How ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck and ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou present Racism and Discrimination on the black society, also how the writers present their ideas on the topic and their thoughts on the subject. John Steinbeck presents ‘Of Mice and Men’ is speaking from the third person, speaking as if he was looking onto the farm and describing the acts, events taking place on the ranch and how the characters discriminate against others in comparison to this Maya Angelou presents ‘Still I Rise’ is speaking from the first person, speaking from experience and the acts that happened to her describing the stereotypical views that were depicted on the black society in the 1970’s. The audience of ‘Of Mice and Men’ is wide and diverse. …show more content…
The use of short words and phrases allows it to be read by young adults and adults alike, John Steinbeck wanted this short novel to be read quickly but also thoughtfully. This would allow the reader to get an insight into the mind of a 1930’s ranch worker and how they would treat someone if they were black therefore seeing how the black society was discriminated against and how they became the subject of a very prejudiced view. This is similar to the audience of ‘Still I Rise’. The audience primarily is a white one, this is so she can try show that she wants to prove them wrong, speak to them directly. Speaking to them directly allows Maya Angelou the ability to make the poem seem personal to the reader. Both authors saw an issue with how blacks were treated in America throughout the time for ‘Of Mice and Men’ which was in the 1930’s but for ‘Still I Rise’ it was how they were treated in the 1970’s. Either way blacks were treated the same with very little difference, even do slavery was abolished in the law book since the turn of the 19th century, so clearly since the rules changed; peoples opinions and state of mind on the black community had not. This is what John Steinbeck and Maya Angelou express to their chosen audiences. Crooks was called names like ‘Nigga’, ‘Nigger’, and ‘Stable Buck’. The use of ‘Stable Buck’ to describe Crooks shows that he is more known for the job on the ranch rather than his personality. This could also suggest that there is a lack of respect for Crooks as a person, because he is black he doesn’t deserve the right to be called by his name rather than his occupation furthermore because Crooks is only known by his occupation it could show segregation between him and his fellow co-workers on the ranch since they refer to him as ‘Stable Buck’ it could suggest they don't want to or have the time to listen to him because of his skin colour reinforcing the idea of racism and discrimination being present in the 1930’s in America. The words ‘Nigga’ and ‘Nigger’ are used often to describe Crooks. Even do there is little differences in the implication and in the spelling of the word. When this word is used to describe Crooks it is considered as acceptable all do in the modern society of today it would have been heavily frowned upon. But because of the time the novella is set in (1930); America would have just came out the era of slavery were blacks would have been classed as second class citizens always below the white society. This is why the use of the word ‘Nigga’ is accepted upon the white society, until the 1970’s the word ‘nigger or nigga’ was acceptable. The usage of the word is to refer to a person so has dark coloured skin so when it is used in ‘Of Mice and Men’ it is classed as acceptable since the novella was set in 1930’s when the word was not frowned upon. Maya Angelou presents the lady in ‘Still I Rise’ as being a strong, independent women that wants to fight back against the white society. The attitude she presents at first in the poem would shock and surprise a major amount of the white society. She uses rhetorical questions to show her confidence and her motivation, her motivation is also shown by the first stanza when she says ‘I Will Rise’. By the repetitive use of the phrase ‘Still I Rise’ it implies that the women in the poem is determined to keep fighting on and on until she achieves her goal in the world. Of Mice and Men show themes of discrimination, prejudice,segregation and pain. All these themes apply to crooks in some way. He is segregated from the rest of his co-workers by not being allowed into the bunkhouse and expected to be on his own, in his own little broken shed. Crooks also experiences mental and physical pain, the mental pain he experiences is directly linked to the segregation that he also experiences. He says “ A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”. This shows that by him being segregated from the rest of the co-workers he is forced to be on his own, he also mentions “goes nuts” this could mean the segregation is making him go insane. Following onto this Crooks experiences physical pain from the disability he has. His back being crooked gives him a physical impairment meaning he is forced to be segregated from the rest of the workers since he is not able to do the work they do, instead he has to do lighter tasks on his own causing himself more mental pain by being segregated. Crooks being segregated links to the theme of discrimination of his race. Because Crooks is black and in 1930’s America, the white community frowned upon him. This is why he ain't allowed in the bunkhouse to socialize with the white people. Black people were heavily frowned upon and thought of being second class citizens like slaves. Even do slavery was abolished in the 19th century, the black community was still heavily discriminated by the white community. Just because the law stops the white community treating the black community as slaves, it won't change the frame of mind the white community has on the blacks. The white community in this time thought of the black community as second class citizens and they were inferior to them, so this is how the white community treated them. Another