A Loss Of Humanity In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
A Loss of Humanity
“‘I ain’t a southern negro,’ he said. ‘I was born right here in California’” (Steinbeck 70).
With these words, Crooks, a character from Of Mice and Men, demonstrates his pride for being the son of a landowner instead of a slave of the South. However, this pride is merely a small comfort, as living in California does not liberate Crooks from the clutches of racial prejudice. During the Great Depression, the era in which the story is set, African-Americans afflicted by economic inequality further suffered from the racist and bigoted opinions of society. John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men depicts Crooks, an African-American farm worker, as a man threatened by the racism of the 1930s. Steinbeck describes the effects of discrimination on Crooks, including his loneliness, crushed aspirations, and bitter attitude, to illustrate the hopelessly bleak situation for African-Americans during the Great Depression.
Throughout the story, Crooks reveals himself to be a conflicted character. At first, Crooks expresses a desire for companionship: "Crooks said irritably [to Candy], …show more content…
Portraying him as a person afflicted by racial prejudice, Steinbeck details the effects of discrimination on Crooks, including his feelings of loneliness, shattered dreams, and resentful characters. While racism serves as a source of conflict in the story, Steinbeck extends Crooks’ experiences to racism’s prominent role during the Great Depression. In the 1930s, African-Americans suffered from economic inequality, poverty, and unemployment. However, more severe harm came from the racial discrimination and bigotry directed towards them in a mainly white society. John Steinbeck calls the plight of African-Americans to attention in Of Mice and Men. He argues that while all groups had financial losses, African-Americans lost much more. Living in an economically crippled and racist society, they lost their
“‘I ain’t a southern negro,’ he said. ‘I was born right here in California’” (Steinbeck 70).
With these words, Crooks, a character from Of Mice and Men, demonstrates his pride for being the son of a landowner instead of a slave of the South. However, this pride is merely a small comfort, as living in California does not liberate Crooks from the clutches of racial prejudice. During the Great Depression, the era in which the story is set, African-Americans afflicted by economic inequality further suffered from the racist and bigoted opinions of society. John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men depicts Crooks, an African-American farm worker, as a man threatened by the racism of the 1930s. Steinbeck describes the effects of discrimination on Crooks, including his loneliness, crushed aspirations, and bitter attitude, to illustrate the hopelessly bleak situation for African-Americans during the Great Depression.
Throughout the story, Crooks reveals himself to be a conflicted character. At first, Crooks expresses a desire for companionship: "Crooks said irritably [to Candy], …show more content…
Portraying him as a person afflicted by racial prejudice, Steinbeck details the effects of discrimination on Crooks, including his feelings of loneliness, shattered dreams, and resentful characters. While racism serves as a source of conflict in the story, Steinbeck extends Crooks’ experiences to racism’s prominent role during the Great Depression. In the 1930s, African-Americans suffered from economic inequality, poverty, and unemployment. However, more severe harm came from the racial discrimination and bigotry directed towards them in a mainly white society. John Steinbeck calls the plight of African-Americans to attention in Of Mice and Men. He argues that while all groups had financial losses, African-Americans lost much more. Living in an economically crippled and racist society, they lost their