Chapter 4
Annotation focus:
Theme
of the attempt to achieve the American Dream
Steinbeck’s
use of “hope”
This chapter focuses on characters we have previously
identified as “weak” trying to assert power.
·
How does one weak character attempt to have
power/ control? How does this incident
illustrate the predatory nature of human beings?
·
Explain how the dream of the ranch becomes more
significant as the reader understands the characters’ lack of power and
increased loneliness.
Crook “The negro stable buck” (Steinbeck 66) is the weakest character in the book. However, he does attempt at control when it comes to his room. Even though he does not have the proper authority to actually keep people out of his room; he at least tries to let the people who come in know that they are “not wanted” (Steinbeck 69). This shows the predatory nature of humans because as humans we are territorial. When we are out casted in a social setting, it brings on a defense mechanism that will lash out at anyone who confronts us. Crook easily backs Lennie into a wall when he comes into his room with the phrase(s) “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted here” (Steinbeck 68), and “They say I stink. Well I tell you, all of you stink to me” (Steinbeck 68). Lennie made “an attempt to make friends” (Steinbeck 68) but the predatorily side of Crooks came out first, dashing Lennie’s hopes.
ReplyDeleteThe dream of a ranch becomes more significant to Crooks because he finds that it could be his freedom. Where it was like being back on his “old man’s chicken ranch” (Steinbeck 73). Crooks wants to get out of the ranch that he is of no significance to. But the dream of George and Lennie’s ranch give him hope that maybe he could get away from being lonely.The dream of the ranch for Crooks means that he could be accepted as an equal at the farm. It will give him “some rights even if he don’t like them” (Steinbeck 82). However he will have power back and not feel that he would need to “keep his distance” (Steinbeck 67) and demand “that others keep theirs” (Steinbeck 67).
I agree with Kennedy’s reasoning as why Crooks attempts to have power and how this incident portrays the predatory nature of human beings immensely. What caught my eye was when she said “Even though he does not have the proper authority to actually keep people out of his room; he at least tries to let the people who come in know that they are “not wanted” (Steinbeck 69)”(Kennedy 1). Crooks has very minimal power on the ranch because he is a colored man, period. He is extremely angered when Lennie comes into his room that he yells “You got no right to come in my room. This here's my room. Nobody got any right in here but me”(Steinbeck 68). Crooks feels as if his room is the only place that he has strictly for him and doesn't want the white man to take it from him. Out on the ranch, he does not feel like a free man but when inside his room, he feels just as free as anyone. When writing my response as to how this incident illustrates the predatory of human nature, I first did not think that it's because “we are territorial”(Kennedy1) but this bring up a good point. Crooks is so angry when Lennie comes in because he feels like he wants to take his room, just like the white man took everything else from him. When put in this situation, it is true that “it brings on a defense mechanism that will lash out at anyone who confronts us”(Kennedy 1). We as humans do not want anything in our possession to be taken away from us and the incident when Crooks lashes out at Lennie for coming into his room demonstrates this impeccably.
DeleteAlthough she seems to have some power by being Curley’s wife, she is one of the weak characters. As a women in the time set of the book, Curley’s wife has little power just for her gender. She attempts to have power over the other three that were left at the workplace by degrading and threatening them. She calls Crooks, Lennie and Candy “A n-----, an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep” (Steinbeck 78). Without giving herself a title, she puts herself above them by degrading them with offensive nicknames. When Crooks stands up for himself and his privacy, Curley’s wife uses her words to get power of him because of his skin color by threatening him. She asked him, “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (Steinbeck 80). This threat, keeping his ethnicity in mind, could have him easily arrested and possibly killed. These incidents illustrate the predatory nature of humans because we, as a predator, do not want to be seen as weak; we want power and for people to know it. We all strive to be in front of someone. We as humans- as predators- want to be above at least someone.
ReplyDeleteThe dream ranch becomes more significant because it gives the “weak” characters something to have authority over. Their shared dream gives them the ability to have power with nothing getting in their way or taking their power away from them. Lennie, who is one of the weak ones because of his disability, has only one dream about the ranch: that he will get to “tend the rabbits” (Steinbeck 65). Rabbits are not predators, they are prey. Going back to the predator part in the first question, humans want to be above and have power over something. Being able to tend the rabbits will give Lennie power over living things that are below him. He will have the power of taking care of something that George takes away from him, since George is his caretaker. The ranch that is in the “weak” characters’ minds show how they crave having their own responsibility and power.
Crooks attempts to have control by moderating who enters his room, saying to Lenny "You ain't got no right to come in my room"(Steinbeck 68). He reiterates this when Candy enters, and suggests this strongly to Curley's wife in an attempt to drive her away from his room. This shows his yearning for control, even when opinions are impressed upon him that he is inferior. This quote shows the "weak" character trying to gain control in a manor which he believes he would have success with, due to the fact that he is in his own territory. Instincts drive humans to want to be superior to others, and control is a great way to gain this without overstepping your boundaries. Crooks attempted to employ this strategy, and succeeded up until Curley's defiant wife showed no respect for his demands. It was a mix, however, of natural instincts and developed hatred for his treatment and loneliness.
ReplyDeleteCurley's wife's rant about the group being "bindle stiffs"(Steinbeck 79) displays the lack of power the men have, which makes them want their dream farm even worse. Crooks and Curley's wife both remind the men that "Everybody wants a little bit of land"(Steinbeck 76), but that they all never were able to achieve their goal. The only thing Candy and Lenny would want now is to prove them wrong, and to obtain the farm that the had so fondly dreamed of. They are even able to convince Crooks that the dream is obtainable, as he asks to do odd jobs around their farm. However, he takes his offer back, believing they have no chance at really obtaining their own piece of land. The dream is used as a centerpiece of the chapter, and is discussed mainly as an unobtainable thing.
