'Of Mice and Men' Revision: Racism and Sexism (student notes)

Racism and Sexism

Racism:

-          Crooks is the only character on the ranch to be racially discriminated against; he is often referred to as a ‘nigger’ and ‘negro’. 

-          At the time, it was normal to discriminate against black people and there was nothing against it.

-          He is shown to have read the California Civil Rights Code many times; most probably to remind himself of how little rights he has.

-          The boss separates the ‘nigger’ apart from all the other workers as it wouldn’t be right for them to socialise so Crooks lives in a separate room.

o   “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black.” P100

o   “They say I stink.” P100

o   “Crooks scowled, but Lennie’s disarming smile defeated him.” P101 > Crooks is so used to everyone being horrible to him that his is defensive and surprised when Lennie is nice to him.

o   “I ain’t a southern negro,’ he said. ‘I was born right here in California.” P102 > Crooks is in his home town yet he is being discriminated against for being different to the others.

-          Because he is of a lower class, due to his race, he has to refer to the other workers in a formal way e.g. “Mr Slim”.

-          He cannot assert his authority over anyone, not even a woman.

o   Shown when he tells CW to leave his room but she threatens to lynch him. “She turned on him in scorn ‘Listen, Nigger……. drew into himself.” P113

-          George doesn’t think that it’s right for Lennie to be in Crook’s room and doesn’t want him to get in any sort of trouble, unfortunately for Crooks, he is a potential danger because of his race. “What you doin’ in Crooks’ room? You hadn’t ought to be in here.” P115

-          Section four is the only section to really mention Crooks; this shows that most of the time he is just swept under the carpet and forgotten about by the other workers.

Sexism:

-          Curley’s wife is discriminated against because of her gender and because she is the only woman on the ranch it is seen more.

-          Now she has married Curley all previous identity she had has gone; she is only ever referred to as ‘Curley’s Wife’. It is like Curley has won his prize and now she is his property.

-          As she is a woman, she is only seen as a sexual object e.g. ‘tart’, ‘bitch’. The men always greet her in a flirtatious fashion.

o   “Hi, Good-lookin’.” P54 > She is never asked how she is but always just recognised for her gender.

-          Women were not seen in the workplace so she has no job on the ranch; her job was in the home and looking after Curley.

o   “Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?” P90

-          When Steinbeck first introduces Curley’s wife he presents her from how all the other workers see her; only through her appearance.

o   “She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaces eyes, heavily made up.” P53 > All the focus is on her face value and it doesn’t describe her personality at all.

-          She takes on her role as a sexual object as she presents herself in a flirtatious way.

o   “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” P53

-          Only when she is dead do we see her loneliness and do the men actually take notice of who she really is.