Marginalisation Essay of Crroks
Marginalisation Essay- How Steinbeck explores the theme of Marginalisation in the Novella ‘Of Mice and men’?
Steinbeck presents the theme of marginalisation through various characters in order to explore attitudes towards groups of people in the 1930s. Throughout the novel we slowly begin to realise how Crooks had been marginalised for his race.
Firstly, Steinbeck portrays Crooks as a marginalised African American. He is pushed to the edge due to his colour and disability. Steinbeck introduces Crooks into the novella as “Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room, a little shed that leaned of the wall of the barn,” which instantly illustrates that segregation is still taking place and people have still not accepted black people to be equal during the 1930s. Furthermore his place of living is the “little shed” which suggests that he is devolved, as he is seemingly stored away as an animal or object. The little shed is a microcosm of the wall of segregation in America during these times. Crooks is forced to be separated from the others. This is the starkest description of marginalisation in the novella; no one else is physically isolated from another. This also depicts the absolute seclusion society has towards the black nation during that era. The term “negro” is constantly emphasised and repeated numerous times throughout the novel. We can convey that black people did not deserve to be named or even have a social status; he had no identity as the phrase “little shed” portrays a cold image of housing rather than a home occupied by an individual of value. This conveys to the reader that segregation experienced throughout America, during the 1930s was a struggle to stop and possibly may continue in later future. As a modern reader I believe racism and discrimination is something which is simply impossible to end and will continue for the next generations.
However, one may argue that being separated and having his own space to stay shows
Steinbeck presents the theme of marginalisation through various characters in order to explore attitudes towards groups of people in the 1930s. Throughout the novel we slowly begin to realise how Crooks had been marginalised for his race.
Firstly, Steinbeck portrays Crooks as a marginalised African American. He is pushed to the edge due to his colour and disability. Steinbeck introduces Crooks into the novella as “Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room, a little shed that leaned of the wall of the barn,” which instantly illustrates that segregation is still taking place and people have still not accepted black people to be equal during the 1930s. Furthermore his place of living is the “little shed” which suggests that he is devolved, as he is seemingly stored away as an animal or object. The little shed is a microcosm of the wall of segregation in America during these times. Crooks is forced to be separated from the others. This is the starkest description of marginalisation in the novella; no one else is physically isolated from another. This also depicts the absolute seclusion society has towards the black nation during that era. The term “negro” is constantly emphasised and repeated numerous times throughout the novel. We can convey that black people did not deserve to be named or even have a social status; he had no identity as the phrase “little shed” portrays a cold image of housing rather than a home occupied by an individual of value. This conveys to the reader that segregation experienced throughout America, during the 1930s was a struggle to stop and possibly may continue in later future. As a modern reader I believe racism and discrimination is something which is simply impossible to end and will continue for the next generations.
However, one may argue that being separated and having his own space to stay shows