Racism

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Racism as Context for Of Mice and Men

Racism fundamentally shaped society and politics in 20th century America. Of Mice and Men is written in this context.

Racial discrimination

During the Great Depression, racism and racial violence increased.
Black people were severely affected by the Great Depression. By 1932, half of black people in America were believed to be unemployed. In some northern states, white people demanded that employers fire black people from their jobs to solve the problem of unemployment in white communities.

Laws

There were a number of laws passed around this time which made it legal to segregate (keep separate) black people and white people.
The Civil Rights Act - which banned racial discrimination in employment - was not passed until 1964. So the novel is set at a time when racial discrimination was NOT illegal.

Crooks in Of Mice and Men

The only black character in the story, Crooks, is treated unfairly by the other characters. For example:
- He is not allowed to live with the other men.
- He is told that he “stinks”.
The way the other characters treat him reflects the discrimination that many black people experienced in 1930s America and beyond.

The Ku Klux Klan

At one point, Curley’s wife tells Crooks that she could have him “strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny” (Section 4).
This incident references the Ku Klux Klan, a racist organisation in America which has a history of murdering black people, normally by hanging them from trees (known as lynching).

1Context & Overview

1.1Context & Overview

1.1.1The Great Depression

1.1.2Racism

1.1.3The American Dream

1.1.4Of Mice & Men

1.2John Steinbeck

1.2.1John Steinbeck's Life

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Overview

2Plot

2.1Section 1 - Analysis

2.1.1Section 1 - Plot

2.1.2Section 1 - Overview

2.2Section 2 - Analysis

2.2.1Section 2 - Plot

2.2.2Section 2 - Overview

2.3Section 3 - Analysis

2.3.1Section 3 - Plot

2.3.2Section 3 - Overview

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3

2.4Section 4 - Analysis

2.4.1Section 4 - Plot

2.4.2Section 4 - Overview

2.5Section 5 - Analysis

2.5.1Section 5 - Plot

2.5.2Section 5 - Overview

2.6Section 6 - Analysis

2.6.1Section 6 - Plot

2.6.2Section 6 - Overview

2.6.3End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6

3Key Characters

3.1Main Characters

3.1.1George

3.1.2Lennie - Strength

3.1.3Lennie - Innocence & Dependence

3.1.4Slim

3.1.5Curley

3.1.6Curley's Wife - Flirtatious

3.1.7Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken

3.1.8Crooks

3.1.9Candy

3.1.10End of Topic Test - George & Lennie

3.1.11End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife

3.2Minor Characters

3.2.1Minor Characters

3.2.2End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others

4Themes

4.1Key Themes

4.1.1Hopes, Dreams & Reality

4.1.2Racial Prejudice

4.1.3Loneliness & Companionship

4.1.4The Weak & Strong

4.1.5Women

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes

5Authorial Method

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Dialogue

5.1.2Imagery

5.1.3Light

5.1.4Sound

5.1.5Symbolism

5.1.6Structure

5.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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