The Role Of Prejudice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1) When Carlson suggested for Candy to kill his old dog, he was not willing to do so, but later he reluctantly agreed for Carlson to do so, as it was favored by the majority in the bunkhouse. Candy’s actions showed that during difficult times, without the support of people on your side, the power of others make us do things we may not want to do. Candy had a strong attachment to his dog as he told Carlson: “ I had him from a pup” (Steinbeck 45), when Carlson was ready to shoot the dog, Candy tried his best prolong the process by saying: “Maybe tomorra, le’s wait till tomorra” (Steinbeck 47). This showed Candy’s desperation to keep his dog despite other’s opinions, when he finally agreed, Steinbeck described Candy’s speech as “softly” and “hopelessly”
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Crooks, the only African American in the ranch, had a room to himself as he was not accepted in the bunkhouse with the other white workers. Another example of prejudice against Crooks is the racial slurs that he is referred to throughout the book by other characters. When Candy explained the ranch to George, he said: “Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger” (Steinbeck 20). During the 1930s, segregation, discrimination, and prejudice against African Americans were extremely common, but they greatly affected the African Americans like Crooks. As a result of the prejudice, Crooks became isolated from the ranch workers and became a lonely outcast among the group. When talking to Lennie, he explained: “A guy needs somebody to be near him, a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (Steinbeck 72). This showed that Crooks’ isolation will lead him to lose his sanity. As a consequence of the prejudice endured by Crooks from the other men, Crooks began to form a strong hatred towards them as they were the cause of his sufferings, he told Lennie “ They say I stink, well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me” (Steinbeck 68). The prejudice against Crooks affected him, as he began to dislike white Americans. In conclusion, the prejudice against African Americans greatly affected them in a negative
Crooks, the only African American in the ranch, had a room to himself as he was not accepted in the bunkhouse with the other white workers. Another example of prejudice against Crooks is the racial slurs that he is referred to throughout the book by other characters. When Candy explained the ranch to George, he said: “Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger” (Steinbeck 20). During the 1930s, segregation, discrimination, and prejudice against African Americans were extremely common, but they greatly affected the African Americans like Crooks. As a result of the prejudice, Crooks became isolated from the ranch workers and became a lonely outcast among the group. When talking to Lennie, he explained: “A guy needs somebody to be near him, a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (Steinbeck 72). This showed that Crooks’ isolation will lead him to lose his sanity. As a consequence of the prejudice endured by Crooks from the other men, Crooks began to form a strong hatred towards them as they were the cause of his sufferings, he told Lennie “ They say I stink, well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me” (Steinbeck 68). The prejudice against Crooks affected him, as he began to dislike white Americans. In conclusion, the prejudice against African Americans greatly affected them in a negative