Of Mice and Men is a novel set during the Great Depression. The novel tells the story of two men, George and Lennie, who are ranch workers. The two men are friends, and they travel together to find work.
The novel explores the themes of friendship, loneliness, and dreams. One of the most important themes in Of Mice and Men is the role of women. Women are often portrayed as objects or property, and they are not given the same rights as men. This is seen throughout the novel, especially in the character of Curley’s wife.
Curley’s wife is a minor character, but she plays a significant role in the novel. She is described as a “tart” and a “tramp.” Curley’s wife is never given a name, which further shows her lack of importance. She is always trying to get attention from the men on the ranch, and she flirts with them even though she is married.
The other characters in Of Mice and Men often talk about women in a negative way. They view women as causing nothing but trouble. For example, when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, George tells him that he needs to leave immediately because he knows that the other men will kill him if they find out what he did.
In Of Mice and Men, women are often seen as symbols of temptation or danger. They are not viewed as human beings with their own hopes and dreams. This is one of the many themes that Steinbeck explores in his novel.
In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Crooks is an allegory for high moral character. Dignity refers to self-respect and self-esteem, as well as physical and mental integrity and empowerment. When he draws himself up and refuses “charity” from anybody, Steinbeck uses Crooks as a symbol for pride and honour in the face of adversity.
Crooks is shown to have a great deal of pride in himself, which allows him to maintain his sense of self-worth and integrity, even though he faces discrimination and isolation.
Although Crooks is not the only character in Of Mice and Men who experiences abuse or mistreatment, he is the only one who is constantly subjected to it. The other characters are able to find some respite from the cruelty they experience, but Crooks has no escape. He is an African American man living in the Jim Crow South, where segregation is law and racism is rampant. He is also crippled, which makes him an easy target for abuse. Despite all of this, Crooks remains a proud and dignified man.
Crooks’ pride is evident when he refuses to accept charity from Lennie, even though he is in desperate need of companionship. When Lennie offers to sleep in the barn with Crooks so that he won’t be alone, Crooks refuses. He tells Lennie that he would rather be alone than have someone pity him. This shows that Crooks takes great pride in his own dignity and self-respect.
Crooks’ sense of integrity is also evident in the way he stands up for himself when he is mistreated. When Curley’s wife comes into his room and tries to start a fight, Crooks does not back down. He stands up for himself and tells her to leave him alone. This shows that Crooks has a strong sense of self-worth and is not afraid to defend himself.
Crooks is a symbol of dignity and pride in Of Mice and Men because he shows that it is possible to maintain your sense of self-respect and integrity even in the face of adversity. He also shows that it is possible to stand up for yourself and defend your own dignity.
For example, when Crooks, Lennie, and Candy are in the bunkhouse they speak of their dream. Initially Crooks is on board, but then he says: ‘“Well, jus’ forget it,… I didn’ want to go no place like that.”’ (Steinbeck 83). This statement shows that for Candy, a man must have a home to grow old in.
Dreaming of a place to call his own is not enough, he needs the stability that comes with it. Lennie has Candy’s dream, but he adds on to it. Lennie wants to tend the rabbits on the farm because he “likes petting soft things.” (Steinbeck 31). He likes creatures that do not fight back and that he can control. Of all the animals on the farm, only Slim recognizes what Lennie is trying to do: “He was jus’ fooling about them rabbits like a kid will. He did no harm by it in his life. I wish somebody’ shoot me if I get old an’ cripple like that guy.” (Steinbeck 60).
Slim is the only one who understands that Lennie does not know his own strength and means no harm by his actions. The other men on the farm, including George, see Lennie as a liability and a pest. In their eyes, Lennie can never be anything but trouble because he is not normal. Curley’s wife also recognizes what Slim sees in Lennie: “You got kind eyes. They ain’t mean like some. I have never seen no nice guy like you before.” (Steinbeck 93). This statement is important because it shows how even though Curley’s wife flirts with all the men on the farm, she does see something special in Slim.
Of all the men, she is most drawn to him because he is kind and gentle. In Of Mice and Men, the role of women is symbolic. The women in the novel are not given names and are only referred to as Curley’s wife, the boss’ daughter, or some other relation to a man. This shows how women were treated during this time period: they were seen as property and their worth was based on their relationship to a man.
Curley’s wife is the only woman with any significant amount of dialogue in the novel and she is also the only one who is fleshed out as a character. She is not given a name because she is not a person, she is an object. Her purpose in the novel is to be a temptation for the men on the farm and to cause trouble. She does not work on the farm and has no real purpose other than to be a nuisance.
The other women in the novel are even less developed as characters. The boss’ daughter is only mentioned a few times and she is never seen. She is used as a symbol of hope for George and Lennie. They dream of one day being able to buy their own farm and live off the land like they want to, but they know it will never happen.
The women in Of Mice and Men are symbols of temptation and false hope. They are there to remind the men of what they cannot have and will never be able to have.