Throughout the novel, Curley's nameless wife is interpreted as a limp and harmless character. However, she attempts to change her image in this chapter, but it is not very effective. For example, after barging in on Lennie, Candy, and Crooks, she immediately labels them as "a bunch of bindle stiffs--a n***** an' a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep" (Steinbeck 78). Addressing the men with offensive names is her way of gaining power over them, and obtaining the role of the predator, leaving the men the role of prey. Candy, one of the prey, begins to enlighten Curley's wife with the fact that she has no power over him and the men. He growls, "you ain't wanted here. We told you you ain't" (Steinbeck 79) which ceases any and all of the poor woman's hopes to advance as the powerful predator. After several attempts at reeling the men in to her powerful claws and officially designating them as her prey, Curley's wife surrenders. This diminishes her American Dream of acquiring several men, and also being seen as anything other than a weak, distasteful woman.
ReplyDeleteWithin several chapters, there is mention of George, Candy, and Lennie purchasing a heavenly ranch. The characters' dreams of the ranch become so prodigious that it seems to become the only thing the characters, mainly Lennie, speak of. Unfortunately, their dreams of the ranch are constantly being demolished by other characters. For instance, after Lennie admits his plan to Crooks, Crooks responds with "I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never get none under their hand" (Steinbeck 76). Although this seems like an ignorant remark, Crooks has a valid point. The men's hopes of achieving their American Dreams and living in a ranch by themselves is unrealistic and nearly impossible. One main reason for this is that the men do not have the power to afford such a place since George says, "I ain't puttin' out no two and a half" (Steinbeck 53) when asked to join the men at Susy's. This shows that since George will not even spend $2.50 on a night out with the men, he most likely can not afford a whole ranch. Also, George and Lennie barely know Candy, and there are not many similarities between Lennie and George. Therefore, while on the ranch the men would all feel lonely since they are not very close with each other. Overall, the dream of the ranch becomes very significant in this chapter, but the men will presumably not follow through with their plan.
In her response, Sam stated that one of the reasons for the desire for their own ranch “is that the men do not have the power” (New 1). On the current ranch, many of the characters do not have much power over anything. Lennie is constantly being bossed around, especially when George told Lennie that he “gotta stay here an’ not get in no trouble” (Steinbeck 68). The dream of the ranch is extremely important to Lennie because there on his very own ranch, he will not have to listen to others orders and will have the freedom he always dreamed of. The lonelier Lennie became, the stronger his passion towards the ranch grew. On page 53, George refused to spend much money; “this shows that since George will not even spend $2.50 on a night out with the men, he most likely can not afford a whole ranch” (New 1). Although this is true and George does not have much money, that is why Lennie and George arrived at the ranch in the first place, to work hard to earn the money needed in order to purchase their own property. The fact that George does not have the power to easily purchase a ranch only makes his desire for the property increase.
DeletePersonally, I strongly disagree with Sam’s claim that the attempts of Curley’s wife to gain power in this chapter are wholly ineffective. In the beginning of her encounter with the three men, Curley’s wife resorts to a predatory tactic of name-calling and self-praise, which are, admittedly, quite feeble. However, following an emotional attack from Crooks, Curley’s wife is able to flaunt the power she possesses. In response to Crooks’ idle threats and demands for her to leave his room, the woman simply responds by menacing: “Listen, N*****,...You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?...I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (Steinbeck 80-81). Through this statement ,Curley’s wife reminds Crooks of his supposed inferiority to her, as well as proves her power over him my threatening to get him lynched. This can be connected to the predatory instinct humans have that drives them to display their power and dominance through causing others to feel inadequate.Using racism, Curley’s wife wins the final word in the argument and sends Crooks into a blank, submissive state, thus establishing her power and authority over him. This evidence rebuts Sam’s claim, which insists that “Curley’s wife surrenders” (New 1) to the men. Instead, it can be observed that the predatory nature of Curley’s wife causes her to fight for the last word and eventually enforce her superiority over Crooks.
DeleteIn Chapter 4, many of the neglected characters are left to their own devices and begin to gain and abuse any power they have over each other. When Lennie approaches Crooks in his room and begins talking to him, it is made clear to the reader that Lennie doesn’t understand racism and legitimately wants to talk to Crooks: “‘I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.’ ‘Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘’Cause I’m black.’” (Steinbeck 68). Lennie is so naive that the idea of racism is completely foreign to him. Crooks realizes that “A guy can talk to [Lennie] ‘an be sure you won’t go blabbin’.” (Steinbeck 70) and quickly takes advantage of it. Crooks begins to tease and scare Lennie, simply for the fun of it: “[Crooks] excitement had increased until he pounded his knee with his hands… his voice grew soft and persuasive. ‘S’pose George don’t come back no more… What’ll you do then?’” (Steinbeck 74). Crooks initial conversation with Lennie helps the reader understand that the other characters mistreat him. When Crooks realizes how innocent Lennie is, he quickly seizes the moment to torture Lennie with questions and suggestions that nearly sent him into a rage. His treatment helps to reveal the predatory nature of human beings. Rather than show mercy to someone less fortunate than him, Crooks chooses to exercise his power and verbally abuse Lennie’s mental deficit.
