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Prejudice

Discrimination against “different” characters is crucial and prominent in the book Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck clearly shows the concept of people being discriminated against just because of their different color and a disability. One vital character in this theme is Crooks. Crook faces a lot of discrimination in this racist environment, and also because of his disabled back; he is a slave while other white men are workers. For instance, Crook expresses the inequality he faces to Lennies when he says, “Crooks leaned forward over the edge of the bunk. "I ain't a Southern Negro," he said." I was born right bere in California. My old man had a chicken ranch, 'bout ten acres. The white kids come to play at our place, an' sometimes I event to play with them, and some of them was pretty nice. My of man didn't like that. I never knew till long later why he didn't like that. But I know now." He hesitated, and when he spoke again his voice was softer. "There wasn't another colored family for miles around. And now there ain't a colored man on this ranch an' there's jus' one family in Soledad." He laughed. "If I say something, why it's just a nigger sayin' it"”(Steinback 71). This expresses the distinction and isolation he faces because of his black skin color. In other words, Crook explains how he understood racism from what he experienced at this farm, and explains the difference he gets from him and other white men saying something.

Discrimination can also affect one's health and may develop mental problems. Like Crook, he was isolated and kept away from the ranchworkers. He lives alone by himself, and eventually he becomes very lonely. He explains this loneliness to Lennie by saying, “Crooks said gently, "Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's goin' to come back. S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody -to be near him." He whined, "A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya," he cried, "I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick." ”(Steinback 73). This highlightes the effects of being lonely and how bad it is. And though discrimination led him to this, he couldn’t do anything about it either. Another example to support the evidence of mental health problems is “Discrimination is a public health issue. Research has found that the experience of discrimination—when perceived as such—can lead to a cascade of stress-related emotional, physical, and behavioral changes. Stress evokes negative emotional responses, such as distress, sadness, and anger, and can often lead to an increase in behaviors that harm health, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use, and a decrease in healthy activities, such as sleep and physical activity.”(American Psychological Association). In other words, this directly aligns with what Crook experiences. The act of discrimination led him to this state of remoteness and separation from other people.

Works Cited

American Psychological Association. “Discrimination: What It Is, and How to Cope.” Apa.org, American Psychological Association, 16 May 2024, www.apa.org/topics/racism-bias-discrimination/types-stress.

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Meticulous protection

Ziyang W, Max

George’s protection of Lennie is a theme throughout the book, “Of Mice and Men”, which symbolizes a rare kind of care that mirrors a parent-child relationship. Despite not being obligated to George, he guides and protects Lennie from harm. This is shown when George reminds Lennie that the townsfolk tried to, “Run us out, hell," said George disgustedly. "We run. They were lookin’ for us, but they didn’t catch us” (Steinbeck 6). This shows George’s efforts to protect Lennie, even when it puts himself at risk. During the Great Depression, such loyalty and sacrifice were especially rare, making their bond a powerful symbol of hope and humanity in a harsh world. Steinbeck portrays George’s protection just like the protective nature of parents in real life. a theme also present in The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The father in that story also takes on the role of a guide and protector when he says, “God help us both they said. He taught him to eat small bites of food and to chew thoroughly, and to stay close by” (McCarthy 64). This quote reflects the father’s constant concern for his son’s safety during this time, even in the smallest details. Like George, he becomes a parental figure, providing guidance and care. Showing their devotion that continues even when the world around them is falling apart.

This kind of devotion that is seen in both Of Mice and Men and The Road reflects the way a parent will care and protect their child in a world that doesn’t always make room for weakness. George doesn’t just protect Lennie in moments of hardship; he also helps him understand social cues, keeps him calm, and makes plans for their future. Similarly, the father in The Road prepares his son for survival not only by providing food and shelter but also by teaching him how to make decisions and avoid danger. These characters show that protection isn't just physical safety but also involves emotional support, teaching someone for a world that may not always be kind. Just like a parent, both George and the father protect someone.

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Lydia Lin & Noor Choudhry

The Fading of Dreams

The American Dream is a theme of hope that people can rise from nothing to achieve success, which is highlighted in Of Mice and Men. Both George and Lennie share the dream of freedom and control over their lives. During the Great Depression, when opportunities were limited, this dream gave people something to believe in. Steinbeck illustrates this through Candy, when he states, “Candy cried, ‘Sure they all want it. Everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus' som'thin' that was his.’”(Steinbeck, 77). Candy’s words demonstrate that each man on the ranch desires a sense of independence and stability. After years of working for others with no progress in success, the workers feel the need for a piece of land to show they can have control of their own lives. However, Steinbeck also shows that this dream isn’t easily achievable because of poverty and inequality. Today, most people still chase their own version of the American dream in different ways. For some, it's not about owning land; it's about being an influencer, becoming famous, or building a better life in the U.S. Steinbeck’s message is still relevant, as people chase dreams trying to find happiness and success. As the authors of “The American Dream Now Costs $5 Million. Here’s a Breakdown” states, Daniel de Visé and Charlie Procell state, “It now costs $5 million over a lifetime to fund eight key components of the American dream, including homeownership and raising children.” (Daniel de Visé and Carlie Procell). This modern statistic evidently shows how the American Dream is extremely difficult to achieve. Just like the ranch workers in Of Mice and Men, many people today still chase these out-of-reach dreams, but the constant rise in cost makes the dream further away with each step.

