Two field workers in California on their plantation during the Great Depression are in Soledad on their way to another part of California.They hope to one day attain their shared dream of settling down on their own piece of land, as well as many others. Of Mice and Men, a novella, written by John Steinbeck addresses several characters whom have been rejected by many in the Salinas Valley of northern California at a small working ranch. Although their positions in the culture of the ranch is very different, Crooks, Candy and Curley’s wife are similar in that each represents an outcast who is often scorned by mainstream culture and struggles to find a comfortable “place” in society. Crooks is an outcast by race because during the 1930’s discrimination was horrific. The very fact that Crooks sleeps in separate quarters reveals racial discrimination as he is literally segregated from the other ranch workers. Crooks says, “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room”
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She has no one to talk to and nobody who shares similar interests. She also has no practical skills for ranch life. Curley’s wife remains nameless throughout the entire novella. This goes to show that she is unimportant to the ranch hands and that they do not have a desire to get to know her well enough to know her name. George said, “Jesus what a tramp, so that’s what Curley picks for a wife” (35). Curley’s wife is only lonely because she has a terrible husband that always mistreats her. She asks Crooks and Candy, “Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol’ right cross?” (78). Even though she wants them to think and wants to convince herself that she would leave Curley if the opportunity afforded itself, she knows that that will not happen. She is afraid to leave, and the only people she says this to are the other weak
She has no one to talk to and nobody who shares similar interests. She also has no practical skills for ranch life. Curley’s wife remains nameless throughout the entire novella. This goes to show that she is unimportant to the ranch hands and that they do not have a desire to get to know her well enough to know her name. George said, “Jesus what a tramp, so that’s what Curley picks for a wife” (35). Curley’s wife is only lonely because she has a terrible husband that always mistreats her. She asks Crooks and Candy, “Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol’ right cross?” (78). Even though she wants them to think and wants to convince herself that she would leave Curley if the opportunity afforded itself, she knows that that will not happen. She is afraid to leave, and the only people she says this to are the other weak