According to Robert P. Doyle, over forty books were restricted from schools’ curriculums. Many parents have complained to teachers that the novellas their children are learning are “too mature” or “too advanced” for their young readers. They do not want negative thoughts or outlooks to be placed into the mind of their young, impressionable children. In fact, the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck has been removed from different curriculums because the plot is too depressing and parents do not agree with its use of profanity. Although it is understandable for parents to have this view, it is also important that the readers learn the valuable lessons imbedded within the novella. John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men should continue …show more content…
To start, Crooks, the black stable boy, states that he is familiar with the “guys that go around on the ranches alone”, and he shares that when someone is without a companion, “after a long time they get mean” (Steinbeck 41). From observance of life on the ranch, Crooks has confirmed that the men by their lonesome on the ranch are the people with negative attitudes. Crooks shares this thought because he notices the companionship George and Lennie share, and he longingly yearns for a relationship like theirs with someone he can confide in. High school students must understand that someone may be harsh because they do not attain the type of friendship that would keep them content; so Of Mice and Men should be kept in the curriculum to inform students the mindset while feeling alone. Secondly, the black stable boy puts Lennie into his shoes by saying, “S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black” (72). Unfortunately, Crooks has lived his whole life as an outcast simply because of the color of his skin. Crooks explains to Lennie how he cannot go out to town with …show more content…
Since the harsh diction is specific to the time of story and to the personalities of the characters, it is essential to have this literary element imbedded in the novel. To begin, Carlson shows his frustration as he finds out Lennie has taken his gun by saying, “The bastard’s stole my luger” (97). This relates to Carlson’s character and begins to develop his personality. To add on, the harsh vocabulary, which is connected with the characters, is what sets them apart from the other characters; and without the jarring diction, one may not be able to understand the characters the way the author does. Although some people have expressed their opinions, and stated the articulations in the novella is inappropriate for readers, others have argued that the diction used helps the reader to better understand the characters. In addition, Curley’s wife expresses her dislike for the outcasts on the ranch by calling them names such as, “a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep” (78). Since Curley’s father owned the ranch, it was acceptable for Curley’s wife to talk down to the workers. During this time period, it was considered normal to discriminate people for their race. Curley’s wife’s use of these harsh nicknames develops her character and also enhances the background of the setting; so it is essential to teach this novella in high school
Of Mice and Men Literary Analysis Essay 2017 The famous author, Harry Nilsson writes, “Dreams are nothing more than wishes and a wish is just a dream you wish to come true.” In John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, he develops a story of people living through the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, a very heartbreaking event happened, which was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl destroyed families and homes.
Of Mice and Men Loneliness Have you ever felt lonely in your life? Sure you have. Loneliness is an inevitable part of our life, it caused by many uncertain factors and it usually leads to negative emotion such as depression or anxiety. Therefore, in order to avoid loneliness, people tend to find connections with each others. Through Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Candy, John Steinbeck had used his way to state how those characters had endured their loneliness throughout the book “Of Mice and Men”.
Steinbeck portrays the intense loneliness through his character Crooks who was shunned because of his skin color and had to avoid the others on the ranch because of how they treated him. Not only was he loathed for his skin color, but he also had to deal with disability so his life was very difficult from the start. “if Crooks is not essential to the story's plot, he is crucial for elaborating the story's theme” (Johnson). This clarifies the fact the Crooks did not place a huge part to the story but he is crucial to understanding the time period this story takes place in. John Steinbeck uses Crooks to display the racism that an African American would have to cope with.
The reality of isolation throughout Of Mice and Men A black man with a crooked back walks back to the stables after a long day of work and heads into his room, he is segregated from everyone else who lives in the main barracks, his name is Crooks and he lives a lonely segregated life from the other workers. Another man, this one white has one hand and is named Candy, he slumps slowly off his bunk after losing his best friend, his dog that he raised since he was a pup, Candy knows he will not be able to see him again. These 2 men share one conflict in common, they live a life of loneliness and feel isolated from others. In John Steinbeck’s short novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck displays the hard and lonely life of working on a ranch during
Crooks experiences loneliness because he is colored and all the other kids that lived near him were white and they didn’t really like colored families. He has a crooked back and he has a hard time working with others. Just like Candy and some other people in the book. “Cause I’m black. They cards in here, I can’t play cause I’m black.”