Although the American dreams give people hope, Steinbeck shows that it can also cause disappointment when reality can’t match the dream. The characters in Of Mice and Men hold on to their dream of owning land, but their actions prove how the dream slowly falls apart. Instead of saving their earnings to achieve a great future, many of the ranch workers waste their money on entertainment like gambling and drinking, using the money to escape loneliness. These men work tirelessly on end but always seem to get stuck in the cycle of labor and pain, unable to move towards accomplishing their happiness and freedom. Similarly, people in the world today often turn to distractions or are quick to give up when success feels impossible to grasp, proving that Steinbeck’s message remains relevant today. When dreams become too distant, people are afraid and choose to cling to comfort instead of hope.

Work cited:

de Visé, Daniel, and Carlie Procell. “The American Dream Now Costs $5 Million. Here’s a Breakdown.” USA Today, 21 Sept. 2025, www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/09/21/american-dream-costs-home-college/86186607007

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The Unachievability of the American Dream

Kalia Tan

The men on the ranch and others like them in Of Mice and Men all wish to achieve the American Dream, yet are stuck in a perpetual cycle of impulse spending. Heading to the brothel to indulge in momentary pleasure is just that—momentary, contrary to what they may have been able to achieve if they had just saved their pay. There is a direct example of this in George and Lennie’s plan: “‘Look, if me an’ Lennie work a month and don’t spend nothing, we’ll have a hunderd bucks…I bet we could swing her for that” (Steinbeck 59). Although they have the income of two people and that is on top of Candy’s three hundred and fifty, one man making fifty dollars a month would be able to save the four and a half hundred in nine months, or the six hundred in a year. That isn’t a very long period to be saving, and though six hundred for the plot of land was most likely a good deal, if the men had chosen to actively look for something similar they would almost certainly be able to find it. However, what they instead do is go to a nearby brothel in town and spend their money. In fact, George does too: he was away with the other men when Lennie and Candy talked to Crooks. This could indicate that even if he didn’t admit it to himself, George subconsciously didn’t believe they’d be able to make their dream reality.

The ranchmen knew it was unrealistic to believe they would be able to achieve the American dream, and so they spent their money so they could at least slightly enjoy what they had. Similarly, people spend quite a bit on luxuries in the modern day, rather than saving the money for a bigger purchase such as a house. When counting these little purchases, they may seem to add up to a lot, but it pales in comparison to what would be needed for that house. As stated by Antwyne DeLonde, “‘A $5 coffee is a minor expense compared to the astronomical cost of rent or utilities, which consume a much larger share of budgets’”(Collins). A television typically costs a couple hundred dollars, while a mortgage would cost a few thousand dollars a month. With utility fees and groceries, the price would be even higher. Of course, this amount would vary greatly depending on location and other factors, but entertainment and other luxuries are objectively cheaper, and skimming on those wouldn’t get someone very far in achieving the American dream. As a result, one would likely find a television in many households, showing how both in the past and the present, people spent money on entertainment rather than saving it in the hopes of someday having enough for the American dream. Though enticing, the American dream was and is unrealistic. Through the troubles of his characters, Steinbeck demonstrates how people tend to give up when they feel that their goal is out of reach, an issue still present today.

Collins, Alyce. “Millennial Makes Eye-Opening Point About Spending vs Gen X, Boomers.” Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025,https://www.newsweek.com/millennials-point-about-spending-gen-x-boomers-2008749.

