Discrimination in The Novel of Mice and Men

Nelson Mandela once said, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love,” This quote proves that while discrimination is a hard reality of society, it can be overcome with understanding and love. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck tells the story of two men who travel together during the Great Depression. Steinbeck explores the major theme of the loss of hope that can be caused by discrimination. Steinbeck used the characters Curley’s Wife and Crooks to show that discrimination leaves people without power or hope.

The character who faces discrimination is Crooks or the Stable Buck he is a black barn worker who takes care of the horses. He can not really stand up for himself due to racial tension during the time. He is belittled by everyone due to his race ‘I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room’ {Steinbeck pg.68} . In the quote Steinbeck gives us a look on how Crooks really feels about how he is treated different due to skin color. Even he falls into believing others ‘If I say anything it’s just a n saying it’ {Steinbeck pg.68}. Nobody should be taken down due to their skin color. Everyone may not be the same but are created the same way just the way you think and our taught .

The next character who faces discrimination is Curleys Wife. Curley’s Wife was very racist towards people and didn’t care about it. ‘Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.’ In that quote Steinbeck shows us how Curley’s Wife is acting towards a black, n how she doesn’t really care about their feelings. The other character who faces discrimination from all the men on the farm. She turned on him in scon, ‘Listen n, you know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ In this quote it explains that Curley’s Wife threatens them and this relates to discrimination by racism.

In conclusion, these are the examples of discrimination in the novel Of Mice and Men. People should learn about discrimination because everyone needs to know about it and need to stop it. In the novel discrimination is the same way it is happening in real life , people are still like this in this world.

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