Of Mice and Men: Analysis of Section Four
Of Mice and Men tells the story of two migrant workers, Lennie and George, whose
tale is set during the Great Depression. Steinbeck discusses several important global issues
that were apparent in the past and are still relevant today. These controversial matters are
depicted through amiable farmworkers, whose lives were in shambles and filled with
loneliness due to the economic situation, and other despicable characters, who spent their
lives under discrimination and watchful eyes that kept track of their actions, looking for a
step out of line that would justify any kind of violence taken against them. This is greatly
portrayed in section four of the novel, where Lennie and Candy interact with Crooks and
Curley's wife which resulted in a disturbing situation during which Curley's wife asserts her
dominance as not only the wife of the boss’s son but also as a white woman above a black
man and inferior farmers.
The big picture is that of social hierarchy. The scene plays itself out smoothly, starting
with Lennie stumbling onto Crooks’s shed and insisting on keeping him company since all
the others on the farm have gone away. Soon, Candy joins them, although he steps into the
room reluctantly due to the conventional separation of the two races. Their rather pleasant
conversation is interrupted by Curley’s wife looking for her own entertainment. The
dreamish atmosphere is broken, and Crooks recedes back into his shell as Candy tries to
defend himself. All fails, however, as Curley’s wife turns her vicious attacks on Crooks when
he tries to join the battle, “Listen, Nigger” (Steinbeck 80), she reminds him, and the readers
of the subordinate position black men had during that time.
This chapter is most significant for the character development of Crooks and Curley’s
wife. The reader is acquainted with his past and with his inner feelings. Firstly, light is shed
on Crooks’s principles through direct speech when he chooses to defend Lennie and Candy
during Curley’s wife’s relentless verbal attacks: Crooks stood up from his bunk and faced her.
"I had enough," he said coldly, (Steinbeck 79). His righteousness is most visible as he
Of Mice and Men tells the story of two migrant workers, Lennie and George, whose
tale is set during the Great Depression. Steinbeck discusses several important global issues
that were apparent in the past and are still relevant today. These controversial matters are
depicted through amiable farmworkers, whose lives were in shambles and filled with
loneliness due to the economic situation, and other despicable characters, who spent their
lives under discrimination and watchful eyes that kept track of their actions, looking for a
step out of line that would justify any kind of violence taken against them. This is greatly
portrayed in section four of the novel, where Lennie and Candy interact with Crooks and
Curley's wife which resulted in a disturbing situation during which Curley's wife asserts her
dominance as not only the wife of the boss’s son but also as a white woman above a black
man and inferior farmers.
The big picture is that of social hierarchy. The scene plays itself out smoothly, starting
with Lennie stumbling onto Crooks’s shed and insisting on keeping him company since all
the others on the farm have gone away. Soon, Candy joins them, although he steps into the
room reluctantly due to the conventional separation of the two races. Their rather pleasant
conversation is interrupted by Curley’s wife looking for her own entertainment. The
dreamish atmosphere is broken, and Crooks recedes back into his shell as Candy tries to
defend himself. All fails, however, as Curley’s wife turns her vicious attacks on Crooks when
he tries to join the battle, “Listen, Nigger” (Steinbeck 80), she reminds him, and the readers
of the subordinate position black men had during that time.
This chapter is most significant for the character development of Crooks and Curley’s
wife. The reader is acquainted with his past and with his inner feelings. Firstly, light is shed
on Crooks’s principles through direct speech when he chooses to defend Lennie and Candy
during Curley’s wife’s relentless verbal attacks: Crooks stood up from his bunk and faced her.
"I had enough," he said coldly, (Steinbeck 79). His righteousness is most visible as he