A well-written story causes us to think about life increasing our understanding of the world and giving us insight into how people think feel and behave. This insight into life in a novel is done through themes, ideas that recur throughout a text, and comment on such aspects of human experience. Therefore, through our exposure to texts, we learn about human experience using the themes, aided with literary techniques and features, explored within such texts. John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men explores themes which directly relate to the own authors experience during the 1930’s Great Depression where there was mass unemployment and extreme poverty. This led to homelessness which led to ‘every man for himself’.
John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men illustrates the struggles and barriers in humanity. By using characters with their own difficulties including age, race, gender, and intelligence, Steinbeck displays what it’s like to be human and degraded by others. In the end, the different scenarios of being discriminated and isolated symbolize Steinbeck’s perspective of human existence and life’s obstacles. When Candy’s dog died, he had to sacrifice his companion. Candy decided to let Carlson shoot his dog and is shown to be hurt by it when Steinbeck describes Candy to lay on the bunk staring at the ceiling ( ).
Robert South, an English clergyman, stated that “Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.” Many believe that purity and kindness will prevent hardships and struggles or keep them from harm. However, this is not an accurate representation of virtuousness because it may help keep one from unnecessary issues, but will not make life any easier than the situations that one is put into. This issue is prevalent in the novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. Many characters who are perceived to be kind and pure often came to the worst ends of anyone in the book, and their innocence did not help them survive.
“ They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink for me” Crooks’s is being exposed to race discrimination because his skin color is different from the rest , but it 's not like they think different or have some type of different brain
The book, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, involves many pivotal relationships. Certain relationships demonstrate why they can be so important. The dynamics of all of the relationships prove such significant parts in the way the story flows. The most important relationship in this book is between George and Lennie. Their relationship is almost a domino effect for everything that happens.
The novellas Of Mice and Men and The Pearl are both often noted as social criticisms. The author, John Steinbeck addresses real-life issues that society is facing. Whether through direct statements and comments, or through a fictional characters’ situation, Steinbeck criticizes just some of the problems of society. He shows the way people are discriminated against, and why. He shows the issues society faces.
The book Of Mice and Men is full of puzzling examples of the human condition, from Lennie and his mental disability to Curley only caring about his social appearance. With characters like these two, the book exploits the human condition that concerns circumstances life has given you. John Steinbeck brings to life what being a laborer in the American depression meant to the men and one woman who had enough personality to stand out. Steinbeck shows the human condition of men while they survive in the American depression.
Lonely Characters in Of Mice And Men Imagine a world where people didn’t really care what one said to another, and neither cared enough to ask each other questions. A place where everyone existed in silence, but were together at the same time. As portrayed in the novel, Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, in which Steinbeck’s idea of loneliness is isolation in silences. The author teaches the reader that friendship is mostly about conversation, and magnifies the effects of isolation through the eyes of Crooks, Curley’s wife and Candy.
Mice and Men Character Analysis Many characters are alone in some way in the novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. The character of Crooks is a black man on a ranch of white men in the 1930’s so naturally he finds himself separated in most ways from the other men. Crooks resents his isolation but tries to overcome his loneliness by sharing his feelings with Lennie.
John Steinbeck’s Of mice and men Still remains relevant to modern society, which makes it a common book read in school all across the United States and England. The themes of the American dream and of loneliness and companionship provides relatable ideas for the readers. These themes are ones that continue to be relevant to 21st century society. Steinbeck had given us a way of empathizing with a person like Lennie. Because empathy is the most difficult to teach people, it make Steinbeck example even more important and influential.