Prejudice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, shows the harmful effects of prejudice. Set on the California ranch during the Great Depression, the novel depicts characters who are discriminated against because of features that set them apart from other ranch workers. In particular, Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife are negatively affected by prejudice.
First, Crooks, a negro stable buck, is a lonesome man who is isolated from others because of racist views. For example, when Crooks is unexpectedly visited by Lennie, he angrily rants at him, “they play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink” (68). Crooks is purposely excluded from everyday activities--including cards--because he is black. He is not allowed to participate

in games and tournaments that his superior white co-workers can play and is prohibited from coming into the bunkhouse. Instead, he is subjected to a small shed leaning off a wall of a barn that does not compare to the living quarters the other men live in. In addition, he is belittled by insults thrown at him such as “nigger” which reveals how little they respect him. As a result of his discrimination, Crooks spends most of his time reading books or playing horseshoes alone until dark. Forced to become secluded because of his color, Crooks pretends to despise the company of others. Secretly, he longs for a companion to talk to. Sadly, no man on the ranch will gladly speak to him on their spare time. Although Crooks faces harsh criticism because of his color, Candy, however, experiences ageist comments made by fellow ranch workers that hinders him from joining them on trips to the bars.
Candy, a one-handed swamper, is also a victim of prejudice. For instance, after Crooks points out that all the men went to town, Lennie mentions, “all but old Candy. He just sets in the bunkhouse sharpening his pencil and sharpening and figuring” (69). Candy is not invited to join the ranch workers on their trip to some cathouses and bars, because he is not as young as they are. Seeing as Candy is the old man of the ranch, he is not allowed to come to trips that seem to be reserved only for those in the right age group. Unfortunately, aging is something he cannot prevent, and his friends are using it as a reason why he cannot go on certain trips with them. Luckily, Candy is not alone. He deals with these harsh social rules restricting him from doing certain things by spending time with his pet dog, who like him, has aged with him throughout their several years together. Additionally, his co-workers’ harsh treatment of him causes Candy to become emotionally distraught. An example of this is when he somberly reveals that he wishes someone will shoot him once he gets fired from his job because of his age. While Candy is suffering from ageism, Curley’s wife is troubled by men who view her as a flirt.
Finally, Curley’s wife, the sole woman on the ranch, is a victim of sexism.

In particular, during Whit and George’s conversation about Curley’s wife, George assumes that “she’s gonna make a mess . . . [and that] she’s a jailbait all set on the trigger” (51). After a brief conversation, George makes her out to be a troublemaker for speaking to other men. As the only female on the camp and the wife of the boss’s son, she is plagued by sexist comments such as “tart.” Every man on the ranch steers clear of her in fear that she will cause trouble for them. They believe she is someone who is no good because of the way she constantly finds reasons to speak to the men on the ranch. Contrary to what they believe, she only chats with them as a way for her to satisfy her need for company. Unfortunately, the ranchmen shun her everytime she comes near them which is a root source of why she is lonely. It also does not help that her husband has no care for her feelings and consistently makes trips to cathouses. This results in her being willing to talk to anyone who gives her attention, including “the weak ones” of the ranch. Furthermore, when Candy questions her commitment towards her husband, she bursts out into a wave of anger crying out that she does not want to be trapped in her house all the time. Obviously, Curley’s wife is deeply hurt by the the treatment she receives from the men who presume her to be a

tramp.
Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife are emotionally impacted by the discrimination they face. Overall, Of Mice and Men reveals that prejudice opinions towards someone are common during the Great Depression and can have traumatic effects on the victims themselves. Throughout the book, Steinbeck shows how Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife behave as a consequence of the prejudice running rampage around the camp. Unfortunately, they are unable to do anything about it, and must live within their social class. Although America’s outlook on discrimination has change for the good today, back then, someone’s perspective towards another changes the way they live forever.