as seen through Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife yells in exasperation, “Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody?” (Steinbeck 87). This quote illustrates Curley’s wife’s frustration and anger of being shunned by the other people on the ranch, and the lack of her actual name, only being referred to as “Curley’s wife”, may also reveal her as being considered Curley’s property rather than spouse. In the novel, the characteristic of inevitability of age contributes to the effects of isolation and need for companionship. After Candy’s dog is shot, it’s revealed that Candy faces age discrimination. Candy comments in a monotone voice: “Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the county,” (Steinbeck 60). This example shows that Candy is aware of how useless he is in the eyes of the other men on the ranch due to his age, and will face adversity of being
The first and most obvious outcast in the novel is Crooks. Crooks is the only black ranch hand and he has a very crooked back. Not only is he cripple, Crooks also lives in the ranch barn and not in the bunkhouse because he is considered to be different and also treated differently by other ranch hands. The reason why Crooks lives in the barn is because other ranch hands refuse
In 1935, his novel Tortilla Flat established him as a popular and critical success but unfortunately his parents died before he achieved his first success.
From undergoing sacrifice to enduring unpleasant moments in life. There were many moments in a women life where they would of have to sacrifice something great in order also receive some great in return too.
Another topic that in interesting to discuss is why this white boy was forced to live in such poor conditions. Dalton Conley stated in the book that despite his mother and fathers economic standings, his family was able to maintain a livable lifestyle where many neighbors and friends at that time could not of enjoyed. His family could have moved to a more up scale, refined community, but simply couldn't afford it.
Discrimination was one of the issues that caused conflict in the novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. One example of discrimination in the novel comes in the form of racial discrimination against Crooks, as he is an African American. Another example of discrimination is gender discrimination against Curley’s wife. Finally, there is discrimination against mentally disabled people, which is evident in Lennie’s character. The ranch hands' actions and conversations demonstrated the racial discrimination against Crooks for his skin colour, gender discrimination against Curley’s wife for her gender, and prejudice against Lennie, who was a mentally disabled individual.