suggestion why Crooks and the black community was still frowned upon after the abolishment of slavery is because of the time of these events. In the 1930’s of america, there was the great depression and the wall street crash, the implications these events left about ⅓ of america unemployed and with the black community gaining rights; white people started to believe the black society was trying to steal the white peoples jobs. This could be why Crooks is frowned upon even do Crooks is a permanent worker and has been at the ranch longer than some other workers at the ranch. They still believe he is trying to take a job off them, they think Crooks is migrant worker going around at the time, trying to get jobs. The idea of the migrant workers and the blacks taking jobs of the white society and causing the great depression is heavily prejudice since their is no reason behind this opinion the people possessed at the time. The white community was heavily prejudiced leading them to cause discrimination against the black society. The themes presented in ‘Still I Rise’ are of a similar nature to the ones in ‘Of Mice and Men’. In the ‘Still I Rise’ the women described in the poem exhibits and creates themes of oppression, segregation, discrimination, prejudice, motivation and wanting to rise from the bottom of society to a more equal society. The women in ‘Still I Rise’ depicted by Maya Angelou, shows oppression by using interesting language and suggestion. First of all the title of the poem ‘Still I Rise’ suggests she must have been oppressed and put down to a level or state be it physical or mentally that she can rise from; this links directly to discrimination of the black community and how they were oppressed by the white community. Following on from this Maya Angelou uses the lines “You may tread me in the very dirt. But still, like dust, I’ll rise”. The use of these lines gives the reader of the poem the image of someone being put down physically to the level where they are equivalent to dirt but then she follows this line by saying “like dust, I’ll rise”. This implies that she will rise again but she has been provoked by someone or something. The analogy of dust would suggest this because for dirt to rise it must have been kicked or provoked by some other external source. The source that provoked the women may have been the white community and the discrimination of the black community so she decided to stand up against it. The language used by Crooks is of a defensive nature showing that he is protective of himself and his belongings because he has been discriminated and he knows he is a second class citizen.
This means that Crooks has to be defensive when people speak to him this is shown when he says sharply “You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me”. This line of text presents Crooks as being uptight and defensive but also someone who knows their rights and where he can and can’t go. The idea of segregation is supported by this quote because he telling lennie to leave his room, later on crooks says “I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain't wanted in my room” segregation is clearly shown here by Crooks saying their is a boundary which no-one should cross except him and he won't go in the bunkhouse. How Crooks says “you ain't wanted in my room” shows he is very defencive when it comes to white people coming into his shed because that is a place where he feels safe and won't be discriminated …show more content…
against. Following on from this John Steinbeck uses language throughout chapter 4 of ‘Of Mice and Men’ to suggest that Crooks is broken both physically and mentally for example Steinbeck describes Crooks body as being “bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head”, “His lean face was lined with deep black wrinkles, and he had thin, pain-tightened lips”.
This shows that Crooks has experienced a lot of physical trauma throughout his life picking up scars along the way. While the crooked back could of happened on the ranch it could also be a reference to the slave trade and how the black people would put in a ‘Back-Breaking effort’. This could mean that Crooks put so much effort and work in his earlier life that it took a toll on his body in later life. Following on from this Crooks has had a lot mental pain leading him to be mentally broken, this is primarily because of how much time he is spent on his own, this is could have been presented when Steinbeck uses the quotation “a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905”. This could be a reflection of Crooks as a character, meaning he has an abundance of knowledge and experience which he would have accumulated throughout his life but at the same time, his experiences has been used so much it has taken a toll on him; leading him to being ‘mauled’ both physically and
mentally. Paragraph 4 The message of ‘Of Mice and Men’ about racism is that in the 1930’s black citizens were treated as second class citizens by the white society, even when dramatic events happen around the place they live, they are still treated poorly and far from equal. But also people treated anyone who was of the black community was treated like they were a slave even if they were born in America like Crooks was in the novel. Following on from this the message of ‘Still I Rise’ is that the black society slowly gained rights as time passed in the poem and in real life. The poem’s chronological order is very similar to the order that the events that occurred in real life. The women described in the poem has a strong, confident attitude towards the white community, and how she stand up against the community could be in comparison to stand out figures in the real world such as Martin Luther King who thought for black equality like the women Maya Angelou described in ‘Still I Rise’. The overall structure of ‘Of Mice and Men’ suggests that nothing changes around the ranch. Lennie killing Curly’s wife and then getting killed himself. When these events occur nothing changes to the treatment and attitudes towards Crooks. Even do these events affect the ranch as a whole none of the events directly affect Crooks as a person so the rest of the ranch staff continue on treating Crooks the same. This is compared to the changed opinion that is exhibited in ‘Still I Rise’. How the view from society on the women presented in ‘Still I Rise’ changes throughout the poem getting progressively better as time passes on till it reaches the end of the poem this is when she is started to be accepted. This is similar to the history of the world, how blacks are treated as second class citizens at first but then slowly gather their rights as time passes on. Until the modern day is reached where they are equal to whites, but this view is only briefly touched on at the end of the poem. Paragraph 6