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The Inequalities of Mankind

Amy Qian and Mariabella Young

A prominent theme demonstrated in the novel Of Mice and Men is inequality and systemic oppression. Steinbeck portrays this by incorporating marginalized parties into the characters of the narrative. For instance, Crooks constantly deals with segregation as the only black worker on the ranch. He is isolated and is given worse treatment than other ranch workers, not only because of his race, but also because of his disability. Crooks expresses his frustration and loneliness to Lennie by saying, “'Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's goin' to come back. S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain't no good." (Steinbeck, 73) This highlights the idea that Crooks faces many injustices, being unable to establish connections with the other workers, and does not have the same opportunities. The theme of power dynamics is still applicable to the modern world, as the authors of Healthcity state, “People of color with disabilities face more discrimination and stigma than their white and/or non-disabled counterparts. Systemic factors of racism and ableism contribute to greater disparities in access to healthcare, leading to delays in access or simply going without care among people of color living with disabilities.” (Healthcity editors) Thus, this theme from Of Mice and Men is still apparent in the current world, as certain marginalized groups, like disabled people and people of color, are still discriminated against, being given less access to resources compared to the rest of society. Despite efforts to end this discrimination, the integration of systemic discrimination still stands.

Additionally, Steinbeck illustrates these power dynamics further in Of Mice and Men by introducing another character, Curley’s wife, whose husband is controlling and insecure, preventing her from talking to any other men when he’s around. Even though Curley only focuses on things like boxing and doesn’t give his wife any attention or affection, he doesn’t want her to approach other men and tells her to stay inside the house all day. However, Curley’s wife can’t do anything about this because of her gender, and Curley is stronger with a higher status. When Curley’s wife runs into Lennie, Crooks, and Candy after the rest of the men went off to the brothel, she says, “They left all the weak ones here,” which is ironic because she was also left at the ranch. This emphasizes the fact that she is just as weak and is treated unfairly and is prejudiced against. Once again, this is reflected in the real world, where women are still prejudiced against in many different areas, mainly in the workplace. Gender inequality in the workforce can include wage disparities and different opportunities for men and women. Additionally, women often experience more harsh or hostile working environments, specifically in blue collar jobs. There is also evidence suggesting that some jobs hire women for more entry-level positions than men. Clearly, many types of inequalities shown in Of Mice and Men are still applicable to the world today.

Works Cited:

HealthCity Editors. “People of Color With Disabilities Face Double Discrimination.” HealthCity, 24 Aug. 2023, healthcity.bmc.org/people-color-disabilities-face-double-discrimination/.

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Crowded but Alone

Emmy Greenberg and Lindsey Koch

Building friendships during times of setbacks did not play a huge role in the novel Of Mice and Men due to the Great Depression. John Steinbeck shows this in the novel through Slim's comment to Lennie about George's companionship. He notes, "Ain't many guys travel around together," he mused. "I don't know why. Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other." (Steinbeck 36). This shows that during this point in time, it was a dog eat dog world. This is why Slim was so shocked when he found out Lennie and George traveled together. During the pandemic, people isolated themselves so much that they forgot what it was like to walk around in a mall, or just how to call or message one another just to check in with them. Due to forced isolation and quarantines during the pandemic, Jeremy Linneman’s article emphasizes how, “. . .we’ve been losing the depth of relationship between our fellow church members, neighbors, coworkers for many years—and social clubs like cycling teams, farming co-ops, and bowling leagues have largely been replaced by solo and virtual activities.” (Linneman). Ultimately, impactful events in history can have a true effect on a person's ability to socialize and build relationships with other people.

Furthermore, people were using their free time in ways to deal with stress and lack of companionship. When Lennie was explaining about George achieving his American Dream to Crooks, he shot his idea down because ranchworkers like George use their money at brothels to buy alcohol and have intimate moments with women because they do not have anyone to go to at the ranch. The novel states, "Candy rubbed his cheek angrily. "You God damn right we're gonna do it. George says we are. We got the money right now." "Yeah?" said Crooks. "An' where's George now? In town in a whore house. That's where your money's goin'. Jesus, I seen it happen too many times. I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never got none under their hand.” (Steinbeck 76). Similar to the coping mechanisms during the Great Depression, people during the pandemic used social media to get through the tough times. Jeremy Linneman’s article demonstrates this by stating, “This void has largely been filled by increased screen time and faction friendships, with social media replacing local, face-to-face conversation as the locus of communication.” (Linneman). People would burry themselves into their for for hours and forget how to talk to a person in real life. Stienbeck message of different building companionship and coping mechanisms is conneceted to the world today.

Works Cited:

Linneman, Jeremy. “How COVID Has Affected Our Friendships—and What to Do About It.” The Gospel Coalition, 10 Jan. 2022,

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/covid-friendships/

Linneman, Jeremy. "How COVID Has Affected Our Friendships—and What to Do About It." The Gospel Coalition, 10 Jan. 2022,

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/covid-affected-friendships/

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Discrimination: Then v/s Now?

