In the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’, how does Steinbeck use Crooks to present attitudes towards black people at the time the novel was set?

In the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’, how does Steinbeck use Crooks to present attitudes towards black people at the time the novel was set?

  • Submitted By: LOREN2013
  • Date Submitted: 04/18/2015 6:04 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 430
  • Page: 2
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In ‘Of Mice and Men’ Steinbeck uses crooks’ character to represent and reflect how racist and prejudice people were towards black people during the 1930’s. Crooks is introduced into the novel as ‘the negro stable buck’ who has ‘a little shed’ for room next to the animals, this straight away suggests to the reader that he is isolated from the other characters and is believed to be unworthy of a bed in the dorm with all the other ranch workers. This would have reflected how black people were treated during the depression as they were segregated from everyone else purely due to their colour of their skin, this also limited their opportunities in things such as jobs and hobbies.
Steinbeck also informs the reader of the few possessions Crooks has, this includes his books- which are used to reflect his intelligence and suggests that Crooks lives his dreams through the books he reads rather than actually living his dreams. This could also suggest that Crooks is just like all the other workers wanting and dreaming of something more than what he is living at the moment however is unable to achieve the ‘American dream’ just like George and Lennie. This links to the wider America as during the 1930’s everyone was trying to recover from the Wall Street Crash and everyone was aiming or the same thing, a money stable life in which they may be able to have their own luxuries such as a farm which would not go bust due to the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck also mentions Crooks’ ‘mauled copy of the California Code for 1905’, this suggests that Crooks is aware of his own rights however doesn’t have the power to get the rights he is allowed because of how he is belittle and undermined on the ranch.
Steinbeck also uses the word ‘nigger’ constantly throughout ‘Of Mice and Men’ to show the normality towards racism in America, this is shown has the men do not worry when calling Crooks a ‘nigger’ and don’t worry about using his true name when talking to and about crooks. Also during ‘Of Mice...

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