Crooks also feels a great deal of loneliness, as he is an outcast on the ranch. He lives in his own room where hardly anybody ever bothers him. He is never invited to play cards or do anything fun with the other guys. One day a curious Lenny asked, “Why ain’t you wanted?” Crooks replies “Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They think I stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me” (pg. ). Crooks’ attitude towards this is shown when he saw Lennie playing with his puppy outside of Crooks’ quarters. Crooks states that “if me, as a black man, is not allowed in the white quarters, then white men are not allowed in mine” (pg. ). However this is merely a front as the more open side of Crooks is shown later on in the book.
When Curly’s wife went to Crooks to ask if he has seen Curly around, Curly said that he hasn’t seen him, but still she was standing there and Crooks said, “You got no rights coming in a coloured man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all.” Steinbeck’s use of Crook’s dialogue shows that Crooks had enough pride and independence to stand up to Curly’s wife. She turned on him in scorn. “Listen, Nigger,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself. Steinbeck uses Curly’s wife’s dialogue to tell the readers that Crooks was always discriminated against. When Lennie was wandering around at the ranch and went into Crook’s room, Crooks said, “You go get outta my rooms. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house and you ain’t wanted in my room.” Steinbeck uses crook’s dialogue, racism and loneliness to demonstrate that Crooks wanted to be left alone, but also from inside he wants to talk to someone. Readers may feel sympathy at Steinbeck’s idea of racism. Crooks was always treated badly and is always discriminated against.
The writings of the two authors, Langston Hughes and John Steinbeck address examples of how literature reflects society. Furthermore, the main idea is how the stated essential question related to modern day writers and how it reflected upon tragic events such as the great depression & racism toward Africans. For example in “Cora Unashamed” by Langston Hughes. He mentions how Africans had to go through hardships and were looked down upon, relating back to how literature was shaped. In the story, there is an African girl named Cora lived in an amoral time period where poverty was commonly encountered countless hardships. Near the end, Cora becomes pregnant and is looked down upon due to the fact she was uneducated and black when it is quoted
Discrimination has and always will be controversial, whether it is because of sex or color of skin it will always be around. Writer inspiration seems to come from firsthand accounts and experiences, at least that is the case with Sandra Cisneros, a Chicana writer, and Langston Hughes, and African American poet. When reading their stories the reader can identify how different life experiences have influenced and inspired them to write the way they do. Analyzing Sandra Cisneros and Langston Hughes, and pieces of their writing will demonstrate how similar their writing is, how minority discrimination, and cultural circumstances effect and shape different pieces of their respective writings. This paper will highlight similarities, differences and motives for writing the short story, “Woman Hollering Creek”, and poem, “I, Too” all backed up and supported by research done about the author.
"Crooks is a black man that experiences isolation because the society in which he resides is racist. As a result, the previous quote was his means of finding a personal connection to Lennie. Like Lennie, Crooks has a "relationship" with loneliness. He knows that when people get lonely, they tend to get sick. Crooks is rejected from every group of people and cannot socially interact with others.
Maya Angelou lived through a time where she was discriminated against for not only her race but also her gender. In her poem “Still I Rise” Angelou sarcastically talks about how no matter what is thrown at her she will rise above it and she will do it with resilience and confidence. Her poem discusses racism and sexism and gives minorities and women a sense of hope to overcome and endure both of those things. Angelou’s self-assurance in the poem makes you believe that you too can overcome whatever obstacle. Although this poem was intended for blacks, and women, and specifically black women, the poem helps build up strong and courageous people no matter what race or gender you are. Maya Angelou in “Still I Rise” uses both pathos and ethos to
The author described Crooks in such a way that you knew he was left alone and he lived a sad life. The descriptions also told us that not only did the Crooks have a crooked back, but they were a different color than the rest of them. After watching the movie, one could tell that Crooks had such a disability that created a dilemma in the way he was able to walk. Crooks not being agile, caused him not being able to get his work done as efficiently and adequately as the other men did. Crooks being a different color than the other ranch hands, created a discrimination between the ranch hands.
