Picture a world surrounded by prejudiced acts that are enforced and allowed. Presently, many types of prejudice still occur in the world in many countries, but “Of Mice and Men” takes place in a time in which prejudice was more of a lifestyle than actions. Steinbeck’s novella involves two men, named George and Lennie, who work as labourers on a ranch in Soledad, California. Lennie has mental disabilities, which prompt him to make mistakes and poor actions throughout “Of Mice and Men”. Due to the rising action and climax of Lennie’s actions, George is forced to shoot Lennie in the conclusion of the novella, enabling him to help achieve his American Dream. The novella was published in 1937, a time in which racial and gender equality took over …show more content…
Laws were created that had black and white citizens living separately, including public areas as well. The Ku Klux Klan is an active organization known for supporting white supremacy and nationalism. Members of the KKK were rarely punished because most of its members were policemen and judges. Laws on the topic of gender were also enforced; if women chose to marry, they were not permitted to work. “Of Mice and Men” shows how hard it is for the characters to achieve their American Dream, with one of the reasons being prejudiced against older people. In the novella, “Of Mice and Men”, Steinbeck explores how the lives of many characters are affected by different types of prejudice, including racism, disability, and sexism.
Racial inequality is a topic that is explored in “Of Mice and Men”. As there is only one black male who works on the ranch, Crooks, the prejudiced acts against him throughout the novella are an example of how those of colour were treated in the 1930’s. Firstly, Crooks feels lonely and isolated
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The prejudiced acts affect the characters throughout the novella by taking away their American Dreams as well. The novella takes place in a time in which prejudice was more than just an exception. Although presently, prejudice still occurs in all sorts of ways, working towards change in the future is what must be done to me sure we never return to such a discriminating time in the
In ‘Of Mice and Men’ most of the characters are subjected to discrimination and prejudice. The prejudice can be seen most in the characters Lennie Small, Crooks and Curley’s Wife.
Prejudice is everywhere. It may be because of skin color, religion, or even someone’s fashion sense. No one fits into this idealistic world perfectly. In Of Mice and Men, there are several different levels of prejudice shown, all contributing to the failure of the American dream. The main types of prejudice shown in this novel are racial, sexual and social prejudice.
Imagine living in The Great Depression on a ranch where you work for a boss who pays you $50 a month and provides you with your daily meals. Sounds like a good deal right? That is where things become a little controversial especially in the novel Of Mice and Men. Multiple characters within the novel are treated differently due to their gender, race, and mental ability. Discrimination is a terrible thing and Of Mice and Men provides examples why this is.
In the literary work Of Mice and Men, the reader is introduced to the ranch as a world of its own, within which prejudice plays a significant part. The characters in this novel act as a community in a world of their own, having no connections to any other type of society. A strong point, enforced through many examples in the book, is the constant ability of the stronger to overcome the weaker. The prejudices of the majority towards the minority, at the ranch are the white-males, who retain power over the lesser groups of people. This inequality, as well as the influence of the time period, causes discrimination against people of color, women, and those that are disabled, either mentally or physically.
Marguerite Gardiner once stated “Prejudices are the chains forged by ignorance to keep men apart” (Gardiner). This quotation suggests that prejudice is the symbol of ignorance, for men to either recognize or ignore the judgements they hold against others. Prejudice creates barriers for people with different backgrounds, which makes it harder for people to communicate with each other. In these two articles, one titled “Of Mice and Men, Masterplots, Fourth Edition,” by Angela D. Hickey and the other titled “Of Mice and Men, Masterplots II: Juvenile & Young Adult Literature Series, Supplement,” by Lynn C. Munro, the authors explain the way John Steinbeck wrote about prejudice. These authors also demonstrate various kinds of prejudice can make it difficult for many to achieve the American Dream. In the novel “Of Mice and Men”, author John Steinbeck reflects on the prejudice that even still plagues modern times. The novel is set in the rural Salinas valleys of California. The issues in the novel illustrates the routine and frustrations in the lifestyle of a nomadic migrant worker. Steinbeck uses the main characters’ personalities to show how people were affected during the Great Depression. He also incorporates the idea of the American Dream, and how every character has their own vision of it.
