Contagious Discrimination Given a book set in the 1930s, the reader has to wonder if any of the conflicts and situations the characters face are still relevant today modern world today. Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, touches on many examples of discrimination that would seem a little bizarre or old-fashioned today, such as how it was considered socially unacceptable for women to work. However, modern issues such as the so-called “wage gap” and the Michael Brown incident in Ferguson, Missouri, show that sexism and racism are still prevalent problems that our society faces every day. Of Mice and Men is, in essence, a story that describes the complex relationship between a person with a disability and his best friend, both migrant workers. With the unique setting of a California ranch during the Great Depression, the characters in the tale are often discriminated against due to their race, age, or gender, among others. Steinbeck uses the characters of Crooks and Curley's wife to illustrate the paralyzing power of prejudice and the drastic effect it can have on individuals and their personalities. Crook's race and Curley's wife's gender alienate them from the rest of the ranch workers, whose intolerance towards "their kind" makes the two feel alone and isolated and leads them to do immoral things. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The race of con men prevents him from fraternizing with other men and forces him to become somewhat reclusive: other men rarely interact with him or even acknowledge his existence. He obviously doesn't fit in with other men, who treat him as inferior and often abuse him, both physically and emotionally. His only companions are the books in his room and the horses, which are in his charge. At one point, Crooks attempts to clarify his situation to Lennie, saying, “'Suppose you can't go to the dorm and play rummy because you're black. What do you say?…A boy needs someone…to be close to him.'” (Steinbeck 72) Therefore, it is obvious that Crooks suffers a lot due to the discrimination of others; his self-esteem has been seriously damaged by the racism of others. However, instead of empathizing with those who are more vulnerable than himself, Crooks instead delights in ruthlessly torturing them; his reaction to this cruel act is described as follows: “Crooks' face lit up with pleasure in his [Lennie's] torture. “Let's just assume [George] doesn't come back,” he said calmly.” (Steinbeck 71) Crooks is a prime example of how deeply prejudice can affect an individual; because of his black heritage, he is considered and treated inferior to his peers, greatly affecting his sense of self-worth and how he, in turn, treats others. Curley's wife fares no better than Crooks woman, she faces many social pressures: her husband's colleagues, her only possible friends, refuse to talk to her, and she is discouraged from realizing her dreams as an artist. In the 1930s, women's place was in the home and in the kitchen, rather than on the stage, being "undesirable" actresses. scandalous” and “anti-women.” Instead of pursuing her dreams and having to support herself on the limited income of a woman during the Great Depression, Curley's wife decides to get married, albeit to an insensitive husband she tries to be sociable with the men on the ranch, but they consider her a sex object and a “slut” who wants to cause trouble: “'Listen to me,' [George] said fiercely. '...Don't even give that [woman] a look. I don't care what.