How Does Steinbeck Present Crooks Discrimination

Discrimination relevance in Of Mice and Men

“Watch the walls come down, whether it's in the South or on Wall Street. When the walls come down, what do we find? More markets, more talent, more capital and growth. Which means that the race and sex discrimination stunt economic growth. It's not good for capitalism. It's not good for America's growth. And it's not morally right” (Jackson). In the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the idea of discrimination comes through in; ageism, racism and sexism. Discrimination is present against those with ethical and physical disabilities. Discrimination is found in many characters in the novel, though, discrimination is clearly portrayed by the following characters; Crooks, Curley’s wife

and Candy. Ultimately, discrimination is found indefinitely in those characters; they illustrate many inflicted injustices, that contribute to the theme, in this novel.
Through the character Crooks, he portrays racism, in this novel.

Crooks is a lonely, oppressed African American stable buck. “CROOKS, THE NEGRO stable buck, had his bunk in the harness, room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” Steinbeck (66). Crooks is discriminated, by being isolated and ostracized from the other ranch hands. Likewise, Crooks is mainly discriminated because he is African American, and is viewed as a less being in society. Additionally, Crooks has no rights at the ranch, and he knows his place there. In the following quote Crooks is being threatened in his own room, by Curley’s wife. “ Listen niggar, she said. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap” Steinbeck (80). In the aftermath of the confrontation between Crooks and Curley’s wife, he becomes very scared. Knowing that Curley’s wife has power over him, to make his life miserable or cause a life threatening problem to occur. Curley’s wife implies to Crooks, that if he ever confronts her again in an argument, she will accuse him of rape. Then, Crooks will be killed or most likely, lynched. Reason being; because Crooks has no rights, for he is treated almost like an animal, described also like an object, not a person often. Steinbeck possibly included this theme, because in the 1930’s African Americans were treated unjustly, in early american

society.
Next, Curley’s wife portrays sexism, in the novel. In the novel, Curley’s wife is in Crooks room when she states, “Well, I ain’t giving you no trouble. Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?” Steinbeck (77). Curley’s wife is discriminated against by having to stay away from the ranch hands, can’t be around or talk to anyone except Curley. She is treated like a contagious virus, in the novel. In addition, Curley’s wife in the next quote is in the barn trying to talk to Lennie, but is not getting a conversation out of him. Curley’s wife expresses, “You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” Steinbeck (87). Women in that time period were treated as their husband’s property, they had really no say in what they desired in their lives, and no decision making authority. Possibly, Steinbeck may have included this in the theme because he wanted to show what women’s lives were like in the 1930’s.
Lastly, through the character Candy, he is discriminated against because of his age and disability.

Candy had an accident working on the ranch that took off his hand, four years ago and left him disabled, forever. The novel repeatedly mentions Old Candy rubbing his stump of a wrist, hinting at his disability. Furthermore, Candy interrupts George and Lennie talking about the fatta of the lan when George states to Old Candy, “Say-what’s it to you? You got nothing to do with us” Steinbeck (59). As, Old Candy talks to them, George looks at him in disgust, for being in there business, and George thinks of no way he can be of a service to then. For he is old and disabled, but Candy does not give up, and tells them how he can help them pay the majority of the money for the land and, be of a service to them. In fact in the next quote Candy is persuading them to let him go with them, for he knows himself that he is disabled and old. “They’ll can me purty soon. Just’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the country. Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the garden even after I ain’t no good at it” Steinbeck (60). Therefore, Candy is discriminated against because he is old and disabled. Incidentally, Steinbeck may have included this type of discrimination in the novel, because he wanted to show how society treated the disabled and the elderly, in that time frame. During that era, the mentally ill or disabled were usually locked up and

isolated from society.
In conclusion,