ReplyDeleteChapter 4 kicks off a transition in which the idea of the ranch begins to transcend from a simple goal down the road to a whole new life for the characters. Before the whole concept was more or less a tall tale to sedate Lennie, with little chance of it actually becoming a reality. But now that George, Lennie, and Candy can afford the place if they “work a month an’ don’t spen’ nothing” (Steinbeck 60) that dream doesn’t sound so unreachable. Each of the men is looking forward to living on their own terms and working for themselves, rather than being subjugated by an employer and their co-workers. Candy becomes so enraptured in the possibilities of the ranch that he “got it figured out. We can make some money on them rabbits if we go about it right.” (Steinbeck 75). In a previous chapter, Candy revealed to George that he really has no family left, and that the boss only keeps him around because he feels obligated to. Candy is powerless on the ranch, as evidenced by Carlson shooting his dog despite Candy’s protests. The ranch, and how close it is to fruition, offers Candy an escape from his oppressors. This ranch is not just independence; it is a whole new lease on life for a character who realizes he is quickly approaching the end of it. Candy’s main, if not only, driving force is the dream of freedom to live out his life as he chooses, and if the ranch does not come through, it could devastate him.
In chapter four Of Mice and Men the weaker characters attempt to gain control over each other. One of these characters is Curley's wife. His wife's behavior serves to further the readers understanding of the predatory nature of the ranch and humans. In this chapter we do not just see the strong attack the weak but the weak attack the weaker. When Crooks accuses Curley's wife of being a tramp she in return uses his weakness of color to threaten him, "well, you keep your place then ****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny" (Steinbeck 81). Curley’s wife has no power over Curley or any of the stronger men. She uses racism and threats to gain power and feel stronger over the weak. Besides threatening, Curley's wife also draws attention to Candy and Lennie's weaknesses by calling them "a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep" (Steinbeck 78). By calling them these names she viciously but openly states societies perceptions on the weak, colored, and disabled. By the wife doing this she shows the predatory nature of human beings. She attacks the weak and uses their weaknesses against them in order to fulfill her desire of power. Predators will constantly go after the weak or injured prey.
ReplyDeleteThe dream farm becomes more significant throughout the novel. In this chapter we see some characters, like George, exposed more to their lack of power and loneliness. Although the dream farm does not exist in reality it is very real in the minds of Lennie and George. It becomes a symbol for the relationship and the retelling of the dream has become a ritual. This is the place were George and Lennie will have control and independence. Lennie will be able to do whatever he wants without worrying about being kicked off the ranch being that it is his and George's. George would also be able to have a more normal life that involves staying in one place and not having to worry about making a living to survive. George on top of that will have an easier time on the dream farm keeping track of Lennie. As the characters struggle for power and relationships, they desire to have something of their own and that they can control, "everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus' somethin' that was his. Somethin' he could live on and there couldn't nobody throw him off of it" (Steinbeck 76). The dream farm allows them to have that. The characters can create the dream farm in any image they want. They could have goats, cows, or the bunnies Lennie wants for the farm. On this farm they won't have to worry about anything but themselves and they will be able to have all the power they want since they would have payed for it themselves. However, now that Candy and George both are contributing payments to this dream ranch, "You say you got the money? We got most of it. Just a little bit more to get" (Steinbeck 76), it has become a reality.
In chapter four Of Mice and Men the weaker characters attempt to gain control over each other. One of these characters is Curley's wife. His wife's behavior serves to further the readers understanding of the predatory nature of the ranch and humans. In this chapter we do not just see the strong attack the weak but the weak attack the weaker. When Crooks accuses Curley's wife of being a tramp she in return uses his weakness of color to threaten him, "well, you keep your place then ****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny" (Steinbeck 81). Curley’s wife has no power over Curley or any of the stronger men. She uses racism and threats to gain power and feel stronger over the weak. Besides threatening, Curley's wife also draws attention to Candy and Lennie's weaknesses by calling them "a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep" (Steinbeck 78). By calling them these names she viciously but openly states societies perceptions on the weak, colored, and disabled. By the wife doing this she shows the predatory nature of human beings. She attacks the weak and uses their weaknesses against them in order to fulfill her desire of power. Predators will constantly go after the weak or injured prey.
ReplyDeleteThe dream farm becomes more significant throughout the novel. In this chapter we see some characters, like George, exposed more to their lack of power and loneliness. Although the dream farm does not exist in reality it is very real in the minds of Lennie and George. It becomes a symbol for the relationship and the retelling of the dream has become a ritual. This is the place were George and Lennie will have control and independence. Lennie will be able to do whatever he wants without worrying about being kicked off the ranch being that it is his and George's. George would also be able to have a more normal life that involves staying in one place and not having to worry about making a living to survive. George on top of that will have an easier time on the dream farm keeping track of Lennie. As the characters struggle for power and relationships, they desire to have something of their own and that they can control, "everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus' somethin' that was his. Somethin' he could live on and there couldn't nobody throw him off of it" (Steinbeck 76). The dream farm allows them to have that. The characters can create the dream farm in any image they want. They could have goats, cows, or the bunnies Lennie wants for the farm. On this farm they won't have to worry about anything but themselves and they will be able to have all the power they want since they would have payed for it themselves. However, now that Candy and George both are contributing payments to this dream ranch, "You say you got the money? We got most of it. Just a little bit more to get" (Steinbeck 76), it has become a reality.
