Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Of Mice and Men. Gender Race and Power - 845 Words

Robert Gender, Race, and Power In todays society, gender and race play a big role in these modern times. This problem is mainly affected towards Hispanics and African Americans because they can t get a job just cause of their ethnicity. When people think of Latinos or African Americans, the first thought is lazy, but in actuality they work for their pay just like everyone else would. The book Of Mice Men by John Steinbeck is a perfect example of these situations. Power is another major issue at hand in the story and in life because power is limited on how it is used. Curley, Curley s wife and Crooks have their own power to what they own but because of their Gender and Ethnicity, they have their own privileges. Curley was the†¦show more content†¦I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it s not even funny. †(81). Curley s wife is isolated because she is a woman and is considered unimportant. Though she is a woman she has her own power but because of her gender, it is limited and so she feels al one. â€Å"..Why can t I talk to you? I never get to talk to anybody. I get awful lonely. †(86) Her gender, race, and her power are shown but not her feelings for her lifestyle. Aside her feeling and what she shows, she is a needy woman and somewhat cruel. Though Crooks is a Black man he is a hell of a good worker, so he says himself. When he talks to Lennie and Candy he feels pleasure mixed with anger. When Curley s wife comes in and threatens him, he feels small and scared and feels like he lost power and privileges over his room and realizes he is black and shouldn t have back talked her. He knows what she could do to him for what he did, so she says her self. â€Å"She closed on him. â€Å"You know what I could do?†.....â€Å"Well, you keep your place then....I could get you strung up so easy it ain t funny. †(80, 81). Because she was a white female and the boss son s Wife she had superiority over him and so he felt alone at that moment. He didn t realize the cruelness of white folk when he was younger but as he grew older he did, mainly because of where he slept and the way he was treated. â€Å" Why ain t you wanted?†...â€Å"Cause I m black. They play cards in there, but I can t play because I m black... †(68). ThisShow MoreRelatedOf Mice and Men - George Orwell765 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ â€Å"Power is a kind of self-belief, a feeling of self worth† Write an essay in which you discuss this statement in relation to Of Mice and Men. The novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men†, portrays many characters that have no power within society. Various elements contribute to this sense of powerlessness, such as race, poverty and gender. However, all the characters employ different methods to empower themselves within society and create a sense of self-worth. Having a dream can help you escape from realityRead MoreExplore The Ways That John Steinbeck Presents Strong Feelings1026 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Explore the ways that John Steinbeck presents strong feelings/attitudes in Of Mice And Men. A strong attitude portrayed in the novel is Racism. John Steinbeck uses the character Crooks in order to represent racism and what it was like for the black community during the Great Depression. The ranchmen and Curleys wife all display racist attitudes towards Crooks, for example in chapter four Curleys Wife says Well you just keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strungRead MoreOf Mice and Men Draft783 Words   |  4 PagesHow does Steinbeck present the characters of Crooks and Curley s wife ? In what way are these minor characters shown to be significant throughout the novel ? In John Steinbeck s novel, Of Mice and Men, we gather our first impressions of Curley s wife from Candy, a man with one arm and who s only companion is his dog and is his equivalent of a friend, which he has had since it was a pup. I had im since he was a pup. We develop our initial impressions of Curley s wife as being flirtatiousRead MoreWomen s Influence On Gender Roles1427 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the years and years that society has lived out today, men have undoubtedly been glorified and held in high esteem for their accomplishments, character, and influence. Man has become a symbol of power, with masculinity becing associated with positive attributes such as strength, intelligence, and control. Femininity however, has been regarded as weak, superficial, and vacuous. Such an outlook on gender roles has resulted in an unequal power dynamic and an increasing deprecating view of the womanRead MoreSocial Injustice in the novel Of Mice and Men Essay902 Words   |  4 Page sIm going to talk about the social injustice which had taken place on most of the characters in the novel Of Mice and Men. In the plot of Of Mice and Men, all of the ranch workers got very little amount of money although they worked for long hours. They had only one free day and stayed in one room which was not large enough. Generally, they were all in a lower status than their boss, they didnt have a family or anyone to depend on. In addition to these, they had also suffered from theRead MoreDiscrimination in Of Mice and Men886 Words   |  4 Pagesproblem that plagues those whose qualities are vulnerable. There are many examples of discrimination in the novel, Of Mice and Men. The characters face discrimination in many different ways including racial, age, gender, and disability. Crooks, the black stable buck, is the victim of racial discrimination. Candy, the old swamper, is a victim of the age discrimination. The victim of gender discrimination is Curleys wife because she is a woman. Life of the victims is hard because of the things they haveRead MoreDiscrimination in the Book â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck1451 Words   |  6 Pagesthe novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck. One example of discrimination in the novel comes in the form of racial discrimination against Crooks, as he is an African American. Another example of discrimination is gender discrimination against Curley’s wife. Fin ally, there is discrimination against mentally disabled people, which is evident in Lennie’s character. The ranch hands actions and conversations demonstrated the racial discrimination against Crooks for his skin colour, gender discriminationRead MoreOf Mice And Men By John Steinbeck1433 Words   |  6 Pagesnovella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I will be responding to the question describe an important character and explain how the character helped you understand an important message. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, two characters, Crooks and Curley’s wife, help me understand the message ‘Discrimination isolates people’. The book takes place in Soledad, California, mid 1930’s, during the Great Depression, at a time when discrimination of skin colour and gender plaguedRead MoreOf Mice And Men Isolation Analysis759 Words   |  4 Pages Of Mice and Men: Isolation Mental Illness, Isolation, and Loneliness. These things connect and are key aspects in John Steinbecks novel, Of Mice and Men. This story takes you through life on a ranch in the 1930s and how separated the people are from the aspect of work, and the social norms. There is Candy, an old man whose age affects his importance in the ranch, Curleys wife, a woman whose social interactions are limited by a man who wont talk to her either, and Crooks, a colored man who isRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1845 Words   |  8 Pagesintelligent than men.† In the 1930s, this idea was expressed to an even greater extent by the American author, John Steinbeck in the novella, Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck epitomizes this idea of women being unequal to men through the example of Curley’s wife, the only woman living on an all-male ranch. She is experiences discrimination in many ways while she attempts to gain power over others. Steinbeck depicts Curley’s wife as an inhuman attention seeker who is constantly pursuing power over weaker individuals

