Of Mice And Men Foreshadowing Essay Example
Of Mice And Men Foreshadowing Essay Example

Of Mice And Men Foreshadowing Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (918 words)
  • Published: May 15, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, the characters of Curley's wife, Crooks, and Candy are discussed in relation to their significance. The novel tackles several enduring issues in America such as sexism, racism, ageism, and discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Although these characters face discrimination, they have become accustomed to it as a normal part of their lives. While some ranch inhabitants struggle with social interactions due to discrimination, their shared desire for escape from isolation and loneliness drives them to engage with each other to some extent, despite their own prejudices. Ageism is one specific form of discrimination portrayed in the story.

One of the characters who effectively embodies the themes of loneliness and insecurity is Candy. His loneliness is primarily caused by the loss of his h

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and and his advanced age. Steinbeck employs Candy to depict the discrimination faced by older individuals during the Great Depression. Candy perceives himself as a worthless elderly man, much like his dog who is gradually deteriorating. The dog's predicament mirrors Candy's own situation; once it was no longer useful as a sheepherder, it was abandoned. Candy recognizes that his fate may be similar, and he acknowledges that he too will be discarded and left by the wayside once he is no longer beneficial to the ranch.

On the ranch, Candy's dog is treated the same way as he is, causing him emotional distress. Candy is unable to kill his dog, which parallels his inability to improve his own life. He cannot advocate for his dog because he cannot advocate for himself. In the end, Candy is left with the despair that comes from a lifetime of hard wor

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and the realization that he is no closer to achieving the American dream.

It is no surprise that Candy becomes fond of George and Lennie and their dream as he too wants to find a way out of his inevitable uselessness. He strives to turn "George and Lennie's dream" into "George, Lennie, and Candy's plan". However, it appears that Candy is plagued with a strong sense of futility. While he attempts to assist the men in achieving their dream, he also constantly reminds them of the possibility (and most likely outcome) that it will fail. When the dream does inevitably crumble, Candy is the one who feels the loss more deeply than anyone else.

George mourns the actions he must take towards his friend, Lennie, while Lennie worries about their dream of owning rabbits. Meanwhile, Candy represents the despair that comes at the end of a long, hard-working life when you have achieved neither your career goals nor the American dream, and on top of it, your closest companion (even if it is a dog) is no longer alive. In terms of racial discrimination, Crooks, the novel's only black character, is the stable hand responsible for the ranch horses. He has experienced so much loneliness and prejudice that he becomes suspicious of any acts of kindness directed towards him.

The brief interaction between Lennie and Crooks highlights the intricacy of racial prejudice within California's ranch life. Crooks constantly recognizes that his skin color is the factor that separates him from others, making him feel like an outsider even in his own home state. As a result of this feeling of being an "outsider," Crooks dwells on his

own loneliness but also finds solace in witnessing the loneliness of others. When Crooks teases Lennie by implying that George won't return home, it reveals a slight tendency to be mean, potentially developed after experiencing prolonged solitude.

Lennie inadvertently puts Crooks at ease, and Candy even manages to get him enthusiastic about the dream farm, to the extent that Crooks begins to see himself as deserving and equal enough to be included in the plan with the others. However, Curley's wife's derogatory remarks crush Crooks's little dream of the farm, reaffirming his position as inferior to a white woman. Awakened by the harsh treatment from Curley's wife, Crooks steadfastly refuses to acknowledge her wrongness.

Instead of denying the truth of living with constant racial discrimination, Crooks acknowledges and accepts it. He undermines the significance of the other men, claiming that he had "forgotten himself" due to the way they had treated him well. It appears that Crooks establishes his self-perception not based on his own belief in his worth, but on being aware that others will always perceive him as lesser regardless of how he feels. He quickly abandons his enthusiasm about the dream, confessing to Candy that he was merely pretending to be interested in his own freedom and happiness. SEXISM "Why can't I talk to you?"

Despite being the only woman on the ranch, Curley's wife in Of Mice and Men is constantly referred to as 'Curley's wife', highlighting her gender-based discrimination. Throughout the novel, John Steinbeck effectively depicts sexism by portraying her as a possession of Curley, creating feelings of uncertainty and worthlessness. This limitation of her identity demonstrates how she becomes a victim

of sexism.

Conclusion: In the novel Of Mice and Men, the characters Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife are all victims of discrimination for various reasons. Despite this, Steinbeck highlights the harmful effects of discrimination on the human heart. This is evident as all three characters demand that their rights be respected. Through Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck's purpose was to raise awareness about the negative impact of discrimination.

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