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Prejudice is defined as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Prejudice in the book is a prevalent theme, mainly represented through the discrimination of characters Crooks, Lennie, and Curley’s wife. Evident in the text through the descriptions of the ranch goers excluding Crooks, even though they have never gotten to know him as a person, and, all of the presumptions about Curley’s wife without ever getting to know her.

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["That ranch we're goin' to is right down there about a quarter mile. We're gonna go in an' see the boss. Now, look—I'll give him the work tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won't get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we're set."] (pg. 21)

- This quote supports the concept that Lennie, as a person who's mentally disabled, is faced with prejudice. It is likely that George and Lennie would be dismissed if the boss found out about Lennie's disability, assuming that he wouldn't be able to work efficiently.

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["…You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room."] (pg. 68)

- Crooks has this reaction towards Lennie coming into his room, because of all the discrimination he has faced from white society. The ranch goers (and likely the rest of the population) have segregated themselves from all coloured people, supporting common prejudice towards groups of people they personally do not know.

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["This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see?"] (pg. 70)

- Here, Crooks is playing into the submissive side of the power dynamic. Dismissing himself as western society dismissed black people for the better part of the whole 20th century. That no matter what he has to say, no matter the fact that he is in fact a well educated, well versed individual with worthwhile opinions and ideas, no one will listen to him.

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["Sometimes Curley's in here," she explained. George said brusquely, "Well he ain't now."

"If he ain't, I guess I better look someplace else," she said playfully.

Lennie watched her, fascinated. George said, "If I see him, I'll pass the word you was looking for him."

She smiled archly and twitched her body. "Nobody can't blame a person for lookin'," she said.] (pg. -- )

- In this book, Steinbeck write Curley's wife out to be a "tart", for majority of her presence in the text, or so we thought. As readers, we, like the men at the ranch, made assumptions about her without having any personal experience or evidence to back it up. There aren't actually any written accounts of Curley's wife doing anything sexual, though through suggestion, it's what most of us believed her intentions to be.
We later find out that she's only craving external engagement through the fact that she's treated poorly at home and in her relationship.

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In Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, the most important overlaying theme, is prejudice. Without prejudice in the book, the whole storytelling element would be reduced to just another historical fiction about the early 1900's, with none of the thought provoking substance John Steinbeck so introspectively put in this novel. What makes this book so unique, especially for its publishing date in 1937, is the fact that it addresses such themes as prejudice. Which wasn't a well touched on concept in Steinbeck's, or even our time.

["Why ain’t you wanted?" Lennie asked. "Cause I’m black…"] (pg. -- )

["Guys don't come into a colored man's room very much."] (pg. -- )

Quotes like these are the reason why Of Mice and Men is such an incredible read. The substance, thematic message, and penetrative telling solely consist of the factors that made this book successful.

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What kind of prejudice (if any) do you think Steinbeck was familiar with to have such insight while writing the book?

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This viral video shows a black tenant (D'Arreion Nuriyah Toles) being denied into his luxury apartment loft by a white woman (a stranger). Literally just assuming that he's breaking in or not supposed to be inside, because he's black (though trying to justify her behaviour repeatedly). This perpetuates the stereotype that African Americans are delinquents, and don't belong in fancy places.

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To Be A Black man in America, & Come home,
Women tries to stop me from coming into my building because she feels insecure,
Downtown St. Louis luxury loft, because she don’t feel that I belong, never...