How Does John Steinbeck Explore the Themes of Hope, Freedom and Prejudice Throughout of Mice and Men to Represent the Shortcomings of the American Dream?

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Steinbeck also explores prejudice throughout the novel with three main characters, Lennie, Candy and Crooks. Each individual is subject to a different type of prejudice. Lennie is not thought of too kindly due to his mental health issues. Candy is subject to being discriminated against because of his age and Crooks being an African American in the 1930s is targeted due to racial discrimination issues. These prejudices prevent each of these characters from achieving the American Dream. When Lennie approaches Crooks in his room Crooks says “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse...Cause I’m black.”[5] Crooks is aware of the prejudices against his race however Lennie does not know. However, Crooks is naïve when it comes to being discriminatory towards Lennie labelling him as nuts and crazy. This situation allows the reader to question Crook’s motives as he is subject to discrimination but discriminates himself making his character somewhat hypocritical or it may be just his anger from the discrimination against himself. Crooks is self-aware of his influence as an African American as he states to Lennie, “If I say something, why its just a nigger sayin it.”[6] This makes the reader feel sympathy for Crooks as he doesn’t have a voice in his lonely life. Candy is also a victim to prejudice mainly concerned with age discrimination. This is evident when Candy discusses the treatment of his dog in relation to his own old age. This situation is a reflection on how older workers were treated. They were either worked until they died or lost their jobs when they could not work. This shows that the American Dream does not work for everyone and how little it does to help those who have suffered their whole lives just to make a dollar.

The novel written by John Steinbeck is a representation of the shortcomings of the American Dream. Of Mice and Men should be taught in schools to inform readers of unrealistic dreams, limited freedom and prejudices that serves as baggage to the American Dream.

Word Count (1007)

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