Discrimination is one of the most important and least talked-about topics in today's world. It is also a prominent theme in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck highlights discrimination between colors and disabilities through strong quotes and other men’s actions. One of the people who was discriminated against because of color is Crooks, a black worker at the farm, who is left behind and not treated like a human being. He describes discrimination by stating, "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me."  (Steinbeck 68). This highlights that just because of his color, Crooks wasn't allowed to stay in the room, like the others, because they think he “stinks.” Another example of discrimination that Steinbeck highlights is against people with disabilities. This is shown by the character Candy, who is disabled as he has no right hand. He expresses

“When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do anything like that. I won't have any place to go, an' I can't get any more jobs,”  which shows how, due to his handicap, he faced discrimination from the other workers at the farm. Due to his disability, he knows that he will eventually be discriminated against even more, leading to his getting fired. Comparing this to the modern world, we see that people with disabilities still face discrimination which has been expressed by this quote “People with disabilities delayed or missed care more often than people without disabilities in all racial/ethnic groups measured. For all non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults, nearly 1 in 3 people with disabilities skipped services due to high costs.”(HealthCity Editors) in the modern world, where health care accessibility is a big deal, this qoute highlights a stark contrast for people with disabilities.  How healthcare and awareness about disabilities, people with disabilities that are from black communities are not considered equal with 1 in 3 skipping services due to cost. It is like the struggles of Candy in steinbeck’s novella are not a thing of the past, similar challenges are faced today, affecting people with disabilities in diverse communities.

Work cited

HealthCity Editors. “People of Color With Disabilities Face Double Discrimination.” HealthCity, 24 Aug. 2023, https://healthcity.bmc.org/people-color-disabilities-face-double-discrimination/.

Shail and Fatima

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Power Dynamics and Inequality

Olivia Fang

A notable theme in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is how the strong prevail over the weak. On the ranch, the social hierarchy is very clear; impaired workers have immensely less power than those who are deemed strong. The origins of this power include social status, strength, ownership, skill, wealth, etc. Namely, Steinbeck paints Crooks, a black worker who lives secluded from the other men, as an especially marginalized character. Due to his race, he regularly faces prejudice and is isolated from the ranch’s social activities. While Lennie is in Crooks’ room, the topic of discussion quickly becomes the dream farm that George, Lennie, and Candy have planned. When George discovers that Lennie and Candy discussed this, Candy’s reply awakens Crooks back to reality; he says, “ ‘Didn’t tell nobody but Crooks’ (Steinbeck 83). Taken aback by this, Crooks recoils, saying, “‘Well, jus’ forget it. I didn’ mean it. Jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’t want to go to no place like that’” (Steinbeck 83). Crooks’ immediate withdrawal and claim that he was “jus’ foolin’” reveal that Candy’s comment put him back into the place of society he was used to being in: the weak, the powerless, and the minority. Although Candy is also physically handicapped with only one hand, he still possesses greater power than Crooks and is able to exploit this leverage.

In the status quo, these types of disparities are especially prevalent in the broader fields. Specifically, healthcare inequities continue to impact individuals’ ability to obtain medical care. Today, one’s socioeconomic status greatly influences these inequities; thus, racial or ethnic minorities, the unemployed, the disabled, and/or the impoverished often face difficulties in accessing care. This issue is often labeled as structural racism, which abides by policies where the distribution of resources depreciates racial/ethnic minorities (Yearby et al.). He continues to report that health insurance inequities are a prime example; a recent study observing racial/income disparities determined a positive correlation between race and lack of health insurance and that low-income minorities were 68% less likely to have health insurance compared to high-income White people (Lee et al.). It is clear that early US policies influenced by racism led to this system where marginalized groups are disproportionately affected and affluent or White populations receive better-resourced care. Thus, this prevailing concern is greatly akin to the power structure on the ranch in Of Mice and Men as the strong ironically are treated better and dominate the marginalized.

Works Cited

Lee, De-Chih, et al. “The Convergence of Racial and Income Disparities in Health Insurance Coverage in the United States.” International Journal for Equity in Health, vol. 20, no. 1, Apr. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01436-z.

Yearby, Ruqaiijah, et al. “Structural Racism in Historical and Modern US Health Care Policy.” Health Affairs, vol. 41, no. 2, 2022, pp. 187–94, https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01466.

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The Lack of Civil Rights in the Great Depression Era

by William Xu and Zach Misulovin

Discrimination is an important theme that is still prevalent in today’s world just as it was during the Great Depression Era, which is when John Steinbeck’s development Of Mice and Men takes place. In the 1930s, characters such as Curley’s wife and Crooks are discriminated against for being different throughout the book.

This can be seen when Curley’s wife comes into Crooks' bunk and asks where Curley is. Curley’s wife starts getting mad after Crooks tells her to go back to her own house. Curley’s wife describes how she is discriminated against by claiming, “Sure I gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he? Spends all his time sayin’ what he’s gonna do to guys he don’t like, and he don’t like nobody. Think I’m gonna stay in what two-by-four house and listen how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol’ right cross? ‘One-two’ he says. ‘Jus’ the ol’ one-two an’ he’ll go down.’” (Steinbeck 78).

