Friendship (in book) and loneliness Flashcards
Crooks - loneliness
”s’pose you didn’t have nobody. s’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy cause you was black’.
“A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”.
Crooks is representative of US racism as he faces racial discrimination and is secluded from the social circle due to his colour - the ranch is a microcosm of the American society.
Ostracised from white people in the bunkhouse and desires to enjoy simple pleasures such as playing cards with other men, however he knows his rights through the ‘California Civil code’ as his isolation is his protection, which is symbolic of his position in society.
Crooks exhibits corrosive effects that loneliness can have on a person; evokes sympathy as origins of his cruel behaviour is made evident.
Questions his sanity due to a lack of companionship
Curley’s wife - loneliness
Referred to by Candy and George as ‘jail bait’ and ‘a tart’.
Curley’s wife being spoken down on in a derogatory manner creates the idea that she is nothing more than an object, and that she is a woman who will get you into trouble.
Significant as she is a product of a patriarchal society that values women as vessels, dehumanising and objectifying them as sexual objects, implied as she feels her only worth is her virginity.
‘Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody’.
Constantly craves validation from other man that aren’t Curley, as she feels she doesn’t get the attention she deserves.
Thus described as ‘a tart’ as opinions and stereotypes around Curley’s wife reinforce her flirtatious behaviour, while she is trapped by her gender and societies expectations of it, separating her from the men in the ‘bunkhouse’.
Candy - loneliness
‘I wish somebody would shoot me when I become useless’.
animalistic imagery as the fellow workers wanted to shoot Candy’s dog as his ‘stink hangs around’ and he no longer has a purpose on the ranch.
Candy’s dog is symbolic of older people as once they are no longer of use, they are easily replaced by younger workers. They would lose their ability to provide for themselves or have a purpose in life, being quickly replaced by younger, more able-bodied workers.
