Oppression Of Crooks In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Steinbeck comments on American society through characters who represent oppressed “types”. He exposes prejudice in American society using the character of Crooks. Crooks suffers from loneliness and isolation and pursue to bring down those who are weaker and lower than him. This is seen when crook criticises Lennie’s dream of the farm and his dependence on George which exploits his weakness, the fact that he is a black man with a crooked back who is lonely, Crooks starts to observe Lennie’s weaknesses. This reinforces the idea that oppression does not occur only from being strong and powerful. Crooks displays strength when he tells Lennie something bad has happened to George, at the same time Curley’s wife feels powerful when she threatens to have Crooks mobbed. The novel suggests that this kind of strength used to oppress others is in fact a natural weakness itself.
Crooks has no power as he is at the bottom of the ranch hierarchy. Crooks says he doesn’t have a dream but when he hears of George and Lennie’s dream farm he wants to be involved. However, Curley’s wife shatters this dream for him when she threatens him. …show more content…
She is described as ‘a tart’, ‘rat trap’, ‘jailbait’ and ‘trouble’. Curley’s wife although lives a married life, is unhappy and isolated. The fact that she is not given a name in the novel, highlights her low status and power in society. She dreams of being a movie star and thinks she ‘cudda made something’ because someone told her just to sleep with her. Perhaps Steinbeck is showing that there is more to a women’s role than just being a man’s possession. Women being objectified becomes more widespread that no one no longer sees their true humanized self. In a modern perspective, we see this in media where there are wars happening and multitudes of people become migrants wanting to flee their countries. Steinbeck’s strong message still continues on in today’s