Discrimination In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Discrimination Against the Lonely Black Man Racism was and still is an enormous issue all over the United States. Decades ago, and to this day, racism may have been thought of as one person being less than another. For example, a human may have been viewed as someone who is less significant compared to others because of his or her skin color. Despite the reality, none of those ideas show whom that person really is. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck has the characters treat the stable-buck, Crooks with very racist actions. It is evident that the men in this story are extremely racist with evidence by the use of racial slurs used, the lack of caring and/or concern, and isolation with Crooks. As stated before, the men use multiple racial slurs toward …show more content…
None of the men really ever interact with the stable-buck because he is black. In the story, Crooks says, “‘This is just a nigger talkin’ an’ a busted-black nigger. So it don’t mean nothing, see?’” (Steinbeck np). This shows that even Crooks knows he is basically unwanted/unneeded on the ranch. He refers to himself as a “busted-black nigger” to reveal that he knows that is what all of the men think of him. He uses the word, “busted,” because he has a broken, crooked back; hence the name “Crooks” as well. This statement relates to racism for the reason that just because someone has a disability, does not mean they should get picked on, as well as when someone has a certain skin color, they should also not get picked on. When the man states, “‘… don’t mean nothing, see?”, he is saying it sarcastically as if it was from someone else’s perspective, proving none of the other men care what he has to say or what he does. Crooks knows that the men will not listen to anything he has to say, therefore he keeps quiet. The men do show a high lack of care and concern toward the stable-buck and he knows …show more content…
The stable-buck is normally not allowed inside of the bunkhouse, where all of the other mean stay, because of his skin color. Sometimes they would let him come in on special occasions, like Christmas. In the text, Crooks states, “‘You got no right to come in my room. Nobody got any right in here but me’” (Steinbeck 68). This shows that Crooks has his own, separate room away from the bunkhouse. Crooks then continues to say, “‘… You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room’” (Steinbeck 68). The rest of this quotation shows proof that since the stable-buck is not welcome where all of the men stay, then they are not welcome here he stays. Last Christmas was the most recent time let Crooks in the bunkhouse. For example, when the men went into town and Lennie tried to enter the stable-bucks room, at first he wanted him to stay out, but eventually Crooks let him in. While Lennie is in Crooks’ room, Crooks is exclaiming to Lennie basically that he is treated highly unfairly and that he is unhappy with it. He obviously sees the racism given from the others and just wants to be treated like everyone

Show More

Discrimination In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The Role Of Discrimination In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Racial Discrimination In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men