Of Mice And Men: Outcasts On The Ranch

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Recommended: A reflection about diversity

Outcasts on the Ranch In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there are many characters who are considered to be outcasts. An outcast is a person who does not fit in. Through many differences on the ranch, different people are put into the category of being an outcast. Because of their differences, Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Lennie are all outcasts on the ranch. 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 …show more content…

Crooks, Curley’s wife, and most defiantly Lennie are the outcasts on the ranch. The novel presents Lennie as a mentally challenged, but an unusually strong worker who travels with his friend George. George takes care of Lennie as if he was his own child and Lennie cares for George the same way. “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (14). Lennie describes how he cares for George although he honestly just messes everything up for George. Lennie has the mind of a child and does not understand how to act and be an adult. Lennie continues to pet dead mice, feel shiny and smooth objects, and not know how to interact with other people. From time to time, George continues to care and try to make improvements with Lennie, but it just does not happen. Lennie continues to have the mind of a child and can never distinguish the different between right and wrong. Throughout the novel; from being a mentally challenged; tall, muscular man; Lennie is most definitely an outcast in the story Of Mice and Men. Because of Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Lennie’s differences from most people on the ranch; these people are considered to be the main outcasts on the ranch in California. As the novel shows, an outcast can be any person who stands out from the crowd. Although everyone is somewhat an outcast; because they are all different from each other, these three characters in the story are

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