The American dream is the idea of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available for every American. The title of John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men is a warning for the whole novel as it came from Robert Burn’s poem "To a Mouse" which can be translated as `no matter how well one plans the future, things often go wrong'. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck illustrates the loneliness of migrant workers in search of work during the Great Depression and Dustbowl of the 1930’s. Throughout the novel, readers discover the many sources of solitude, primarily being discrimination and prejudice, resulted from the impossibility of the American dream. The narrator utilizes characterization to satirize the impossibility of attaining
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Crooks’ is example that faces prejudice through racism. “Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leans off the wall off the barn.” (65) From this line, the readers will notice that crooks’ is the only character in the book that lives out of the bunkhouse, whereby are all the others isolating the one. All that crooks’ ever wanted is equality between man, but From Lennie’s brief interaction with Crooks’, narrator not only suggest to the readers that the long time loneliness have caused crooks’ to be suspicious of any kindness received, but also reveals the complexity of racial prejudice in the northern California ranch life that have crushed so many ranch hands dream. " ‘…You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room.’ ‘Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘Cause I’m black…’” (67) Even though Crooks’ was born in California, crooks’ will always feel like an outsider. From this line, readers will notice that Crooks defines its notion of himself not based on what its believes, but on knowing that no matter how one feels about himself, others around will always value it as less. As quickly, as he got excited about the dream, he abandons it, telling Candy he was "Jus foolin" about being interested in his own freedom and happiness. Crooks’ is painfully aware that his skin color is all that keeps him separate in this
Crooks’ is example that faces prejudice through racism. “Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leans off the wall off the barn.” (65) From this line, the readers will notice that crooks’ is the only character in the book that lives out of the bunkhouse, whereby are all the others isolating the one. All that crooks’ ever wanted is equality between man, but From Lennie’s brief interaction with Crooks’, narrator not only suggest to the readers that the long time loneliness have caused crooks’ to be suspicious of any kindness received, but also reveals the complexity of racial prejudice in the northern California ranch life that have crushed so many ranch hands dream. " ‘…You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room.’ ‘Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘Cause I’m black…’” (67) Even though Crooks’ was born in California, crooks’ will always feel like an outsider. From this line, readers will notice that Crooks defines its notion of himself not based on what its believes, but on knowing that no matter how one feels about himself, others around will always value it as less. As quickly, as he got excited about the dream, he abandons it, telling Candy he was "Jus foolin" about being interested in his own freedom and happiness. Crooks’ is painfully aware that his skin color is all that keeps him separate in this