This depicts the discrimination that Curley’s wife faces by showing how Curley’s wife vents about her lack of freedom when the men are not around. She is forced to stay in the two-by-four house and listen to Curley, despite not liking it. Also, she is tired of how Curley says that he will do something but actually does something else instead, which is how Curley asserts control over her.

Furthermore, it’s clear that this continues in today’s world, with Amnesty International giving multiple examples on how discrimination impacts women in today's world. Amnesty International states, “But across the globe many women and girls still face discrimination on the basis of sex and gender. Gender inequality underpins many problems which disproportionately affect women and girls, such as domestic and sexual violence, lower pay, lack of access to education, and inadequate healthcare.” (Amnesty International). This shows how even today, there is widespread discrimination based on sex and gender across the globe. One example is lower pay, leading to women earning and contributing less to the economy. This demonstrates how many girls face gender inequality and how they feel discriminated against due to their gender.

In addition, another quote in the book that shows a lack of civil rights is “‘Listen, n-,’ she said. ‘You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ . . . Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. ‘Yes, ma’am.’ ‘Well, you keep your place then, n-. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.’”(Steinbeck 80).

This shows discrimination against Black people, as Curley’s wife threatens to lynch Crooks because he talked back to her and told her get out even though she was uninvited and came in anyways to a colored man’s room. Curley’s wife became enraged and used Crook’s race against him because she knows that holds more social power on the ranch.

A quote from a paper that shows racial discrimination still happening today is: “One startling conclusion from this line of research is the frequency with which discrimination is reported. A 2001 survey, for example, found that more than one-third of blacks and nearly 20% of Hispanics and Asians reported that they had personally been passed over for a job or promotion because of their race or ethnicity.” (Pager and Shepherd). Hence, this shows that even today, people are still discriminated against due to their skin color and their race.

Clearly, these figures, along with the treatment that Crooks received in the book, show how discrimination against people who are different is an important theme that is still prevalent in today’s world, as it was back then in the Great Depression.

Works Cited:

Pager, Devah, and Hana Shepherd. "The Sociology of Discrimination: Racial Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Credit, and Consumer Markets." Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 34, 2008, pp. 181–209. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2915460/.

Amnesty International. "Women's Rights." Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/womens-rights/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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Loneliness

Matthew Lin

Loneliness is an important theme that can be seen in the book, Of Mice and Men.  One example is Curley’s wife, who is misunderstood because she is a lonely woman with broken dreams, yet is instead perceived as a “tart.” Other characters in the book

are generally suspicious of her, and she is shown to be like a possession of Curley.  He doesn’t allow her to leave the house and wears a glove of vaseline to keep one hand soft for her. She also states not liking Curley, “Well, I ain’t told this to nobody before. Maybe I oughten to. I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.” In the article, “What is Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and How Can We Fix It?” it states, “57% said they were unable to share their true selves with others.” This is exactly like Curley’s wife, who isn’t able to share her true feelings with others, because of Curley and the suspicion that the other have of her. This lonelinees leads her to seek out anyone who wll listen, which is why she talks to Lennie. She says, “Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.” This shows how lonely she is and her desire to talk to someone. “I get lonely,” she said. “You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” This further proves how Curley’s wife is lonely because of Curley.

Additionally, Crooks is also an example of a lonely person in the book because of the fact that he is black. As a black man, he is isolated from the rest of the ranch men, and this is shown as Crooks says, “A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” This shows us how lonely he feels because of his isolation.  It also means the isolation is driving him crazy. In a article from Harvard Graduate School of Education, “WHat is Causing Our Epidemic Of Lonelinesss and How Can We Fix It?” it states that “81% of adults who were lonely also said they suffered with anxiety or depression.” This is proof for what Crooks is going through, and his loneliness was probably one of the biggest cause of his pain. Loneliness is still a huge problem today as according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “loneliness affects approximately 1 in 6 people worldwide, leading to an estimated 871,000 deaths annually due to its associated health risks. Loneliness is linked to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline, comparable to the health risks of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” Clearly, Crooks and Curley’s Wife shows how loneliness is a theme/problem in ,of Mice and Men. This is also happening in real life with many lonely people.

Ross, Elizabeth M. “What Is Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and How Can We Fix It?” Usable Knowledge, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 25 Oct. 2024, https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/24/10/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-it

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Gabriel HP & Anthony

George is a caretaker to Lennie, similar to how parents who care about children.

