Of Mice And Men Analytical Paragraph
Kelsie Hartranft
Mrs. Dellinger
English 10 Honors
February 23, 2015 Of Mice and Men
Analytical Paragraph Minorities can be defined as “a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority” (Dictionary.com.) In
Of Mice and Men minorities are treated as if they are a lower class of people.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck employs the use of three minority groups: African Americans, mentally disabled people, and physically disabled. These people are used in order to illustrate that minorities are unequal in the society. In
Of Mice and Men, the reader is introduced to Crooks, an African American stable buck. Throughout the novel, the audience learns of the ongoing prejudices towards African
Americans. In chapter two of the story we learn that Smitty, one of the ranch workers, almost killed Crooks and none of the other characters were really concerned about it. The author states through a conversation between the characters, “Little skinner name of Smitty took after the nigger. Done pretty good, too. The guys wouldn’t let him use his feet, so the nigger got him. If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger” (Steinbeck 20.)
Due to the fact that Crooks is African American, the men feel that it is okay to beat him to the point that his death could be a possible result. Additionally, these men do not see Crooks as valuable because of the fact that he is African American. If they were to kill him, he could easily be replaced, ultimately showing that he is not equal with the others. In addition to the
cruelty African Americans were subjected to, Crooks was also segregated from the others on the ranch. Steinbeck states, “Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” (Steinbeck 66,) and Crooks after being told that it must be nice to have a room to himself stated, “And a manure pile under the
window.
Mrs. Dellinger
English 10 Honors
February 23, 2015 Of Mice and Men
Analytical Paragraph Minorities can be defined as “a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority” (Dictionary.com.) In
Of Mice and Men minorities are treated as if they are a lower class of people.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck employs the use of three minority groups: African Americans, mentally disabled people, and physically disabled. These people are used in order to illustrate that minorities are unequal in the society. In
Of Mice and Men, the reader is introduced to Crooks, an African American stable buck. Throughout the novel, the audience learns of the ongoing prejudices towards African
Americans. In chapter two of the story we learn that Smitty, one of the ranch workers, almost killed Crooks and none of the other characters were really concerned about it. The author states through a conversation between the characters, “Little skinner name of Smitty took after the nigger. Done pretty good, too. The guys wouldn’t let him use his feet, so the nigger got him. If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger” (Steinbeck 20.)
Due to the fact that Crooks is African American, the men feel that it is okay to beat him to the point that his death could be a possible result. Additionally, these men do not see Crooks as valuable because of the fact that he is African American. If they were to kill him, he could easily be replaced, ultimately showing that he is not equal with the others. In addition to the
cruelty African Americans were subjected to, Crooks was also segregated from the others on the ranch. Steinbeck states, “Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” (Steinbeck 66,) and Crooks after being told that it must be nice to have a room to himself stated, “And a manure pile under the
window.
Cited: Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men . New York: Penguin, 1993. Print.