Of Mice and Men: Discrimination
Of Mice and Men: Discrimination
'"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.' (p.68) Discrimination is the treatment of a person based on the group, class, or category to which that person belongs. Discrimination is demonstrated in Of Mice and Men many times throughout the book with Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. Each one of these characters experience discrimination in the book and it can be related to our lives today.
Lennie is a guy who is often misjudged by his size in Of Mice and Men. Lennie is mentally handicapped and because of this, the men on the ranch often refer to him as a “crazy bastard.” Lennie is often excluded from “nights out” or things the other men are doing. Many people just misunderstand Lennie and judge him right away. For example, when George and Lennie were kicked out of Weed, it was because Lennie had grabbed a woman’s dress, just to feel. The woman misunderstood this action and accused him of rape. Lennie didn’t let go of her dress only because the woman’s screaming frightened him. Lennie is discriminated against in this way because of how he is misunderstood. George always knew that Lennie never did anything bad “out of meanness” and that is why he stayed with him; to keep him from getting into trouble. When Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife, Curley didn’t understand Lennie and the circumstances that were in the event. Curly just wanted to shoot him in the stomach and make him suffer. George knew what had happened and understood, but in the end decided to kill him painlessly to protect him.
Another example of discrimination is against Curley’s wife. She is discriminated against because of her flirtatious personality. The men on the ranch ignore her and never want anything to do with her because she is Curley’s wife and Curley gets angry quickly, especially when it involves his wife. The men at the ranch all believe that she
'"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.' (p.68) Discrimination is the treatment of a person based on the group, class, or category to which that person belongs. Discrimination is demonstrated in Of Mice and Men many times throughout the book with Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. Each one of these characters experience discrimination in the book and it can be related to our lives today.
Lennie is a guy who is often misjudged by his size in Of Mice and Men. Lennie is mentally handicapped and because of this, the men on the ranch often refer to him as a “crazy bastard.” Lennie is often excluded from “nights out” or things the other men are doing. Many people just misunderstand Lennie and judge him right away. For example, when George and Lennie were kicked out of Weed, it was because Lennie had grabbed a woman’s dress, just to feel. The woman misunderstood this action and accused him of rape. Lennie didn’t let go of her dress only because the woman’s screaming frightened him. Lennie is discriminated against in this way because of how he is misunderstood. George always knew that Lennie never did anything bad “out of meanness” and that is why he stayed with him; to keep him from getting into trouble. When Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife, Curley didn’t understand Lennie and the circumstances that were in the event. Curly just wanted to shoot him in the stomach and make him suffer. George knew what had happened and understood, but in the end decided to kill him painlessly to protect him.
Another example of discrimination is against Curley’s wife. She is discriminated against because of her flirtatious personality. The men on the ranch ignore her and never want anything to do with her because she is Curley’s wife and Curley gets angry quickly, especially when it involves his wife. The men at the ranch all believe that she