Of Mice and Men, he reader is introduced to Crooks, an African American stable buck. Throughout the novel, the audience learns of the ongoing prejudices towards A African Americans. In chapter two of the story we learn that Smithy, one of the ranch workers, almost killed Crooks and none of the other characters were really concerned about it. The AU thro states through a conversation between the characters, “ Little skinner name of Smithy t ask after the Niger. Done pretty good, too. The guys wouldn’t let him use his feet, so the Niger got him.
If he could used his feet, Smithy says he would killed the rugged” (Steinbeck 0. ) Due to the fact that Crooks is African American, the men feel that it is okay to beat hi m to the point that his death could be a possible result. Additionally, these men do not see Cry kooks as valuable because of the fact that he is African American. If they were to kill him, he co old easily be replaced, ultimately showing that he Is not equal with the others. In addition n to the cruel TTY Tirana Americans were subjected to, Crooks was also segregate hers on deed trot the to the ranch.
Steinbeck states, “ Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the hare mom; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” (Steinbeck 66,) and Crooks fate r being told that it must be nice to have a room to himself stated, “ And a manure pile under t he window. Sure, it’s swell” (Steinbeck 75. ) This shows that Crooks, being African America n, isn’t treated equally with the other men because he isn’t permitted to live in the bunkhouse e with the other workers. If Crooks were white, he would be able to reside in the bunkhouse. Alas TTYL, the other workers do not accept Crooks in the society.
In a conversation with Leonie, Crop KS states, “ l anti wanted in the bunkhouse… Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, b can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink… ” (Steinbeck 68. ) The other workers on t ranch still look down on blacks and don’t take to them kindly in the society. Because o f this, Crooks isn’t permitted in the bunkhouse and isn’t permitted to play cards with the who ties. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck shows that African Americans are dissimilar in the s society. In , one of the main characters, Leonie, is portrayed with a mental disability. Due to this, Leonie is treated unfairly in the society.
Leonie is unequal in the e society cause George always feels the need to speak for him. When George and Leonie firs t meet the boss, Curler states, “ Let the big guy talk,” and George responds saying, “ Expose he don’t want to talk? ” (Steinbeck 25. ) In actuality, had Leonie spoken, George would have prop ably scolded him for it later. George is too concerned that Leonie will say something wrong because of his mental disability and get them both in trouble. Additionally, through UT the novel, Leonie is reminded of what would happen to him if he didn’t have George became use of his mental disability.
In a conversation with Leonie, Crooks is having Leonie imagine hat would happen if George didn’t come back to care for him. He states, ” Want me to tell what’s happen? They’ll take you to the booby hatch. They’ll tie yea up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck 72. ) If it weren’t for George, Leonie would be placed in a mental hospital. G ergo is Lien’s only hope for living within the the society, rather than segregated from it. Leonie would be like anybody else in the society if he wouldn’t have a mental disability. Last y, Leonie is seldom referred to by his name by the other workers on the ranch.
In a conversant between Candy and Crooks, the author states, “ Slim went in town. Say, you seen Lenin Yea mean the big guy? ” (Steinbeck 74. ) Referring to Leonie as “ the big guy’ is making a statement to the readers that Leonie is not important enough to the other characters in the novel to be referred to by his name. Lien’s mental disability proves to make him UN like the others in the society throughout the novel. John Steinbeck also portrays characters with physical disabilities nonequivalent in the novel. Both Candy and Crooks are illustrated with physical disabilities in the novel, Crooks has a back injury.
Due to this, he is set apart in the society. John Stet beck illustrates Crooks saying, “ This is Just a Niger talking’ an’ a busted back Niger. So it don’t mean nothing, see? ” (Steinbeck 71 . ) This shows that on top of being unalike due to the e color of his skin, the fact that Crooks is physically disabled Just makes matters worse for hi Without his back injury, Crooks would only be prejudiced against due to his skin color injury allows for him to be even further prejudiced against. In the novel, Candy is also unequal in the society due to his lack of a hand. The author states through Candy, “ l got hurt f our years ago…
They’ll can me party soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk house they’ll put me on the county’ (Steinbeck 60. ) Candy will eventually lose his Job because e of his disability. Had he not been injured, he could work longer on the ranch. Candy is also I feet with a Job that is insignificant compared to the other’s Jobs because of his injury. The tote characters can’t relate Witt him as much as the others because their line to work is c impolitely different. Candy physical injury causes him to be segregated from the other men who o work bucking barley bags and he is left swamping out the bunkhouses.
Due to physical disc abilities, Candy and Crooks are not treated equally in society. By employing the use of African Americans, mentally disabled people, and physically disabled people, all of which are minorities, John Steinbeck produces the theme that minorities are unequal in the society. By portraying all of these groups within in the n evolve, the audience can see the flaws in the society ways. If by chance the other ranch workers could see past these differences, they could better work with these groups and become MO re productive, rather than secluding them. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. . New York: Penguin, 1993. Print.