In the book, George protects Lennie similarly to how authoritative parents care for their children. In the article that we found, it says “They are warm and responsive, like permissive parents. They avoid harsh punishment, and allow room for a child to exercise some autonomy.” (Dewar) This is similar to how George takes care of Lennie. George teaches Lennie by showing him what to do and how to do it: “Lennie- if you jus happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.” (Steinbeck 15) This quote shows how George takes care of Lennie in an authoritative style, being strict but kind.

Additionally, George teaches Lennie responsibility and how to not get in trouble, similar to how a parent teaches a child to make responsible choices. When George tells Lennie “Don’t you even take a look at that b–. I don’t care what she says and what she does. I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jailbait worse than her. You leave her be. (Steinbeck 32) This is similar to how the article says “But unlike permissive parents, authoritative parents don’t let their kids get away with bad behavior. Authoritative parents take a firm stand, insisting that their kids to behave responsibly.” (Dewar) Firmly, but still kindly, George shows Lennie how to be responsible.

Lastly, George takes care of Lennie by showing him how his actions affect things. When Steinbeck says “I’d pet ‘em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead- because they were so little”. (Steinbeck 10) This is one time that George shows Lennie the consequences of his actions, similar to how an authoritative parent teaches their child responsibility. The article says “and they guide behavior by reasoning with their kids.” (Dewar) which is what George does with Lennie.

Via these methods, George takes care of Lennie by protecting him, teaching him responsibility, and showing him how actions have consequences, just like an authoritative parent does.

Article we used: https://parentingscience.com/authoritative-parenting-style/

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The Need for Protection

Chloe Chan and Ilana Cai

Protection is one of the prominent themes in Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck uses the theme of protection by showing the need for protection in several characters. For instance, George constantly defends Lennie throughout their journey together. As someone who is mentally weak and easily influenced, Lennie relies heavily on George for protection and safety. Curley notes Lennie’s height and wants to antagonize him to feel like he is dominant. George protects Lennie from Curley’s raft in the following scene, “Curley lashed his body around. ‘By Christ,' he's gotta talk when he’s spoke to. What the hell are you gettin’ into it for?’ ‘We travel together,’ said George coldly. ‘Oh, so it’s that way.’ George was tense, and motionless. ‘Yeah, it’s that way’” (Steinbeck 26). This scene proves how George stood up for Lennie when Curley was picking a fight with someone “bigger” than him-Lennie. Even though Lennie is larger than most people, he still needs the help of George to “fight” for him. Similarly, the author of “Protecting My Younger Sibling states," “‘Our desire to protect others, especially those close to us, from what we had to go through, is without a question justified.’” This emphasizes the fact that some individuals lack the ability to defend themselves, and some are willing to stand up for the incapable.

Moreover, the characters in Of Mice and Men who need protection are not only Lennie but also characters such as Curley’s wife and Crooks. It is not just mentally disabled people that need protection, but also people who can not protect themselves due to physical differences. Similarly, in the real world, the people who are bullied are normally those who are seen as weak and vulnerable. These individuals need someone to defend them because they can not defend themselves with their physical or mental abilities. One example from the article “KIT Kids Included Together” states that “Kids with disabilities may also be at risk for bullying based on other factors or minorities that they belong to.” This emphasizes that those who are bullied are not just people with disabilities but also people with disadvantages. Another example, from the article “Who is Most at Risk of Being Bullied – And What Can We Do About It?” highlights that there are people who protect the incapable, like George protecting Lennie. “An Upstander is someone who takes action when they witness bullying…When youth who are bullied are defended and supported by their peers.” Evidently, in Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck proves that protection is a prominent theme throughout the book through several characters. Similarly, in real life, the weak or disadvantaged need protection from others. Steinbeck’s writing incorporates reality within his message of protection through George and Lennie.

Work Cited

“Who Is Most at Risk of Being Bullied – And What Can We Do About It?” Kids Included

Together (KIT), 11 Oct. 2022, https://www.kit.org/who-is-most-at-risk-of-being-bullied/.

“Bystanders to Bullying.” StopBullying.gov, U.S. Department of Health & Human

Services, 23 Oct. 2018,

https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/bystanders-to-bullying.

Peritzman, Faigy. “Protecting My Younger Siblings.” Mishpacha Magazine, 28 Dec. 2021,

https://mishpacha.com/protecting-my-younger-siblings/.

