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Thesis: Segregation impacts human existence. Ideas: Segregation means separation. Segregation means “the action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things or being set apart”. Segregation is seen in the book of Mice and Men as setting the “different” people away from the “capable” people. the whole idea of segregation is separating a group of people from another group of people. So technically everyone is segregated. The dream of belonging stands in sharp contrast to the reality that segregates those who are different. We see this in Of Mice and Men as the Flawed ones being less than the Good ones. Since the people on You see where the people on the lower side of the spectrum are at in life through Crooks, …show more content…
This here's my room. Nobody got any right in here but me" (Steinbeck 68) Crooks is a negro, and he is mistreated on the farm. Since he isn't allowed in the bunkhouse, he doesn't want anyone in his room. However, Crooks is actually pleased that everyone is talking to him. When it is just Lennie, Candy and him, Crooks feels like an equal. All three of them have their own flaws that segregates them in different ways. Another example of this is when Lennie and Candy are talking to Crooks about their dream farm, Crooks says, "Seems like ever' guy got land in his head" (Steinbeck 75) Crooks had the dream that they both had. Crooks, however, came to the depressing realization on how the american dream is just that, a dream. Its a sickness that infects the dreamers, just to crush their hope when their dreams fail. …show more content…
When Curley's wife enters the barn and talks to Lennie, she tells Lennie how, " 'Nother time I met a guy... that same night" (Steinbeck 88) Curley's wife reveals how the the american dream lied to her. She reflects on what she could have had, and hates the situation she is in now. She could have been famous, but now she is stuck on a farm where she is avoided and married to a violent jerk. This shows how she had a taste of the higher people, and she's really the only one that realizes the segregation, other than Crooks obviously. Also, After George executes Lennie, Slim is comforting George, while Carlson says to Curley, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' at them two guys" (Steinbeck 107). Carlson doesn't understand the bond between George and Lennie. No one on the ranch understands George's pain and guilt, except for Slim. They are all looking out for themselves and will help others as long as its not a burden to them. The compassion on the ranch is minimal, and only lives in George and Slim. The segregation in the ranch splits everyone, and Lennie and George are the only people that have another one to turn to, with the exception of Slim, who can openly talk to everyone. The final example of this is when, after Curley came in, George said "Look Lennie! This here ain't...done nothing to him" (Steinbeck 29) This shows how George wants Lennie to avoid Curley as much as
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
Curley’s wife represents her broken dreams of becoming an actress. Lennie and George represent a dream in progress, it is uncertain if their plans will work out as intended or plummet before takeoff, even Crooks and Candy see the appeal in Lennie and George’s fantasy and join them. The dream in progress gives hope to Lennie and George and continued to even after losing previous jobs. Curley’s wife is constantly restricted, she married Curley so that she would no longer be alone but now is in the same state as before, just on a ranch of men. She tries to talk to the other men but she is then seen as "jail bait" and avoided, making her even lonelier. Her dream of being an actress has failed because she chose a quick way out and married Curley. She is now living in her failure and has no longer a dream to aim for. Perhaps the most important part of the story is the the part in which Lennie has accidentally killed the puppy given to him by Slim, and is grieving over him in the barn, “This ain’t no bad thing like I got to go hide in the brush. Oh! no. This ain’t. I’ll tell George I foun’ it dead.” He unburied the puppy and inspected it, and he stroked it from ears to tail. He went on sorrowfully, “But he’ll know. George always knows. He’ll say, ‘You done it. Don’t try to put nothing over on me.’ An’ he’ll say, ‘Now jus’ for that you don’t get to tend no rabbits!” (Steinbeck, 85) He feels powerless to his own strength, he believes that he will never achieve his dream because of his mistake. George and the other men are out once again and the only person who comes to his emotional aid is none other than Curley’s wife. “Don’t you worry about talkin’ to me. Listen to the guys yell out there. They got four dollars bet in that tenement. None of them ain’t gonna leave till it’s over.” “If George sees me talkin’ to you he’ll give me hell,” Lennie said cautiously.” (Steinbeck, 85) He
and has no family and the only old man on the ranch. We are told him
When asked about John Steinbeck’s career, people often refer to Steinbeck as a playwright, journalist, and a well-known novelist. The book Of Mice and Men is a popular novel by John Steinbeck and a required read for most high school students. Most of Steinbeck 's novels have a central theme focusing on the relationship between man and his environment. The American dream for George and Lennie, two of the main characters in Of Mice and Men, is to have a place of their own, to be respected, and to work hard for everything they earn and deserve. In Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the land and a hope of a better life becomes the talisman of an American dream for Lennie and George that is left unfulfilled.
Throughout the course of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men the way others react to Crooks, Candy, and Lennie are all examples of how being perceived as weaker and different can lead to being alienated from others. Due to the disadvantage Crooks, Candy, and Lennie are all shown to have during the book, Steinbeck shows how being perceived as weak can distance one from others, as well as limiting
In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck reflects the conception of the fleeting American dream in the characters of George, Lennie, and Crooks. Steinbeck depicts the harsh reality that migrant workers, most likely, would not achieve their dream through George and Lennie’s failure to gain
Racism, which is an important aspect of Of Mice and Men, exhibits the historical value conveyed in the novel. The Great Depression is a monumental facet used in this novel to alter the way the characters behaved. A character from the novel who goes by the name Crooks is greatly impacted by the Great Depression because he is a black man living and working among men who are white. Due to his skin tone, Crooks is treated differently than all of the other workers. Consequently he is forced to live by himself and not interact with the white men. As soon as Lennie showed any interest in him, Crooks grew dreadfully sensitive and overprotective of all of his rights and belongings, he said to Lennie, “Well, I got a right to have a light. You go
In this fictional novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck sought to bring out the racial differences in George and Lennie's time. This racial diversity impacted African Americans socially and economically. Crooks is one example of an outsider, from this novel. He is an African American that grew up with white people in his childhood, but took a separate path, once realizing society's standard of segregation. Loneliness was a new feeling to Crooks; because he had always been compatible with other people. Even though being an outsider made him grumpy, he was forced to learn how to be independent. As a result, his space, while still giving others theirs.
Society has never been perfect, and it never will be, however most people have certainly tried to make the world a better place. Dr. Hannon is a person who works with hoarders to help them let go of all their strange collections that do not help the hoarder in any way. However, society in the 1930s was not the same, and people were not as ready to help others as they are now. The American Society in the 1930s was intolerant to difference because people were not ready to help people who weren’t the same as them.
lonely. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Crooks, a black stable buck, endures alienation due to racial
Segregation The separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence in a restricted area, by barriers to social intercourse, by separate educational facilities, or by other discriminatory means (www.m-w.com). This is the textbook definition for
Throughout Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck displays how isolation through sexism and racism causes one to crave attention, and he helps the reader to understand the problems in society about racism and sexism through portraying Curley’s Wife and Crooks both craving attention in their own ways and experiencing various setbacks.
didn't allow him to hang out in the bunkhouse with them. At one point in the
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 mentally disabled individual. This prevented the characters from reaching their full potential and causes tragedy.