Social Inequalities In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Those who find themselves as outcasts, sent into the abyss (different word?) of the margins, are perceived as unimportant, are stereotyped, and do not receive the opportunities of an average person. Yet, the margin is a protector of our words, the location of our artwork, and the most important knowledge can be found within the containment of the margins. The same applies to many who are marginalized, they could protect us, have an artistic eye, and be some of the most intelligent people to ever walk the earth. A person cannot be defined by their colour, gender, or mental capabilities as that is not all that defines them. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, he presents many social inequalities among the characters and how they react to such
Not only is he continuously avoided, the other workers make sure he knows his place in this society. At one point, some of the workers tried to fight Crooks and yet, afterwards revealed that they had not even cared whether he lived or died. This is evident when one of the workers says, “If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the narwhal” (Steinbeck 20). Not only is Crooks downgraded by offensive racial slurs, his life is threatened as though it has no importance. In addition to being reduced by those of the same level as him, his boss has taken away some privileges which all of the other workers have enforced. Since Crooks has many restrictions, he creates his own for others. When Lennie tries to talk to Crooks and he replied with, “You go on get outta my room. I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain't wanted in my room" (Steinbeck 68). This shows Crooks’ lack of privileges, with rights as simple as going inside of a building. This keeps him isolated a never allows anyone to see him as something other than an African American. In the end, the co workers continued to treat him unjustly as they degrade and isolate