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Race and Gender Discrimination

By Hannah Bratshpis and Emme Merabi

An important theme in Of Mice and Men is discrimination. Steinbeck demonstrates the theme of discrimination through many of the weaker characters in the novel. Crooks is a character who shows the theme of discrimination. He is constantly mistreated because of his skin tone. He is isolated from the others and is forced to live separately in the barn. The ranch workers use racist language and constantly call him insulting names. In the text, Curly’s Wife said,  "Well, you keep your place then, N-----, I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny." (Steinbeck, 81). This is one example of an insult that was used against Crooks. It is evident that discrimination against race is still a very prominent topic today. The article “Race/Color Discrimination” shows how racism is still around. People are constantly getting mistreated by racist people who think they are superior to colored people. In the text, it says, “Color discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of skin color complexion.”(.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.) This shows the mistreatment of innocent people just because they have a different skin color.

To add on to this, Curley's wife also highlights the theme of discrimination. Her husband wants her to stay home all day, but she gets lonely. When she tries to talk to the other men on the ranch, they dismiss her, calling her many rude names. They think she is a floozy who flirts with other men despite having a husband. What they don't see is that she is only looking for companionship, as she is alone all the time. Curley's wife also mentions wanting to be an actor, but not being able to follow her dreams and instead getting married. She followed the traditional gender roles of the time, doing what was expected of a woman, and not what she wanted to do with her own life. In the text, Curley's wife is talking about how she thought her mother sabotaged her career. She states, “I always thought my of lady stole it. Well, I wasn't gonna stay no place where I couldn't get nowhere or make something of myself, an' where they stole your letters. I ast her if she stole it, too, an' she says no. So I married Curley.” (Steinbeck, 88.) It is evident she had many goals and passions for her life, yet became a lonely housewife instead. Steinbeck's message of gender discrimination is still prominent today! The article “Women in the American Workforce” shows how women today, like Curley's wife, face prejudice in the workforce. The article demonstrates how women receive unequal pay, face harassment, and are discriminated against for pregnancy. One in four women face harassment in the workplace, and in most cases, this goes unreported and ignored. The article states, “...pregnancy discrimination in areas including hiring, promotions, assignments, failure to accommodate pregnancy-related work restrictions, and retaliation.” (Women in the American Workforce.) Women face discrimination for being pregnant. It is much harder for women to achieve great things when compared to men.

Through the characters Crooks and Curley's wife a theme of discrimination is seen in Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men. This can be connected to the present day where there are still ongoing problems with with racism and gender discrimination in our society.

Works Cited
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Race/Color Discrimination.” EEOC, https://www.eeoc.gov/racecolor-discrimination. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Women in the American Workforce. EEOC, https://www.eeoc.gov/special-report/women-american-workforce. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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Persistent Discrimination

Discrimination is one of the most prominent problems in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck showed these problems through many examples, such as Crook. Crook is the only black worker on the ranch and is often segregated from the other workers. He describes his frustration with the segregation as he cries, "You got George. You know he's goin' to come back. S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that?... Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody -to be near him…A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you." (Steinbeck 73). This highlights how frustrating it is for Crook to have nobody and be discriminated against because of the color of his skin. Racism and Discrimination are still prominent today, as Brenan and Saad said, “When asked if Black people in their community are treated less fairly than White people in various situations, 57% of U.S. adults say Black people are treated less fairly in dealings with the police, such as during traffic incidents. That’s far greater than the percentage who say Black people are treated unfairly when engaging in any of the other five activities measured, including when receiving healthcare (38%); when shopping at downtown stores or shopping malls (36%)” (Brennan and Saad). This shows there is still racial discrimination against black communities even though segregation was outlawed. Discrimination is still prevalent today, which causes some groups of people to be left out of society.

Another example of discrimination in Of Mice and Men is against Lennie. Due to Lennie’s mental disability, he is seen as weak and dumb. This is highlighted in the book when Crooks says, “They'll take ya to the booby hatch. They'll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog."(Steinbeck 73) This shows that disabled people like Lennie were seen as animals and treated inhumanely. Similarly, in the present day, disabled people are denied many services. This is emphasized by the writer, who stated, “They encounter significant barriers in healthcare, education, employment, and access to public spaces.”(HealthCity Authors) This shows that disabled people have to struggle to just survive and make a living, and, similar to Lennie, are seen as different and almost incapable of doing work. One out of five disabled people reported living in poverty. This leads to poor health due to not being able to afford health care, and nearly one and three people with disabilities skipped services due to high cost.

Works Cited:

HealthCity Editors. "People of Color With Disabilities Face Double Discrimination." HealthCity, Boston Medical Center, 24 Aug. 2023, healthcity.bmc.org/people-color-disabilities-face-double-discrimination/.

Brenan, Megan, and Lydia Saad. “Steady 64% Say Racism Against Black People Widespread in U.S.” Gallup, 20 Aug. 2025, news.gallup.com/poll/693893/steady-say-racism-against-black-people-widespread.aspx.

