Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck is a novella about two friends, George and Lennie who travel and work together. Lennie is of less intelligence than George and as a result causing trouble where ever they go to seek work. The story is set in the 1930's in Soledad where George and Lennie go to a ranch to work to achieve their dreams / goals. John Steinbeck deliberately writes this novella for the readers to gain an insight into the values and attitudes of the time period for working men, ass many of the stories written for the time period are for the high class people. Of Mice and Men raises many issues that can confirm or challenge the readers response. Issues such as Racism, Gender, Social Status and Disability in the 1930's are explored in the novella. .
Of Mice and Men widely explores the values and attitudes related to the rural development of the 1930's. The issues presented in the text are related to Racism, Social Status, Gender and Disability. In contrast are the current values and attitudes that society holds and whether or not they have changed since the 1930's. Narrative techniques such as characterization, Point Of View, conflict and setting are used to convey these values and attitudes.
Racism is conveyed in the text through the use of the character Crooks. Crooks is a African American black male who is treated with disrespect on the basis of his native background. Crooks is marginalized, as he is the only "nigga" on the ranch. He is treated differently which is conveyed well through the use of setting as his bed is made out of straw, "Crooks bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung" (P- ).
Crooks is also given fewer rights than the other men. An example of this is through not allowing him into the other bunkhouse because he is not white.
When he tries to enforce his own rights he is looked unkindly upon. He responds aggressively towards Lennie saying, "You ain't got no right to come into my room.