1) Lennie is normally a character to be taken advantage of. His mental disability allows this to happen and lowers him on a social standard to others. And most characters will use his disability to overpower and control Lennie. But upon hearing the George may be in danger, "Lennie's eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad. He stood up and walked dangerously toward Crooks. "Who hurt George?" he demanded" (Steinbeck 72). For a character who is seen as a weak link, he took control of the situation. Crooks seemed to have control over Lennie for most of the conversation, but as soon as Lennie discovered George, someone he cares deeply for, could be at risk, Lennie took control of the situation and gained power over Crooks. This shows that human beings, no matter how weak they may seem, will take control over situations where their loved ones may be in danger.
ReplyDelete2) As Crooks continued to speak about the ranch, "Gradually Lennie's interest came around to what was being said. "George says we're gonna have alfalfa for the rabbits" (Steinbeck 73). Every time the ranch was mentioned, Lennie perked up and would speak extremely passionately about the ranch. On their current ranch, as everyone went into town, Lennie was told he "gotta stay here an' not get in to trouble" (Steinbeck 68). Continuously, Lennie was being controlled by his peers and not able to join in with everyone else. The ranch symbolizes a place where Lennie, George and others are free from the dangers surrounding them. This explains Lennie's passionate feelings towards his dream ranch since it will allow him to make significant changes to himself. Especially since he had struggled before due to the way he was treated, Lennie was extremely fascinated with the dream ranch. If Lennie and George are able to achieve their goal and obtain their own ranch, Lennie will gain power and control over his life, solving the major problems he endured.
1) When a character in the shadows of power yearns for strength, they will do almost anything to reach the light and claim it as their own. Sulking behind her husband's shadow, Curley's wife seeks power when she visits Lennie, Candy, and Crooks. Once she realized she was getting kicked out of their conversation and Crooks was suppressing her, she transmuted the room's atmosphere by saying, "'you better keep your place then . . . I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny'" (Steinbeck 81). Because Crooks belonged to a race of submission and inferiority compared to her own race, Curley's wife felt it was absurd for the weaker and lower person to take power over. She is using her gender, race, and social reputation against Crooks in order to gain power over him. Like a wild predator, Curley's wife used the weapons and threats she had to strike down Crooks, her prey. By devouring his power and ultimately transferring it to herself, Curley's wife displays the predatory nature of human beings, along with the effects it has on her prey.
ReplyDelete2) As the characters' power weakens and their loneliness increases, their hopes and dreams of the ranch strengthen. Living alone for so long, Crooks had lost most hope for a happy and independent future. Then, as he listened to Lennie's cliché story about a ranch all to himself, George, and Candy, Crooks said, "'every . . . (man)'s got a little piece of land in his head. An' never . . . one of 'em gets it . . . It's just in their head'" (Steinbeck 74). Realizing all the people he has heard this same dream from has never found (and probably will never find) success in fulfilling their dream, Crooks has stopped believing the same dream could come true for him. Also, because of his race, Crooks knows he will never have the power to make his dream come true due to society. However, other characters finally saw the significance in this dream once they knew the possibility of the dream coming true had increased. All the characters who knew about the ranch might have had no power over others, or they may all prefer to be loners, but knowing their dream may come true is all that mattered. They realized they might gain power as they finally have something to call their own, and they will fade away from loneliness and move towards friendships as they all share what they own together. Once a dream becomes reality, any disadvantages become strengths while what was routine will transfigured into an amazing and unexplored frontier, fresh to the eye.
In chapter 4, characters that were previously written off a the weakest interact with each other, resulting in a new balance of power. For instance, when Curley’s wife enters Crooks’ room and mocks the men inside for being weak, she is repeatedly told to leave. In retaliation, she threatens Crooks by saying, “you know what I can do to you if you open your trap” (Steinbeck 80). Following the threat, “she stood over him as though waiting for him to move so she could whip at him again” (Steinbeck 81). In this scene, Curley’s wife is trying to appear as more powerful than the other men present. She does this by mocking and even threatening them. Also, a character being physically higher or standing over another character is a common way authors portray the balance of power in a scene. This incident illustrates the predatory nature of human beings by providing an example of a person attempting to make up for their weaknesses and lacks by putting others down. Curley’s wife reveals that she could’ve “went with shows” (Steinbeck 78). Instead, she is upset by the fact that she spends her days stuck on the ranch. She does not feel in control of her life, so she tries to make others feel powerless to replace her lack of power, a common sight among insecure human beings.
ReplyDeleteGeorge and Lennie’s dream of the ranch becomes increasingly significant as the story progresses, due to the reader's understanding of the characters’ lack of power and increased loneliness. Initially, when Lennie tells Crooks about the dream, Crooks responds with a pessimistic attitude. He tells Lennie, “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with… that same dream in their heads… an’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it ” (Steinbeck 74). Crooks has seen so many people fail to achieve their dreams, so he no longer believes that dreams can be achieved. However, he has never considered companionship as a variable in achieving one’s dream. After reluctantly allowing Candy and Lennie in his room and listening to them discuss how together they thoroughly believe they will achieve their dream, Crooks reconsiders. He hesitantly informs them, “if you … guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand” (Steinbeck 76). With this statement, Crooks is hinting that he wants to be a part of the dream of the ranch. Crooks is perhaps the loneliest character in the story, for he faces racial discrimination among other things. This loneliness has made him desperate for something to have hope for. So when he realizes that, through a collaborative effort, a dream can be achieved, he hopes to be a part of it. Thus, the dream of the ranch becomes a significant symbol of hope, for the characters hold onto it in order to compensate for their lonely and powerless lives.
