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One may choose to categorize an individual based upon their appearance or beliefs. On the contrary, one’s character can only be determined based upon their beliefs and happiness, not from what society may assume. The novella entitled, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck highlights the adventures of two outcasts and their quest to find their own utopia. However, they are continuously judged by their position in the world whilst attempting to further their travels. Three characters that are affected by their position in the world are George, Crooks, and Lennie who all feel separated as a result.
Indubitably, George’s position in the world is a low class worker desperately trying to make a living moving to and fro. George must receive working
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tickets in order to tend fields and help out around farms. Conjointly, he is affected by his position in the world because his work ethic surpasses most of his age, but only receives little pay. For instance, in the novella Of Mice and Men George communicates, “‘...We’re gonna go in an’ see the boss. Now, look-I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word’” (Steinbeck 6). Early in the novel, George expresses that Lennie and himself must acquire work tickets in order to only earn a miniscule income. As a result, George begins to feel separated from the world because he is currently unable to purchase his own land and settle down. Additionally, George is affected by his position in the world because old acquaintances do not want to communicate any further with him. Steinbeck accentuates the character of George by including the dialogue betwixt Lennie and George: ‘“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place” (Steinbeck 13). From the position that George currently holds within the world, it forces him to not have contact with family. Subsequently, George feels separated from the world due to the fact he cannot reach out to relatives. Next, Crooks’ position in the world can be portrayed as an African American male during the Great Depression, attempting to find self worth within the world.
Crooks has been on the same farm for years, constantly being mistreated by whoever wandered onto it. For example, in the novella Of Mice and Men the character Old Candy contributes, “‘Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger’” (Steinbeck 20). Crooks is constantly classified by the color of his skin. People constantly poke fun and throw racist, ungodly comments his way. He is affected by his position in the world because he is unable to earn substantial pay and feels separated from society because of the tone of his skin. Corrpsoifnyl, Crooks is unable to participate in games on the farm, nor live in the same living quarters as the others because of his skin color. For instance, on page 68 Crooks states in a conversation with Lennie, “‘Why you ain’t wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink.’” (Steinbeck). Crooks position in the world causes him to be unable to participate in events just because he is an African American member of society. Proportionately, Crooks feels separated because he cannot make a mark on the world because of the color of his skin and is forced to tend to farms for little to no pay for hours at a …show more content…
time. Finally, Lennie’s position in the world affects his overall well-being.
Lennie is an enormous human who is made fun of for being slow, both mentally and physically, and is often picked on. For example, in the novella Of Mice and Men Lennie frantically exclaims, “‘George,’ he cried. ‘Make ‘um leave me alone, George.’ He Backed until he was against the wall, and Curley followed, slugging him in the face. Lennie’s hands remained at his sides; he was too frightened to defend himself” (Steinbeck 63). The character, Curley is trying to start a fight with Lennie. However, Lennie is extremely scared and does not like fighting even though he is giant. As a result, Lennie’s position in the world causes him to be picked on due to him being forgetful and not the “sharpest pencil in the box”. Correspondingly, Lennie is viewed as a monster due to his significant size. He is constantly accused of hurting animals on purpose and even human beings. For instance, on page 65 George adds, “‘He didn’t know what to do. I told you nobody ought never to fight him’” (Steinbeck). After attacking Lennie, Curley makes Lennie out to be a monster and tells everyone that he crushed his hand on purpose. In reality, Lennie was defending himself which forced him to feel separated from the other based upon his position in society because he is viewed as an outcast since he is quite
immense. In essence, one should not be assessed based upon their appearance, nor their ability to complete everyday tasks. Yet, society seems to categorize their peers on the flaws that make one human. The novella, Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck highlights the journey that two ordinary, life lifelong friends take to reach moral success. Along the way, they are plagued by the judgement of others and are forced to be positioned in the world based upon the words of other people. Three characters that are highly troubled with their position in the world are George, Crooks, and Lennie. Ultimately, the characters prove that one should not be judged based upon appearance. An individual should be recognized for their heart and their will to assist others. In a perfect society, one would be treated correctly.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses stereotypes and discrimination to convey a message of how the characters feel. A lot of the stereotypes and clichés are just common beliefs of the times, but a few are situational. To quote a quite distinguished reader, "Characters are ‘trapped’- either by what others think of them, or by their situation." A lot of the character’s feelings about themselves and what others think of them will lead to loneliness.
