Essay on the Novella 'of Mice and Men

BackGround Info Crooks, is a victim of this novella because he is lonely, disabled, and doesn’t and a family. He used to be very rich when he was young. On the other hand, Curley’s Wife is a significant victim because she is the only women on the entire ranch and she does not like it that way. Curley’s wife wanted to be in the movies and be a superstar but, she was conned by a couple of people who told her that she can be in the movies. Curley’s Wife would attract men because she wanted to get away from her husband Curley, perhaps because he would hit her and she is not wanting to stay with him.?

“Most characters in Of Mice and Men are victims in one way or another” Discuss with reference to at least two characters. 

DRAFT ESSAY

        There are many characters in the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck who are victims in one way or another. These victims did not have any respect, wealth, dignity and family. George and Lennie lost everything that they had, for example when George was young his grand father owned a ranch with windmills and pigeons. Its effects were felt by many Americans, who migrated west in search of work on ranches. This was largely a result of the Great Depression. All of the characters are victims but the main ones are Crooks, the stable buck and Curley’s Wife, who are isolated, disabled and don’t have any respect.

        It could be argued that Crooks the stable buck is one of the most noticeable victims in the novella, because, he is not allowed to go into the bunkhouse. He is lucky to have his own room but this means he can’t interact with the other men on the ranch as Crooks is black while the others are white: ‘“sure [you] see the stable buck’s a nigger.”’ All the characters in this novella state that Crooks is a ‘nigger’ and during the 1930’s they did not care about their harsh language that they used, and casually used racist epithets. Readers today know that the savage language used against Crooks is wrong.

        Crooks is a victim because he is black and does not have the power and authority to do much. In the novella Crooks does recognise that the others on the ranch uses these racial epithets against him, ‘“ This is just a nigger [talking] an’ a busted-black nigger.”’ showing that Crooks is aware of this situation where he also calls himself a “nigger” he says it with resentment and irony. Now a days people think that the language that was used in 1937 was not alright but these characters did not know what these racial epithets meant and the other nasty swear words. Harsh language was used for hard times during the 1930’s.    

        There is one occasion where Crooks, the victim, turns into a bully, enjoying a fleeting moment of power. Crooks likes torturing Lennie,  as the other characters torture Crooks. He scares Lennie by persuading him: ‘“ S’pose George don’t come back no more.”’ Even though Crooks knows that Lennie acts like a child he feels relived when he abuses and tortures him. Lennie is kind of scared that George will never come back because he is looking forward to have a farm with rabbits, cow chickens and pigs. He is happy about this as he loves petting soft objects like pups, rabbits and mice.   People think that Crooks is powerless and does not have the right to do anything, despite that, he still has some rights to himself and can make rules in the barn.