Within the novel Of Mice and Men, many characters, such as Crooks and Lennie, appear weak and powerless. Since Crooks is a black man, he unable to have much power; but he takes advantage of Lennie’s disability, and gains power over Lennie. As a way of tormenting and asserting his power, Crooks tries to make lennie believe that George is not returning from his night in town, “s’pose George don’t come back no more. S’pose he took a powder and just ain’t coming back”(Steinbeck 71). Lennie’s reaction to this idea makes him appear smaller and weaker than Crooks, thus giving him the power and control he has wanted. With this control, Crooks now appears stronger in his own mind and in Lennie’s. The reader interprets him as stronger since Lennie has no way of fighting back and defending himself. This predatory nature Steinbeck illustrates in Crooks allows the reader to see the nature of human beings. They will prey on and attack those who appear weaker than themselves in order to get ahead and gain power. Since Crooks has asserted this power it may foreshadow him doing more with this power in a negative way.
ReplyDeleteGeorge and Lennie’s dream is to have their own ranch. The lack of power and loneliness they both face now will dissipate once they reach their goal; by owning a ranch they will achieve the happiness portion of their American Dream. The happiness they can or will have is foreshadowed every time Lennie talks about the rabbits, “and i get to tend ’em, cut grass an’ give ‘em water, an’ like that”(Steinbeck 69), he talks about them with passion and gets upset when he thinks this dream may not come true. By owning this ranch, the two will become bosses and gain the power they have lacked majority of their lives. The reader can predict that George will become less lonely on their ranch, since Lennie’s speech will not be confined. It can also be predicted that Lennie will not have to hide his disability, thus making him happier.
More than one character has attempted to gain control over another throughout this chapter; however, attempting to gain power either worked mildly or crashed and burned. Although most characters left to the town a quarrel between four character, Lennie, Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Candy, took place and demonstrated many changes in who had power in the conversation. According to the narrator, “He (Candy) was the master of the situation” (Steinbeck 79). At this point Curley’s wife has entered Crooks room and attempted to gain all control over the situation but the rising frustration got the best of Candy. Being the old man around he had some power so he demanded that Curley’s wife exit the room for she was causing an unnecessary altercation between the men. Candy states, “Maybe you just better go along an’ roll your hoop. We ain’t got nothing to say to you at all.” (Steinbeck 79). As the power shifted to Candy Curley’s wife played to her advantages and brought up the bruises on Lennie. The three men thought that she didn’t know anything since she did though she used this information to gain control over the men. Crooks has finally had enough of Curley’s wife’s attitude and decided it was time for him to step in. Crooks exclaimed, “You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room… Now you jus’ get out, an’ get out quick.” (Steinbeck 80). In this attempted to gain control over the rogue women she would soon fire back at him, “Listen ni**er… I could get you bung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (Steinbeck 80/81). As Crooks realized the magnitude of what he has just done he would himself withdrawal from the conversation in efforts to save himself. Although the power shifts were evident in the end it was still left undetermined for no one man or women showed clear ownership of the situation. As humans most have the unknown will to be in power and have control over as many people as possible. Power can cause the worst in a person to come out for it demonstrates an evil nature. In the wild lions and wolves will fight for the dominance over a pack, this is similar to people because they always are fighting to be at the top of a group. In the work force people strive to become the boss of their corporation which is just another way to give someone an incredible amount of power; coincidently we have the same goals no matter the impediments that block the road ahead of us. Non the less it is human nature to come out on top and have control over whatever the situation may be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that Crooks attempted to gain control, and could also understand how Candy and Curley's wife wanted control as well. Crooks strongly told Candy why he would never be able to obtain his dream farm.Crooks also told Curley's wife "I ain't sure I want you in here anymore'(Steinbeck 82), showcasing the limited power he possessed. Curley's wife retaliated by saying he could have him "hung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny"(Steinbeck 81), stripping him of his power and directing it back to herself. Candy's case may be a little more difficult to prove, but he was able to successfully convince Crooks that he will be able to buy the farm. Loneliness is presented in the form of failed dreams, similar to what his second paragraph says. Crooks claims that everyone wants the same thing, but "Never a god damn one of em ever gets it"(Steinbeck 74). this shows the saddening effect of ranch life, as people hopelessly travel in order to keep their impossible dream alive. You can also see Lennie in the case that George would leave him, hurt, angry, and confused, a dangerous situation for himself and anyone around him.
DeleteAs Lennie enters Crooks room and explains his plan for the land he desires to attain Crooks sadly introduces Lennie to reality. Many people who pass through the ranch lust for a piece of land that they can call their own; however scarcely ever does one achieve this dream and they remain traveling from farm to farm fulfilling just enough to get by. Crooks scornfully states that, “I seen hundreds of men come by…. Hundreds of them… every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in their head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it” (Steinbeck 74). Like Lennie and George there has been many travelers dreaming of making it on their own as there still is today. The only difference is that in the time of Of Mice and Men you need the assistance of other due to the scarcity of substances across the United States; therefore, Lennie is just another hopeless traveler who will be let down time after time for there will never be land of his own. The chance for the ranch for Lennie is also decreased because of the fact that George is responsible for two people since Lennie is at a lack of power. Crooks states, “Sometimes he (George) talks, and you don’t know what the hell he’s talkin’ about. Ain’t that so?” (Steinbeck 70) being a man who grew up on a farm and continues to still work at one he can tell George is in control over Lennie. Crooks is trying to expose George and show Lennie that he is just hiding behind a mask of lies and they will never attain land of their own. Lennie being small minded soon changes the subject back to the pups he was initially after but Crooks was still able to make his point. Crooks also plays on the fact that Lennie is completely relying on George and without him Lennie would be left lonely, “Well s’pose, jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then… they’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck 72). Upon hearing this Lennie is slowly becoming frustrated and begins asking who hurt George which enables the reader to see the dependence created between these two characters and the loneliness that will be present if George were to leave. The importance of the ranch that Lennie aspires to is now evident for it allow Lennie to avoid the loneliness of the world and his lack of power will be irrelevant since George cares for him too much to let that happen.