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Struggles In The Marriage

Fiona and Ruolin

Marriage is a big problem between Curley and his wife in Of Mice and Men. Curley and his wife show us what can happen in a marriage when one person tries to control the other. In this book, Steinbeck portrays Curley as an insecure and overcontrolling husband. He is always overthinking about where his wife is. Curley’s insecurity and jealousy seize the wife’s freedom, indicating that he treats her like his own property, not his lover. Accordingly, Curley’s wife felt isolated as Curley never lets her talk to any men. She complains about it when she said, “I get lonely…You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad.” (Steinbeck, 87) Because of Curley’s overcontrolling, she was not allowed to talk to anyone but him, and this make her felt awful lonely. However, this problem also happened in real life. Some couples are overcontrolling anothers, which give them no freedom, and eventually, this will destroy their trust and loved relationship. From the research, the article “Insecurities In Relationships: Everything You Need To Know”, the authors states, “Insecurities in a relationship are feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, or fear that can manifest in various ways, such as fearing the loss of a partner or questioning one’s self-worth or attractiveness. These insecurities can be deeply rooted in a person’s self-esteem and past experiences, and they can have a significant impact on the dynamics of a relationship.” (Haddi Browne). This highlighted insecurities may lead to overcontrolling to your partner, which harms them gradually.

In addition, another major problem between Curley and his wife is lack of communication. Through the novel, Curley’s wife mentions that Curley always talks about fight and power, never talks about the topic that his wife likes. Curley’s wife describes her wife when she chatted with other ranch workers, “ Sure I gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he? Spends all his time sayin’ what he’s gonna do to guys he don’t like, and he don’t like nobody. Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol’ right cross? ‘One-two’ he says. ‘Jus’ the ol’ one-two an’ he’ll go down.’” (Steinbeck, 78). This moment shows her loneliness, because she was lacking attention and understanding from her husband, and Curley never realized this to make any changes. Steinbeck shows that silence between a couple can be harmful. Moreover, this theme also reflects the issues in today’s relationships. Many couples separate because they stop listening to each other. Modern research also supports this idea, the article ‘Within-Couple Associations Between Communication and Relationship Satisfaction Over Time’ states that, “ At times when couples experienced less negative communication than usual, they were also more satisfied with their relationship than was typical.” (Johnson, et.al ). This quote corresponds to the theme Steinbeck wrote in the book, which is that when partners stop communicating or understanding each other, love slowly turns into isolation.

Citation：

Browne, Haddi. “Insecurities In Relationships: Everything You Need To Know.” Simply Psychology, 30 Jan. 2024, www.simplypsychology.org/insecurities-in-a-relationship.html.

Johnson, Matthew D., et al. “Within-Couple Associations Between Communication and Relationship Satisfaction Over Time.” PubMed Central, 24 May 2021,

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8915221/.

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A Dream That Drifted Away

Jasmine Cui

Achieving the American Dream is a theme that has a huge impact on all of the characters in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck uses George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own land and animals to show both hope and. During the Great Depression, a lot of workers across the U.S. believed that if they worked hard everyday, they could eventually achieve happiness and success. However, Steinbeck shows that for many people like George and Lennie, their dreams were often out of reach. The book reveals how unfair and rigged systems can stop people from achieving their dreams- which is something that connects to struggles that people still face today.

George describes their American Dream when he says, "O.K. Someday- we’re gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs” (Steinbeck, 14). This quote reflects on how George and Lennie’s dream is simple and that they don’t want anything big like wealth or a large house. Their dream of getting a small farm gives them hope, but it also will end up being painful when they realize it won’t come true. Steinbeck uses their dream and the ending of the book to argue that the American Dream almost never comes true for everyone. No matter how hard George and Lennie worked, society made it almost impossible for poor men to achieve a dream.

The American Dream is still chased by many people today, but very few people believe it's possible. In Forbes, Jack Kelly writes, “The American Dream is feeling less and less tangible for people in the United States, with confidence rapidly plummeting” (Kelly). This quote explains that people are losing hope that hard work everyday can lead to success and happiness. Like George and Lennie, many people today work long hours everyday only to struggle with low pay and high living costs. In my life, I hear many adults everyday saying that everything is more expensive now, like rent, school, and even food due to inflation. Many families need to work multiple jobs just to buy basic necessities to survive. This reminds me of Steinbeck’s theme that even if people work hard everyday, they can still be held back by society.

Showing that George and Lennie’s dream was left unachieved, Steinbeck shows that the American Dream generates hope that can be powerful as well as painful. Their story also reminds the readers that without opportunity or an advantage, dreams can easily drift away, just like George and Lennie’s.

Works Cited:

Kelly, Jack. “Is the American Dream Over?” Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/11/30/is-the-american-dream-over/