Crooks is considered disabled because he broke his back when a horse kicked him in the spine (83). Since Crooks was injured, he has to deal with the constant pain in his back, and he constantly has to rub his spine. Furthermore, by being disabled, Crooks knows that his job opportunities are very slim and that he has to stay on the ranch where he is constantly discriminated against. That is why in the story Crooks offers to lend a hand on the ranch Lennie and George wanted (76). Crooks not only has to deal with the pain of being different, but also the pain that comes with being
He fondly remembers childhood memories of him and his father living on their own chicken ranch together. When he was a child, he used to let the "white kids play at our place, an' sometimes went to play with them." (70) However, only once the white people took away his father's ranch, did he understand his father's discontempt. Yet he dreams of a time when he will be treated equally. The importance of his dream can be seen when he proudly tells Lennie, that he "ain't a southern negro,"(70) which implies that he was born in America and deserves equal rights. Furthermore, Crooks is aware of his civil rights, even when they are violated, as he owns a copy of 1905 California Civil Rights Code. To further this point, Crooks constantly uses the word right in his sentences, for example by telling Lennie, that he "got no right to come in,"(68) which also highlights Crooks bitterness of being excluded by the white men on the ranch. After having dropped his protective cocoon when talking to Lennie and the old swamper, his dream is in part realized. This is due to both of them not seeing him as inferior and sharing their desire of buying a small ranch with him. Again, Steinbeck illustrates dreams' equalizing
On the ranch, Crooks is also taken advantage of. He can try to have an opinion or stand up for himself but a white person’s point of view was more important during the time period this book takes place in. Curley’s wife demonstrates this in chapter 4; “ ‘Listen n***er’ she said ‘ you know what i can do if you open your trap’ “ Life on the ranch isn’t easy for either of them, but being a white women was much easier than being a black, handicapped man. When curly doesn’t try to speak up for himself, curley’s wife uses what little power she has against him. Because she knows that little bit of power she has is stronger than the power he has. Crooks knows That so once she threatens him he stops
An example of how the men are discriminative towards Crooks is that he is forced to live in a shack away from the bunkhouse and also Crooks says that "They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say "I stink" and "I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse." An example of when Curley's Wife is critical towards Crooks is when she looks into his room to see what Lennie and Crooks are doing and then she states, shaking her head, that they left the weak ones behind. Also, she threatens to have Crooks hanged because a black man should never talk to a white woman the way he just had. As a result of all of these discriminatory acts against him, Crooks feels unwanted and lonely because of his color and placement on the farm.
“Discrimination is alive and soaring.” (Jonathan Kozol) Discrimination has always been an issue but in the story, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows how discrimination is an issue for a lot of people, even without colored skin. He shows how discrimination plagues society, there are multiple people who are victims of this. Those including Crooks, Lennie, and Curley’s Wife.
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.
The conversation on page 68 of the book perfectly explains the discrimination against Crooks: “‘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.’” (Steinbeck, 68). Crooks is unfairly treated solely based on his skin color, and the other men only say that he stinks to avoid dealing with him. In addition, Crooks displayed his need for attention when, on page 69, after Lennie had walked into his room, he states, “Come on in and set a while.” (Steinbeck, 69). He is proving how extreme isolation can cause one to crave human interaction. Although Crooks acts like he is reluctantly inviting Lennie in, he was truly excitedly welcoming Lennie, who stopped to talk in Crooks’ own house where no one else ever goes.
Crooks is known as the stable buck by others at the ranch who is discriminated because of his skin color. Although he is a very productive worker who gets his name because of his crooked back from the hard labour, he is heavily discriminated. He represented what every black man had to face throughout that period of time; his dreams were put down just because of his skin color. Not only was that time of the Great Depression bad but the racial discrimination made achieving his dreams impossible just because of his skin color. He’s the only African American character in the novel and is not treated equally compared to others at the ranch but ironically, he has the most permanent working spot at the farm. As a result of constant discrimination by others, he is extremely lonely.