A child is walking down with their mother and sees an African American with clothing that is grungy and worn. The child becomes scared and hides behind their mother, but why? Stereotypes are everywhere, and the stereotype of African Americans in this anecdote is a perfect example of how people can be portrayed negatively without an educated view on the stereotype. In the 1930’s, stereotypes were no different than today. In the 1930’s, an array of stereotypes were present, in which many are described in John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, which include a wide variety of stereotypes with women, African Americans, and people with cognitive disabilities.
Stereotypes in this time, the 1930’s, impacted everyone involved in many ways, one group being …show more content…
Lennie is a man described as very large characteristically, with child-like mannerisms and someone who can’t survive on their own. Lennie is looked down upon in the novel in many ways, of which many of the stereotypes are still ever present in today’s society. People with cognitive disabilities are seen as childish in their actions and physical and emotional attributes as well. Lennie, in this instance in the novel acts just like a child would and lies to George about possessing a dead mouse saying, “‘I ain’t got nothin’, George. Honest’”, and continues to pout later in the chapter about the very same situation (5). George Milton is the “caretaker” of Lennie and sometimes gets frustrated with how he has to look after Lennie and be his guardian, saying that “‘... if I was alone, I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble”(11). This quote from the novel describes the stereotype of the dependency that people with cognitive disabilities have and how very few people care enough to take care of these sort of …show more content…
The novel describes Crooks as an unliked black man that works and lives in the stables. Crooks is an average stereotyped African American during this time, being an uneducated, good for nothing scum that no one likes, and it is easy for others to show disrespect and lash out anger upon. Crooks in this case, doesn’t follow all of the stereotypes, because he is a man who wants to go against what society says in this stereotype and tries to be hardworking and educated. For the purpose of this essay, Crooks will still be used as an example. Crooks follows the stereotype because he works on the ranch for little to nothing and isn’t treated well, such as when George and Lennie were late and Candy said that the “‘boss gives him hell when he’s mad’”, when they weren’t on time, for instance (20). Ironically, there is a parallel between how women and African Americans were treated in this novel, where both Curley’s wife and Crooks were not given specific names, birth names, showing the lack of respect towards these stereotypes, that they don’t “deserve” a name. There is also a parallel of how both women and African Americans feel as if people don’t care about them and how people don’t care to listen to what they have to say, such as when Crooks described to Lennie how “‘If I say something, why it’s just a nigger
Stereotypes in this time, the 1930’s, impacted everyone involved in many ways, one group being …show more content…
Lennie is a man described as very large characteristically, with child-like mannerisms and someone who can’t survive on their own. Lennie is looked down upon in the novel in many ways, of which many of the stereotypes are still ever present in today’s society. People with cognitive disabilities are seen as childish in their actions and physical and emotional attributes as well. Lennie, in this instance in the novel acts just like a child would and lies to George about possessing a dead mouse saying, “‘I ain’t got nothin’, George. Honest’”, and continues to pout later in the chapter about the very same situation (5). George Milton is the “caretaker” of Lennie and sometimes gets frustrated with how he has to look after Lennie and be his guardian, saying that “‘... if I was alone, I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble”(11). This quote from the novel describes the stereotype of the dependency that people with cognitive disabilities have and how very few people care enough to take care of these sort of …show more content…
The novel describes Crooks as an unliked black man that works and lives in the stables. Crooks is an average stereotyped African American during this time, being an uneducated, good for nothing scum that no one likes, and it is easy for others to show disrespect and lash out anger upon. Crooks in this case, doesn’t follow all of the stereotypes, because he is a man who wants to go against what society says in this stereotype and tries to be hardworking and educated. For the purpose of this essay, Crooks will still be used as an example. Crooks follows the stereotype because he works on the ranch for little to nothing and isn’t treated well, such as when George and Lennie were late and Candy said that the “‘boss gives him hell when he’s mad’”, when they weren’t on time, for instance (20). Ironically, there is a parallel between how women and African Americans were treated in this novel, where both Curley’s wife and Crooks were not given specific names, birth names, showing the lack of respect towards these stereotypes, that they don’t “deserve” a name. There is also a parallel of how both women and African Americans feel as if people don’t care about them and how people don’t care to listen to what they have to say, such as when Crooks described to Lennie how “‘If I say something, why it’s just a nigger