ReplyDeleteDue to the color of his skin and his crippled condition, Crooks, the stable buck at the Soledad ranch, is viewed as a weak, inferior individual. However, this fact fails to deter him from his attempts to gain control and power over certain aspects of his life. This can be observed in Crooks’ possessiveness regarding his room in the stables. Upon Lennie’s appearance at his door, “Crooks... stiffened and a scowl came on his face...[as he declared that] ‘You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me’ ” (Steinbeck 68). This instantaneous reaction of hostility and defense suggests that Crooks, although passive in other aspects of his life, is extremely opposed to others entering his room. Through his scowl and immediate shift in demeanor, Crooks exhibits predatory behavior in the defense of his living space. Much like a predator or wild animal would instinctively protect their own possessions or dwelling, Crooks is prepared to scare away anyone who dares to approach his territory. Although Crooks is reluctant in allowing both Lennie and Candy to enter his room, it is expressed that “It was difficult for [him] to conceal his pleasure with anger” (Steinbeck 75). This suggests that, while Crooks appears to be angered by the intrusion of his space, he is merely putting on a front to maintain control of the situation. Grateful for the rare opportunity of company, Crooks enjoys the presence of Lennie and Candy, yet remains defensive in order to assert his dominance in the situation. This too is an example of predatory behavior. Crooks’ desire to remain dominant in the situation is an example of the predatory instinct that causes weak organisms to cling to the points of strength and power they possess.
ReplyDeleteAs feelings of loneliness and helplessness grow within both Lennie and Candy, their dreams expand to greater reaches as well. This is demonstrated when Lennie, horrified at the thought that George will abandon him, begins hysterically reassuring himself that “ ‘He won’t do it...George wouldn’t do nothing like that’ ” (Steinbeck 71). This dependence on George and panicked self-assurance suggests that Lennie cannot handle the thought of George leaving him. Because George is Lennie’s only route to the achievement of his dream, Lennie feels powerless without him. As this fear grows greater in Lennie, he once again begins talking about his ideal future, allowing himself to fall into the comfort of his personal paradise. In this situation it can be observed that, as Lennie began to feel more powerless and lonely, his dream expanded, offering him an escape from cruel reality. This pattern is also demonstrated in the behavior of Candy. When Curley’s wife addresses the group of men as “a bunch of bindle stiffs” (Steinbeck 78), Candy plunges into a fit of fury, telling Curley’s wife that “you got floozy idears about what us guys amount to...You don’t know that we got our own ranch to go to, ‘an our own house” (Steinbeck 79). This quote indicates that, in a moment of degradation, Candy attempts to hold onto his dream tighter. In order to rid himself of the lack of power he felt after being labeled as a hobo and wanderer, Candy clings onto the hope of having a home and new life for himself. Just like Lennie, Candy too places emphasis on his ranch dream in the wake of his his weakness and loneliness.
Since Lennie, Candy, and eventually Crooks ”[place] emphasis on [the] ranch dream in the wake of [their] weakness and loneliness” (Marvasi 1), the dream can be considered a symbol of hope. All three characters think about the ranch at the time they feel the most lonely or weak. As stated in the response, Candy holds onto the dream when Curley’s wife attempts to belittle him, and Lennie uses the dream to console himself when faced with the realistic possibility of George leaving him. In addition, Crooks changes his mind about dreams after seeing how close Candy and Lennie are to reaching theirs. He went from only understanding the failure of dreams to suggesting ““if you … guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand” (Steinbeck 76). This comment confirms that Crooks is starting to believe in the dream. This change in outlook could be due to seeing Lennie and Candy near their dream together. The success of companionship made him realize how lonely and unsuccessful he is in his own life. Consequently, Crooks implies that he wants to join their dream. The one thing that each character seeks in the aforementioned situations is hope, and they cling onto the dream when they need hope the most, suggesting that the ranch dream is a symbol of hope in this chapter.
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ReplyDeleteMany examples of weakness are discovered in Curley’s wife during this chapter as she is left back on the ranch with a few others. Most of men chose to go out to Suzy’s on this Saturday night, leaving Lennie, Crooks and Candy back at the bunkhouse. As usual, Curley’s wife strolls by claiming that she is looking for her husband; however, she is disappointed to find only three men left, “‘They left all the weak ones here’” (Steinbeck 92) she claims. She lashed out with this sudden strike of cruelty because her usual sources of fulfillment were gone. Feeling lonely and objectified, Curley’s wife is constantly struggling with the idea of being powerless. She compensates for this by flirting with the other men, mostly those who have some authority of their own. Without these stronger figures around on Saturday, she is frustrated and projects her feelings on Lennie, Crooks and Candy to distract from her own weaknesses.