Crooks, the black stable buck, is isolated from the community of migrant workers because of his racial status. When Lennie goes into the barn to see his puppy, he and Crooks have a conversation. “'Why ain't you wanted?' Lennie asked. 'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black'” (68). Lennie is too kind-hearted and intellectually slow to visualize the apparent racial boundary that sets Crooks aside from Lennie and the rest of the workers. Crooks is so isolated from the rest of the workers that he says he “can't” play cards, not that he isn't allowed to, which means that the racial boundary is like a wall Crooks cannot cross. Because he is black, Crooks believes that he cannot play cards with the white men. He can't get over the racial boundary, and believes he will be forever separated from the white men. In the beginning of chapter 4, Steinbeck describes Crooks' living space. “Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the...
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.
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
Although discrimination is still present during the time period of the book, Crooks still attempts to make friends. Others treat Crooks unjust because he is different from others given that he is black. He does not know how to treat others because of the way others treat him; with disrespect. Furthermore, he does not know how to vent his frustration and as a result, lashes out at others because they are cruel to him. Crooks is not allowed to participate in daily events with white people. He is treated unfairly and therefore acts the same way toward the white people (the ones who offended him.)
The racial discrimination was one of the aspects of the discrimination in this story. Consequently, Crooks had to battle with various difficulties and conflicts, which prevented him from reaching his full potential. The ranch hands did not let Crooks live, eat, and play with them because his skin colour was different. It led to the conflict between him and Lennie. "Why ain't you wanted?" Lennie asked. "Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.” (Steinbeck, 68). In this conversation between Lennie and African - American stable buck Crooks, Crooks explains why he could not accepted to play cards together with other ranch hands. The fact that other ranch hands discriminate Crooks because of his skin colour is one of the important examples that prove social belief that race was one factor to determine a person’s value in Depression era. Crooks was isolated. This isolation prevented Crooks ...
Human nature cannot be impacted by society's views. Crook's is an African American stable boy who is isolated due to his race the farm that is populated heavily by white men. Even though Crooks had been detached from the men on the farm, he allows
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.
In Of Mice and Men, an older gentleman named Crooks was discriminated for multiple reasons. For instance, Crooks was African American, so the bigotry on the farm was unimaginable. The men called him racist names like “Stable Buck” or “The Nigger.” He also had a physical disability that dawned on his appearance. Having a crooked back made people think less of him, and men on the farm often terrorized and beat him. The men also thought that because he was an African American that he smelt bad, like an animal. To make things even worse, they made him sleep apart from the other men, near the stables. The whites thought that he came from so foreign land, like an exotic animal that was unwanted, so they didn’t know how to communicate with him. The discriminatory actions of the whites made Crooks hostile.
Crooks is a disabled black old man who works and lives in the stable. Crooks once said to Lennie, “they play cards in there, but I can’t play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me” (Steinbeck 68). this shows anger and doubts against people as he believes they are there to harm him. Crooks has a disabled back due to a horse kicking his back while at work, in fact, that is how he got his name. The main reason for Crook’s isolation is because of the color of his skin. Crooks is not only left aside from activities but he is left in the stable to live along with with the animals instead of sleeping with the men in the bunkhouse. Crooks was thrown and harmed so much that he believes that he should not trust anyone and that he will never be accepted in
Steinbeck uses crooks as a symbol of racial injustice, he shows this throughout the novella omam to show how race affected people during the period of the great depression. In the Novella, Steinbeck depicts Crooks as someone who is ostracised from the bunkhouse and lives by himself. Steinbeck describes crooks bunk as "a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung."
Have you ever been so lonely that it hurt or you got so desperate just to have someone? Lots of people experience this but everyone overlooks them. In John Steinbeck's mice and men, There are characters that open up and show that they are lonely and wanted to be accepted. One person in the book is Crooks.
In the short story Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck uses Lennie to show society’s ignorance, cruelty, and lack of understanding in regards to the unknown. Unlike his companion George, Lennie is described as shapeless and brutishly large, and though he is innocent he is still capable of considerable violence. Although Lennie has a hard time controlling what he feels, he does his best to please those around him.
Steinbeck refers to Lennie Small as George’s opposite, and then continues to write “a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely”(2) . Lennie acts like a child due to his mental disabilities, yet he manages to have over-achieving strength and will always follow any instruction George gives
In addition to his glum feeling of isolation, Crooks has developed a cold attitude toward the others on the ranch, mostly due to the fact that they are white and exclude him from most activities. When Lennie asks Crooks why he is not wanted in the bunk house, Lennie expresses his disgust to him by saying, “‘’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me’”(Steinbeck 68). Crooks has become hardened because of his