The way human beings act on impulse towards each other is truly preposterous. It is human nature to treat others differently depending on the relationship the perpetrator has with that person. More likely than not, acting towards a different ethnicity or gender results in a level of discrimination or cruelty. The inhumane acts of oppression and abuse are regarded with repulse and punishable by death. Furthermore, when oppression and abuse is ignored and encouraged, it becomes a threatening abandonment of human nature, as seen during the era of the Great Depression. In the 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, the author, John Steinbeck argues and explores the concept of the evil of oppression and abuse through the varying character traits of Curley’s
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There are hate groups dedicated to violence towards the colored, even though discrimination is viewed with disgust now. Some people still hold the old belief that they are superior, and that no race is better. An example of this is the Ku Klux Klan, the clan made up of white southerners that exists to hate different races. Through many combined efforts, colored people now have more rights and freedom, but the oppression and discrimination towards black and colored people still exist in today’s society. In Of Mice and Men, the stable buck is a black man named Crooks. He is shown to be oppressed and discriminated many times throughout the book. There are repeated instances of him being abused verbally:“Where the hell is that God damn nigger?”(Steinbeck 29). Crooks is a considered a “minority” on the ranch because of his skin color and race. All the ranch workers live together in the bunkhouse, except for Crooks, who lives in the stable alone. Crooks thinks of his stable as his own room, where he can be alone and not bothered. However, it is shown that Curley’s wife still has control over him when he tells her to leave his room: “Listen, nigger...You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” This indicates that Curley’s wife has control over Crooks, because of his color, and is using that control to oppress and abuse him. Steinbeck portrays to the readers the evils of …show more content…
He wishes to belong with the other ranch workers, but he is old and useless. When Candy’s ancient dog was shot and put to a rest, he realizes that the dog is a foreshadow of what will happen to him, hence why he was eager to leave with George and Lennie. As soon as Candy becomes too old, he will be fired and kicked out: “They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the county.” (Steinbeck 60). Candy suffers from ageism, discrimination based on his age. Candy’s dog symbolizes it’s owner, showing that the older you become, the less valuable you will be to the workers. He is without purpose, and knows that he will be “canned”. In some Asian cultures, reaching a certain age is a sign of respect, and the younger generations take care of the older grandfathers and grandmothers, but in other places the elderly are still being discriminated. They are sent away to nursery homes for others to take care of. This symbolizes disrespect and oppression, sending the elderly away against their will. The oppression and resentment towards the older people still continue today, and Steinbeck clearly illustrates ageism through the character of Candy and his
There are hate groups dedicated to violence towards the colored, even though discrimination is viewed with disgust now. Some people still hold the old belief that they are superior, and that no race is better. An example of this is the Ku Klux Klan, the clan made up of white southerners that exists to hate different races. Through many combined efforts, colored people now have more rights and freedom, but the oppression and discrimination towards black and colored people still exist in today’s society. In Of Mice and Men, the stable buck is a black man named Crooks. He is shown to be oppressed and discriminated many times throughout the book. There are repeated instances of him being abused verbally:“Where the hell is that God damn nigger?”(Steinbeck 29). Crooks is a considered a “minority” on the ranch because of his skin color and race. All the ranch workers live together in the bunkhouse, except for Crooks, who lives in the stable alone. Crooks thinks of his stable as his own room, where he can be alone and not bothered. However, it is shown that Curley’s wife still has control over him when he tells her to leave his room: “Listen, nigger...You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” This indicates that Curley’s wife has control over Crooks, because of his color, and is using that control to oppress and abuse him. Steinbeck portrays to the readers the evils of …show more content…
He wishes to belong with the other ranch workers, but he is old and useless. When Candy’s ancient dog was shot and put to a rest, he realizes that the dog is a foreshadow of what will happen to him, hence why he was eager to leave with George and Lennie. As soon as Candy becomes too old, he will be fired and kicked out: “They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the county.” (Steinbeck 60). Candy suffers from ageism, discrimination based on his age. Candy’s dog symbolizes it’s owner, showing that the older you become, the less valuable you will be to the workers. He is without purpose, and knows that he will be “canned”. In some Asian cultures, reaching a certain age is a sign of respect, and the younger generations take care of the older grandfathers and grandmothers, but in other places the elderly are still being discriminated. They are sent away to nursery homes for others to take care of. This symbolizes disrespect and oppression, sending the elderly away against their will. The oppression and resentment towards the older people still continue today, and Steinbeck clearly illustrates ageism through the character of Candy and his