Dignity is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as the quality or state of being worthy, honored or esteemed. John Steinbeck has a way of instilling a sense of dignity in the characters of the books he writes, like Tom and Ma Joad from The Grapes of Wrath and George Milton and Crooks from Of Mice and Men. Throughout these two books, these characters display a high level of dignity through their honorable attributes and independence that many of the other characters lack. Starting off with The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad is one of the most dignified characters in the book. From the very start, Steinbeck portrayed Tom as a very strong individual that, despite his questionable past, is still very highly esteemed in the family. In the very
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Crooks was the only African American on the ranch, and was thus often excluded by the other men. However, because of all of the dignity that he possessed, he refused to let any of the other workers know that it bothered him. He had been at the farm for a pretty long time, long enough to accumulate a number of belongings, like shoes, a clock and a gun. He spent much of his time reading and he really tried to keep his room neat because he was a very “proud, aloof man” (Of Mice 67). He kept his distance from the other men because he knew he wasn’t accepted and he’d rather be alone than be somewhere that he wasn’t wanted or respected. He really did not appreciate when Lennie came into his room without asking. After noticing Lennie in the doorway he said “‘You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room’” (Of Mice 68). Crooks didn’t want anyone who wouldn’t treat him with an equal amount of respect around him. He also didn’t wat any of the other men to think that he needed help from them, so he kept himself at an arms-width away from them. He wanted to show that he was capable of doing anything that a white man could do. Crooks was so dignified that he wouldn’t let himself be around anyone that would try to make him feel less than anyone else because he knew that he was worthy of better treatment than
Crooks was the only African American on the ranch, and was thus often excluded by the other men. However, because of all of the dignity that he possessed, he refused to let any of the other workers know that it bothered him. He had been at the farm for a pretty long time, long enough to accumulate a number of belongings, like shoes, a clock and a gun. He spent much of his time reading and he really tried to keep his room neat because he was a very “proud, aloof man” (Of Mice 67). He kept his distance from the other men because he knew he wasn’t accepted and he’d rather be alone than be somewhere that he wasn’t wanted or respected. He really did not appreciate when Lennie came into his room without asking. After noticing Lennie in the doorway he said “‘You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room’” (Of Mice 68). Crooks didn’t want anyone who wouldn’t treat him with an equal amount of respect around him. He also didn’t wat any of the other men to think that he needed help from them, so he kept himself at an arms-width away from them. He wanted to show that he was capable of doing anything that a white man could do. Crooks was so dignified that he wouldn’t let himself be around anyone that would try to make him feel less than anyone else because he knew that he was worthy of better treatment than