John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men is about two men’s struggle to find work, during America’s darkest economic times. During this time, jobs were only given to young, strong, caucasian men. The lives of the elderly, women, and African Americans characters in the story were much worse because they were cast out by the society. These characters were ignored because of their low social status and their inability to earn money. In the novel, Steinbeck vividly details the lives of Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife, who are victimized by the rigid society during that time, thus forcing them to lead miserable, lonely lives.
Crooks, the stable buck, is an African American who is victimized by the racist society throughout the novel. Crooks lives …show more content…
Candy, who has lost a hand, works as a maid who cleans the bunkhouse. Carlson wants to shoot Candy’s dog, he believes the dog smells and is miserable. Candy’s response is “Well - hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him" (44). Candy is holding on to his only friend, his dog. Candy is lonely and the only companion he has in his life is his dog, explaining his reluctance to kill the dog. Another example of Candy’s loneliness, is his desire to be included in George and Lennie’s dream ranch As George and Lennie are talking about their dream ranch, Candy interrupts saying he could clean the bunkhouses on the ranch. At first, George is skeptical, but Candy goes on to say, "I 'd make a will an ' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain 't got no relatives or nothing…" (55). Candy is isolated to an extent where he doesn’t have any family or relatives. He is immediately willing to pay his own savings to be a part of this dream thus giving him friends. Candy wants to join George and Lennie so he has a sense of companionship, which his belated dog partially supplied. Candy is an elderly maid, who has no companionship in his life due to his age, so he naturally wants to join Lennie and George on their adventure to be a part of a family. Candy is outcasted due to his age and physical abilities, so he has nobody as a friend, making him to live an isolated
Crooks, the stable buck, is an African American who is victimized by the racist society throughout the novel. Crooks lives …show more content…
Candy, who has lost a hand, works as a maid who cleans the bunkhouse. Carlson wants to shoot Candy’s dog, he believes the dog smells and is miserable. Candy’s response is “Well - hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him" (44). Candy is holding on to his only friend, his dog. Candy is lonely and the only companion he has in his life is his dog, explaining his reluctance to kill the dog. Another example of Candy’s loneliness, is his desire to be included in George and Lennie’s dream ranch As George and Lennie are talking about their dream ranch, Candy interrupts saying he could clean the bunkhouses on the ranch. At first, George is skeptical, but Candy goes on to say, "I 'd make a will an ' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain 't got no relatives or nothing…" (55). Candy is isolated to an extent where he doesn’t have any family or relatives. He is immediately willing to pay his own savings to be a part of this dream thus giving him friends. Candy wants to join George and Lennie so he has a sense of companionship, which his belated dog partially supplied. Candy is an elderly maid, who has no companionship in his life due to his age, so he naturally wants to join Lennie and George on their adventure to be a part of a family. Candy is outcasted due to his age and physical abilities, so he has nobody as a friend, making him to live an isolated