This faint idea of a faraway ranch instills small specks of hope into the ranchers. Some have tried to accept that they may live at the isolated ranch for the remainder of their lives. However, Lennie and George begin to create the idea of owning their own ranch and living by their own means. This dream soon attracts the other characters and quickly the idea of freedom becomes popular amongst them. This all seems highly unlikely and some try not to get their hopes up, such as Crooks. Crooks displays his experience and pessimism when he shoots down the idea by saying, “I seen hunderds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads. Hunderds of them. They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head/ An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head. They’re all the time talkin’ about it, but it’s jus’ in their head” (Steinbeck 64). Crooks is an example of feeling powerless when deciding his own fate. He has tried to accept that there is nothing bright for him in the future and this hopeful idea will fail as many have before. Yet, the dream of this ranch still manages to touch Crooks and the others and serves as a small beacon of hope.
In this chapter, we begin to see a weak character assert power over another. Curley’s wife, the only woman on the ranch, felt weak. She was an outsider and did not belong on the ranch. In order to gain some form of power, she verbally attacks the stable buck, Crooks. According to Curley’s wife, ”Well, you keep your place then, N*****. I could get you strung upon a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.”(Steinbeck 1). Generally in nature, the stronger prey on the weaker. Being an African American in the period of prejudice, Crooks practically has no right or power on the ranch. Curley’s wife realizes this and lashes at him with threats of lynching him, knowing he has no means of fighting back. This brings out her predatory nature as a human, picking out and attacking the weaker.
ReplyDeleteAs we look closer at the dream of the ranch, it's significance becomes more clear. Due to the characters' lack of power and loneliness, we begin to realize that the ranch is the only thing that will pull them out of their pit of despair. According to Curley's wife, “They left all the weak ones here.”(Steinbeck 1). Being weak and disabled, both mentally and physically, Candy and Lennie only have this dream to look forward to. For candy, this is his last chance to live a somewhat relaxing life, the kind of life that an old man should live. For Lennie, this is his shot to feed his desire for soft things (the rabbits) and finally break free from being Georges burden.
I do agree with the fact that Curleys wife is trying to gain power there were more examples and other people who attempted to control the power. As you quote Curleys wife when she cusses at Crooks you never exclaimed why the situation had escalated to this moment. Previous to the quote you could have added why Crooks was being treated this way and how the scenario has turned from just Lennie and Crooks to the four characters present in the end. In your second response you claim that Lennie has a chance to escape and be free but considering Lennie and his disablility he could not live on his own. On the other hand with Candy he is too old to start something new so it would be better for him to live his life out on the farm. Also you could analyze the quote to a further extent for it seems to be off topic and weak, maybe explain why all the weak ones are there and who is being referenced to when the phrase weak ones is used, "I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny" (Steinbeck 1). In this quote it provides an example at who is considered weak on the farm and that would be Crooks. But he is not physically weak he is only considered weak since his skin tone is darker than the toher characters.
DeleteIn Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men, a character often expressed in a weak and helpless manner shows her strength verbally. Curley’s wife stumbles upon the workers of the range searching for someone to lift her loneliness off her. Also, Curely’s wife shows a helpless and sense of weakness in her when she talks to others or talks about Curley. According to Curley’s wife, she has more authority and courage then shown. “ ‘Listen, n*****,’ she said. ‘You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ “ (Steinbeck 80). This is significant because it shows that deep down, Curely’s wife has the ability to take control and if she really wanted someone to fascinate her, acquire that being. Instead, she too is a character that hides behind a “mask” but her’s is of weakness. The incident in the stable between Crook and Curley’s wife illustrate the predatory nature of Curley’s wife. Because of her persistency to obtain an individual to share her feelings with, Curley’s wife will do anything to achieve her goal;although, it may knock others down through instinctual actions. In this case, Curley’s wife attacked Crook due to the fact he was informing her of her rights about his room all because she was attempting to speak with Lennie.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, three characters plan to obtain a ranch of their own and do with it as they choose. Lennie, George, and Candy all intend to follow through with this plan. This dream is significant because as the reader understands the characters lack of power and loneliness, they can foreshadow upcoming events associated with the ranch. In the novel, Candy’s actions reveal his lack of power through the encounter taken place with Curley’s wife. “ ‘ We’d tell about you framin’ Crooks. ‘ ‘Tell an’ be damned,’ she cried. Nobody’d listen to you an’ you know it.’ Candy subsided, ‘No…’ he agreed, ‘Nobody’d listen to us.’ “ (Steinbeck 81). This shows that although Candy knows the truth behind Crook and Curley’s wife dialogue, his telling to the boss man or anyone else wouldn't affect the fact that his information would be looked over due to his place on the ranch. This is significant because his power amongst others is low and if he can't control his power now than how would he be able to on his ranch owned by the three characters.
In Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men, Crooks attempts to have power over Lennie. Crooks is a very inferior character who is often ignored and bullied due to the fact that he is a colored man. He finds his opportunity to gain control over another character when Lennie wanders into his room aimlessly “in an attempt to make friends”(Steinbeck 68). Lennie is an easy target for Crooks because of his intellectual disorder and the fact that George is not present. He attempts to scare Lennie by saying “s’pose George don't come back no more”(Steinbeck 71). He says this line specifically because he knows Lennie loves George and cannot survive without him. He wants to take out his anger out on someone and what better choice than Lennie? He also does this in order to feel like a superior for once. This incident illustrates the predatory nature of human beings perfectly. It is proven that human beings belittle others in order to release their anger of being belittled themselves. As a child, Crooks was never listened to by whites just because he was black during a time of racial prejudice;”if I say something, why it's just a n***** sayin’ it”(Steinbeck 70). He was never listened to by white folk so he felt like the only way to release his anger was to belittle someone of an inferior mind: Lennie. Nevertheless, this incident illustrates the predatory nature of human beings precisely because they chose to depreciate others, just like others did to them.