“I ain’t a southern negro,” he said. “I was born right here in California." With these
In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men characters in the novel are segregated by sex, race, age, physical and mental disabilities. John Steinbeck portrays the intolerance and bigotry of 1930’s America through the separation of his characters based on their handicaps. Lennie, Candy, Candy’s dog, Curley’s wife and Crooks all face social pressure from the other characters on the ranch based on their intelligence, physical disability, age, sex and color. Stereotyping based on ethnic or physical characteristics is typical to the 1930’s depression where civil rights for minority groups had not yet been addressed. Almost all of the characters who, in
“Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.” This quote, once said by E. B. White, excellently states what the novel, Of Mice and Men, is trying to clearly state. Of Mice and Men is a profound novel that has many things to teach society. This novel, written by John Steinbeck, reflects many flaws in the world today. It mirrors many of the characteristics that every human possesses. Prejudice is still a common way of thinking in today’s society, and to the people who feel victimized, it can be hard to overcome. Curley’s wife, Lennie, and Crooks all deal with prejudice against themselves different ways.
In the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the diverse set of characters individually handle oppression on a daily basis. For these characters, racist, sexist and degrading remarks are normal for the time period (early 1900’s). The story is about two men, Lennie and George, trying to find work in a troubling economic time while also trying to overcome Lennie’s mental handicap. They also meet other people that have to overcome their own “setbacks”. The author shows oppression of the characters through their effect on others, actions, and their dialogue.
The 1930’s was a time period in which discrimination played a vital role in the lives of minorities. In the 1930’s, men were in search for jobs on the ranches and women were generally working inside the house. Although the 1930’s seems pretty far back, discrimination still occurs in society today and can either be intentional or nonintentional. There are several different forms of discrimination: racial, disabled, age, and sexual. Any type of discrimination is harmful to the individual and often times leaves them feeling alienated and lonely. All of these types of discrimination are seen in the characters of John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men. Past history of discrimination has influenced him to display it in his novel. Each person’s type
Discrimination lives eternally within the tinted shadows of every creature’s life. It never leaves us. Have you ever been a victim of any type of discrimination? If you have, you should probably understand the strong negative feelings the victims will experience. This theme of discrimination is very significant in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Throughout the book, there are constant forms of discrimination present, broadly based on race, disability, and age. Even though there are countless occasions, both in the book and in our daily lives where discrimination does not seem very present, it can still, at any moment, jump back into the face of our characters in the lesser of a moment.
Discrimination plays a big role in Of Mice and Men, since it takes place during the Great Depression. Racial segregation, gender rights, and handicap vulnerability are all problems in Of Mice and Men that reflect the society at the time. Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Candy are discriminated against on the ranch just like they would be in society.
Discrimination is a problem that plagues those whose qualities are vulnerable. There are many examples of discrimination in the novel, Of Mice and Men. The characters face discrimination in many different ways including racial, age, gender, and disability. Crooks, the black stable buck, is the victim of racial discrimination. Candy, the old swamper, is a victim of the age discrimination. The victim of gender discrimination is Curley's wife because she is a woman. Life of the victims is hard because of the things they have to go through. Lastly, Lennie is mentally handicap so he discriminated against because of that.
Discrimination if often based on many qualities and abilities. Some of the most clearly shown examples in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men are gender, age and racial discrimination. The victims of these types of discrimination are Curley’s wife, who is unhappy and bitter about her life, Candy, the old, disabled swamper and Crooks, the black stable buck. Throughout the novel, these three characters face many hardships because they are harshly judged and often misunderstood.
One of the major themes in Of Mice and Men is how the characters respond to discrimination. Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex (website). Mostly all of the ranch hands are discriminated for the reason that they are poor, homeless, labourers. As stated in chapter 3, “After a long time they get mean. They get wantin’ to fight all the time.” Clearly this discrimination has a negative effect on their behaviors. Out of all the characters Crooks and Curly’s wife were discriminated against the most. Crooks for his age, is isolated in the barn to live alone with only a