Chapter Four provides a look at the "misfits" of the ranch. Even among "their kind," these four-Crooks, Lennie, Curley's wife, and Candy--show both the human need for acceptance and the desire for dominance. Explain how so. Through which of these characters did Steinbeck best convey these conflicts in the human condition? Explain specifically. (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight April 1, 2011.)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
"We're on the island of misfit toys..."
Chapter Four provides a look at the "misfits" of the ranch. Even among "their kind," these four-Crooks, Lennie, Curley's wife, and Candy--show both the human need for acceptance and the desire for dominance. Explain how so. Through which of these characters did Steinbeck best convey these conflicts in the human condition? Explain specifically. (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight April 1, 2011.)
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I think Crooks shows the best conflict. He starts off as being a reclusive, angry man. However, he opens up a bit more as Lennie and Candy start to talk to him, but the second he gets talked down upon and lowered on the hierarchy of the ranch, he's back to his old self. He seems to be unable to decide who he wants to be: The open helpful friend or the hateful old man.
I, also, believe Crooks is the best example. He finds pleasure in being able to torture Lennie because, even as a black, he has power over a mentally disabled person. Crooks realizes how wrong he is for treating Lennie the way he did and befriends him. They are both misfits able to look past one aspect of a person in order to have a friend. He, also, tells Lennie that everyone needs somebody and being lonely makes a man sick.
I think that Crooks is the best example. Crooks is very stern an angry at the world, which causes him to try and dominate others. When Lennie appears, he is very defensive and domineering. When Crooks realizes that Lennie's intentions are not to dominate him, he becomes more open to Lennie's presence. When Curley's wife comes, Crooks is shamed back to his reclusive and defensive ways. In reality all Crooks wants is to be accepted, but he has been discouraged throughout his life.
Not to be too repetitive, but I believe Crooks best conveys the need for acceptance and the desire for dominance. At this time, African-Americans were highly ostracized in society. Even though he was well educated and knew he had some rights, he still put up with everyone's prejudice towards him. Being constantly put down makes Crooks low on the "totem pole" at the ranch, but when he has an opportunity to be "on top" he takes it. He quickly attacks Lennie, lowering his status and raising his own. He also is a prime example of a character who needs acceptance. He reveals to Lennie how "sick" a man can get when he lacks companionship. Crooks says that he is awfully lonely and dislikes it.
I think that Steinbeck best conveyed these conflicts in Curley’s Wife. Her character best shows the human need for acceptance. I think that she acts seductively because she is lonely in the house she stays in all day. Also she wants the men to want her so that she can have someone to truly love her since Curley ignores her. The way she threatens Crooks when he said that he would tell on her also shows how she has a desire for dominance.
I think that Lennie is the best example. The trait for the human need of acceptance is best conveyed through Lennie. Lennie is always trying to please George. Whenever Lennie does something wrong he tries says that he should just go away to live in a cave to make George happy. He is also always thinking about how George’s life would be better without him. These thoughts makes Lennie always striving for George’s acceptance.
I believe Curley's wife best conveys these conflicts. For most of the novel, she is seen as this dirty and low woman. Someone to avoid. Steinbeck even emphasizes this through the fact she has no name. But in her scene with Lennie, she opens up a tiny bit about why she is the way she is sometimes. It was like finding a bit of humanity in a rock. She can't choose whether to be open about her dreams and be closer and nicer to people or be this dominant and bitter force around the ranch.
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