ReplyDeleteThrough understanding of characters’ lack of power and increased loneliness, the dream of the ranch becomes more significant. This is especially true for the character Crook, a black worker on the ranch that is often belittled by others due to his race. As Lennie and Candy talk about having their own ranch one day, Crook criticizes them constantly, saying that they will never achieve their dream no matter how hard they try. The lack of power in Crook is evident when Curley's wife calls him a “n*****”(Steinbeck 78). He does not fight back because he bows that if he does, consequences will come upon him. These include more harassment, Curley firing him, or Curley having him beaten. The loneliness of Crooks is also seen when he offers to “lend a hand”(Steinbeck 76) hoeing the garden if the boys ever do accomplish their dream. He craves to be apart of something with others and leaps to the first chance he gets. The loneliness and lack of power of Crook makes the dream of the ranch much more significant because even a man who highly doubts the possibility of ever being a part of his own ranch believes in the cause ever so slightly. Crook has hope, even if it is very minimal, and enhances the illusion of the dream ranch due to the fact that it is still an idea for those that doubt its existence.
Previously thought to be weak, Crooks attempts to frighten Lennie so to feel superior. Steinbeck illustrates Crooks’ desire to weaken others when Crooks tells Lennie “S’pose George don’t come back no more. S’pose he took a powder and just ain’t coming back. What’ll you do then” (Steinbeck 71). Trying to deprive Lennie of his power, Crooks entraps Lennie, cornering him with lies of possible abandonment. Lennie is innocent and childlike by nature, he depends upon George and George’s guidance. Attacking Lennie’s self-security, Crook’s begins to deteriorate Lennie’s inner defenses. Crooks, an African American cripple, has always been treated inferior because of his visage, and so he finds an opportunity for power through Lennie’s inadequate self-sufficiency. Forming a microcosm of humanity’s predatory nature, Steinbeck connects Lennie and Crooks conflict with the semblance of the true disposition of human beings. In nature, the apex predator is the dominant force, destroying anything in its path so to stay at the top of the metaphorical ladder. Demonstrating this predatory nature, Crooks attacks Lennie’s source of power. Without George, Lennie is like a dog without a commander, a tool without a user. Crooks being disabled, feels the need to stay at the top of the “ladder” on the farm, and needs to attack who he believes could replace him as the apex predator of the ranch. Humans must be superior, or else they spend their days feeling inferior, and Crooks will not be inferior to Lennie if he can help it.
ReplyDeleteFantasized by the members of the ranch yet achieved by none, the dream of owning land demonstrates the characters’ loneliness and lack of power. Crooks states this by exclaiming, “I seen hunderds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads… an’ every damn one of em’s got a little piece of land in his head… ever’body wants a little piece of lan’… and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head” (Steinbeck 74). In Crooks’ experience, workers have dreamt of owning a ranch for themselves, but have never reached this fantasy. Despite the shared dream, every worker was alone in attempting to succeed, since they each kept their desired land in their head. Therefore, each worker could not achieve their American Dream due to their solitary struggle for belonging. Powerless to their situation, the laborers on the ranch will never obtain their own land. However, Lennie and George, having been the only pair of conjoined dreams, could possibly attain the American Dream. Everyone craves the protection that a companion gives, yet after articulating their desires, they continue to lack friendship and belonging. Those workers that wallowed in their lonesome, weak thoughts will only ever fail at achieving the dream of the ranch.
In Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men, a character often expressed in a weak and helpless manner shows her strength verbally. Curley’s wife stumbles upon the workers of the range searching for someone to lift her loneliness off her. Also, Curley’s wife shows a helpless and sense of weakness in her when she talks to others or talks about Curley. According to Curley’s wife, she has more authority and courage then shown. “ ‘Listen, n*****,’ she said. ‘You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ “ (Steinbeck 80). This is significant because it shows that deep down, Curely’s wife has the ability to take control and if she really wanted someone to fascinate her, acquire that being. Instead, she too is a character that hides behind a “mask” but her’s is of weakness. The incident in the stable between Crook and Curley’s wife illustrate the predatory nature of Curley’s wife. Because of her persistency to obtain an individual to share her feelings with, Curley’s wife will do anything to achieve her goal;although, it may knock others down through instinctual actions. In this case, Curley’s wife attacked Crook due to the fact he was informing her of her rights about his room all because she was attempting to speak with Lennie.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, three characters plan to obtain a ranch of their own and do with it as they choose. Lennie, George, and Candy all intend to follow through with this plan. This dream is significant because as the reader understands the characters lack of power and loneliness, they can foreshadow upcoming events associated with the ranch. In the novel, Candy’s actions reveal his lack of power through the encounter taken place with Curley’s wife. “ ‘ We’d tell about you framin’ Crooks. ‘ ‘Tell an’ be damned,’ she cried. Nobody’d listen to you an’ you know it.’ Candy subsided, ‘No…’ he agreed, ‘Nobody’d listen to us.’ “ (Steinbeck 81). This shows that although Candy knows the truth behind Crook and Curley’s wife dialogue, his telling to the boss man or anyone else wouldn't affect the fact that his information would be looked over due to his place on the ranch. This is significant because his power amongst others is low and if he can't control his power now than how would he be able to on his ranch owned by the three characters.