Their enticing sexuality, he believes, tempts men to behave in ways they would otherwise not. A visit to the “flophouse” (a cheap hotel, or brothel) is enough of women for George, and he has no desire for a female companion or wife. Curley’s wife, the only woman to appear in Of Mice and Men, seems initially to support George’s view of marriage. Dissatisfied with her marriage to a brutish man and bored with life on the ranch, she is constantly looking for excitement or trouble. In one of her more revealing moments, she threatens to have the black stable-hand lynched if he complains about her to the boss.
We are first introduced to racism when we hear about crooks the stable buck who is referred to as a negro. This indicates that even though slavery was abolished blacks were seen as second class citizens and therefore were treated like them too. Crooks has his own room and a lot more possessions as well as privacy then the other men however he is deprived of the company of fellow humans which in turn drives him crazy.Curleys wife is not regarded as a human and has no name she uses her body to gain the attention of men for that is the only way people acknowledge her unfortunately this causes trouble for her husband and others. One of the ranchmen make a statement to Curley about keeping his wife in the house this shows that women are seen as house workers and there only purpose is to clean the house and fulfil the desires of men. Lennie is usually kept back from all the activities of the men in their spare time due to his disability however Steinbeck does not clarify whether this is by choice or not.
Racial discrimination is part of the microcosm Steinbeck describes in his story. Firstly we see that Crooks is the only man on the ranch which illustrates that he is an outcast. Crooks us referred to as a “Negro” or “Stable buck” or “Crooks”, this shows us that the other people on the ranch(who are all white) do not call him by his real name which shows us that he is not an important person we see he is not treated as well. The word “Negro” in this generation and time period would be a highly offensive word to use to call black people, but back in the 1920’s it was a freely used word to describe black people. Crooks has got his own bedroom which is in a “little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn”, this shows us that crooks has been mentally and also physically been separated from the white people.
He later learns Lennie is a nice guy. Crooks isn't fond of the workers because they never invite him to play cards, because he's black and because they say he stinks. So Crooks assumes that since Lennie is a worker he's wants something from him, when in fact Lennie is only trying to see his puppy and later make a new friend. Crooks opinion of Lennie changes when they start talking. They start talking in a friendly manner and have a normal conversation.
Lennie does not know his own strength, reacts to trouble when he is scared Idioms- “old lady” (p.53), “throw a litter” (p.58), “punk” (p.62), “cut off his wind” (p.63) Allusions- Luger, phonograph, fence picket, Golden Gloves Chapter 4- 66. Crooks was alone, living by himself and able to leave his personal possessions lying around 67. Loneliness- people kept their distance from Crooks because he was black 68. Loneliness- Lennie also quite alone in the world- only friend is George and tries to make friends with Crooks 69. Lennie- a genuinely nice person, has nice smile that tempted Crooks to let him in 69.
In comparison, the relationship with George and Curley’s wife is almost the opposite to his friendship with Candy, as there is no trust or ease between them. In fact, George acts very hostile towards here, perhaps out of routine as he is terrified that there will be a repeat of the weed incident, or perhaps just because of the warnings he has been given from the other men, so he knows not to get involved. Both Candy and Curley’s wife take an interest to Lennie, as he is just ‘like a big baby’, however for very different reasons. Candy is excited by these two men as firstly, it is unusual yet interesting for two men to travel together, and also they have brought him this opportunity of hope that he has been waiting for. Curley’s wife, on the other hand, only talks to lennie because she longs for attention, and someone to talk to, and she can trust Lennie as he is innocent and
Alienation Holden Caulfield, an interesting man, shows that many people show phoniness and how Holden despises them to a point where he alienates them. This book shows many themes, one of them being revolving around alienation and phoniness. J.D. Salinger’s masterpiece The Catcher in the Rye shows throughout the book that Holden alienates himself from other people because he fears the phoniness of adults. Stradlater, Holden’s roommate, shows phoniness by how he is a “secret slob” also how it annoys Holden to where he gets into a fight with Stradlater over his sloppiness with Jane, which leads Holden to alienating him.
It is apparent that Twain pits religion against racism and in the book Huck feels like he has to give up all religion in order to save his new found friend, Jim. Twain might have shown religion in a negative light because of his personal views on religion the common belief that God had made black people naturally inferior and that slavery was okay, and the church may have been an easy target for satirical work. Huck often didn’t believe in religion or its power, especially after he is not rewarded for prayer, has to learn about people he cannot actually meet, and is unable to “pray a lie” (pg. 213). The satire in this book makes twain’s attacks
When Lennie first enters Crooks’ room, Crooks is deeply hostile to him, “he stiffened and a scowl came on his face”. Steinbeck writes Crooks with this reaction because he is relating his reaction to the bigger theme of the book: The Dream. Although one of the aims of the dream is company, Crooks has given up on the dream meaning that he has given up on the dream, meaning that he has given up on companionship. The reason for this is because Crooks has suffered from segregation the whole time has been However Steinbeck presents Crooks in a way that he knows that his personal space is one of those rights to have and so does not allow Lennie to me in. Also, it eventually become obvious that Crooks is seeing that he has the opportunity to be cruel to Lennie, as he realises Lennie is simple and not like the white men because “A guy can talk to you an’ he be sure you won’t go blabbin’”.
The writer portrays him to be lonely through the quote “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black” as he is segregated from rest of the ranch men. The quote suggests that he can’t go to the bunk house and do activities that other men do. The author uses colloquial language in this quote to show that all the ranch men are equal, which is in contrast with racism faced by Crook’s, Through the word “you” the author is indirectly involving the readers so that they could understand Crook’s feelings. Steinbeck also shows loneliness in crooks life by describing his possessions and his room. The quote “ And scattered about the floor were a number of personal possessions; for, being alone, crooks could leave his things about...and he had accumulated more possession than he could carry on his back” signifies the fact that he was completely lonely.