Discrimination In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment different categories of people or things. Hatred: is an intense dislike or ill will towards someone or something. Alienation is the state or experience of being isolated from a group or an activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved. All these words describe how certain people felt in America during the 1930’s if they were “different.” Day after day of these hard feelings and hurtful words takes a toll on someone. Heaviness and sets in whenever they are out in public. Those who bare a skin pigment atypical to the predominant color in the United States experience this the most. In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, he symbolizes discrimination, hatred, and alienation of race through a character whose name is Crooks.

To illustrate the racial intolerance, Steinbeck’s character is not allowed in the bunk house. Lennie, another symbol
In the 1930’s even white women are still considered to have more power than any African American. “Listen, N*****,” she says when Crooks finally tells her to get out, “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (Steinbeck 80) She goes on further to antagonize him and he submits to her. Crooks is forced to relinquish any self-esteem he had to ensure that his job and furthermore his life, is not in danger. If at any time a black person makes a snide comment or tries to stand up for them self, punishment is inevitable. Repercussions include job loss or even death.

African Americans have a hard time surviving, much less thriving, in America. Everyone is worth more than them no matter who they are as long as they are white. Plenty of characters in Of Mice and Men are up against prejudice but Crooks has it the worst. Discrimination, hatred, and alienation are a few of the things he suffered