Introduction

My name is Nelson Gomes. This is my first blog, and I’m trying to argue the theme of race and racism, and how it is developed in Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. This story takes place during The Great Depression. It tells the story of two men, George and Lennie who try to escape economic poverty, homelessness, and emotional and psychological corruption.  A man who works on the ranch by the name of Crooks is a dark skinned stable buck who is isolated from everyone else because of his race(African American). Racism is an issue that has occurred over history, and still exists today. In this novel only one example of racism is shown which is racism on black people, but there are so many other races being discriminated in the world today. In this book the theme of racism does not occur in every chapter but it does occur in the story. For every chapter I will write a post about the scenes and characters and how they face racism or contribute to racism.

Even though the only race is the human race, racism still exists.

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Chapter 1

In the first chapter Steinbeck introduces us to the two main characters, George Milton and Lennie Small. George is small, quick-tempered, and is cruel. Lennie is a man of tremendous size, childlike, emotional, and very eager. In this chapter they are both going to the ranch to find a job.

In this chapter racial discrimination doesn't occur, but it will occur later in the book...unfortunately.  

Chapter 2

George, and Lennie finally reach the ranch after 10 miles of treacherous walking. They got the job and met the people from the ranch. Slim, Candy, Curley, Curley's wife, Carlson, and of course the "nigger" Crooks. Already in this chapter George and Lennie grow their strong hate for Curley.  Crooks is the stable buck and has his own room because he is black. He is isolated becuase of his skin colour. Yes it may be nice to have your own room but loneliness is such a painful feeling.

From the distance came a clear call. "Stable Buck- ooh, sta-able Buck!" And then, " Where the hell is that God damn nigger?"(Steinbeck 29 1937).

There is no wrong doing in calling Crooks(stable buck), but there is no reason for calling him a nigger(ethnic slur). He was beaten, neglected, and abused by the boss. Crook's is just like any other human. We were all made in the image of God. I think the word "nigger" is used to empower the person who says it. It disrespects. and oppresses Crooks race. It is used several times in this book.

Chapter 3

In this chapter George spills out the truth to Slim, about why they had to run away from Weeds. They had to run away because Lennie was accused of raping a woman, but he just touched her "soft" dress. George relied on Slim, a very trustworthy person to keep it a secret.

Candy joins in on George and Lennie's impossible dream of owning a little piece of land. Candy has quite a bit of money saved up, and once he gets fired he'll have no where else to go, so he chose to join in.

The fight between Curley and Lennie also occurred in this chapter. Lennie had no idea what he was doing. it seemed like he was waiting for instructions from George. But when George did tell Lennie to fight back Lennie absolutely crushed Curley's hand (not the one full of Vaseline for his wife)!

In this chapter there wasn't any racist comments but Crooks seems invisible in this novel. No one hangs out with him because he is African-american.

Chapter 4

In this chapter Steinbeck allows us to visualize Crook's room.

"On one side of the little room there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow plank door leading into the barn. Crooks' bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. On the wall by the window there were pegs on which hung broken harness in process of being mended ; strips of new leather; and under the window itself a little bench for leather-working tools, curved knives and needles and balls of linen and thread, and a small riveter"(Steinbeck 66 1937).

George, Carlson, Slim, and Curley decided to spend some time in the "whore" house. All who were left were Candy, Lennie, and Crooks.  Crooks was in his room as usual, when Lennie all of a sudden drops in. Crooks was amazed that someone other than him was in his room. Later after that Candy entered Crooks' room.

Crooks said darkly, “Guys don’t come into a colored man’s room very much. Nobody been here but Slim. Slim an’ the boss”(Steinbeck 75 1937).

Crooks has probably never had more than two other people in his room. When he started to interact with Lennie he became a little bit more friendlier. When both Lennie and Crooks start to gain a sense of conversation, he asks Crooks why he isn't wanted. Lennie doesn't seem to understand the fact that     African-american's did not have any human rights. They were forced to follow the Jim Crow laws, which were unjust. Crooks was forced to live away from everyone else just like segregation.

 "Why ain't you wanted?" Lennie asked. "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me"(Steinbeck 68 1937).

Crooks seems frustrated and lets out his emotions about the way he is being treated. He is constantly being physically and verbally abused. It's interesting he lets out his emotions to Lennie, because he knows Lennie doesn't really understanding what he is saying. it's equivalent to talking to a rabbit. Crooks probably doesn't want to know about so says it to Lennie.

This chapter really reveals Crooks as a person and the many hardships he unfortunately has to go through. 

Chapter 5

In this chapter the men went out to play horseshoes excluding Lennie, Crooks due to his race and bad back, and Candy due to his age and weakness. Lennie was out alone in the barn, and once again he killed another animal, this time a puppy. Curley's wife entered the barn and approached Lennie wearing her soft, bright red dress. Lennie remembered what George said to him, about staying away from Curley's wife. But she was able to entice Lennie into talking. She allowed him to touch her hair and Lennie just couldn't let  go. She panicked and Lennie grasped even harder. He grasped so hard to the point that he snapped her neck. She's dead! Lennie left to the area George told him to go. When Curley found out his wife was dead he knew it was Lennie, and wanted to kill him. Curley showed no emotion to the death of his wife.

Crooks was never mentioned in this chapter. He didn't play horseshoes with the other guys because he knew he wasn't wanted. He probably stayed in the only place where he was entitled to human rights... his room.

Chapter 6

In this chapter Lennie is back where the novel began, the Salinas River. Lennie is waiting the arrival of George. Lennie thinks George will be mad at him for the death of Curley's wife. When George arrives he tells Lennie to think about the rabbits and the piece of land they were soon going to own. he mentions that he is not mad at Lennie, and he never was. he put the gun to Lennie's head and shoots him. When the others arrive, Slim is the only guy that really knows what George is going through, with the death of Lennie.
In this novel Steinbeck gives us a front row seat of the racial discrimination that occurred throughout the Great Depression, using Crooks. Even though Crooks is just like any other person racism still occurred, and it occurs now.

VIDEO

Of Mice and Men - Ending

This part is the truly saddest part of the novel. 

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