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Life Without TV free essay sample

He stands tall, with broad shoulders andblack hair that contrast sharply with his pale blue eyes. Like hispersonality, his features change depending on the situation. Usually,his jaw line is soft and laughter dances in his eyes. These are thetimes when I can joke with him, ask for advice or discuss politics,literature and the world. But when fire burns in his eyes and his teethclench, I know his mind is set. He is a very determined, principled man,and though I know it is useless to argue with him, I oftentry. Although I was only three years old, I remember my fatherasking, Hey, whos better than us? I would raise my small hand toslap his large one and reply, No one! As a child, those wordsmade me smile. They represented my fathers love and his belief in me.But as I got older, that question and his mindset frustrated me. We will write a custom essay sample on Life Without TV or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page You are smart and gifted. You could do anything you putyour mind to, he would say, and I would feel my chest constrict. Now Isee comments like these as encouragement. I will probablyremember one June day seven years ago for the rest of my life. The airhad been thick and sticky for a few days, and at 12, I found solace infront of the television. My father had been complaining my brothers andI were watching too much TV, but we ignored him. Then one day we camehome and the television was gone. When I asked my father aboutthe missing TV, he said we would be better off without it. Watchingtelevision was a waste of time, and we were doing it far too much.Without it, we would have time for other things. I decided he waswrong. I used my best debating skills and argued endlessly. But when Isaw that flame in his eyes, I knew he would not give in. I wassure I was doomed to eternal boredom, but eventually I found other waysto spend my time. Each day I jogged around the block, inhaling the sweetscent of the earth. This reminded me of my love for athletics, which Istill cherish. I joined Girl Scouts, which taught me the satisfaction ofcommunity service, and I built lasting friendships. Mostimportantly, though, I discovered an artistic side I never knew existed.I started entering art contests, and was shocked when I won. Then, Itook piano lessons. Although I wasnt very interested in the instrument,I found a passion for music that I satisfy today by singing. I alsofound I love to write. I learned I could entertain myself better thanany television program. Living without TV has taught me how tomanage my time, so that I can do many things in one day. I have taken tolistening to AM radio, reading news magazines and keeping up withcurrent events. I am proud to have learned I dont need television.Often, when people hear I dont have one, they say, Oh, well, Ihardly ever watch TV. This is usually followed by, ExceptDawsons Creek, and I love Saturday Night Live, and I just cantmiss Sports Center.' It feels good to know I am not dependent ontelevision. Looking back, I think my father did the right thing.He had to make sacrifices, too. He cant watch shows either, and has tolisten to baseball games on the radio. His actions have shown me thevalue of having a goal and sticking to it. I now see myselfstanding beside this strong man, and he seems stronger than ever. Theyoung woman next to him has a fire inside her, too. She cant wait toshare this gift with the world. The determination and independence shelearned from the man who inspired her will be her guide as she sets offon her journey.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The People, Leisure, And Cultures Of Blacks During The Harlem Renaissa

The People, Leisure, And Cultures Of Blacks During The Harlem Renaissance The People, Leisure, and Culture of Blacks During the Harlem Renaissance It seems unfair that the pages of our history books or even the lecturers in majority of classrooms speak very little of the accomplishments of blacks. They speak very little of a period within black history in which many of the greatest musicians, writers, painters, and influential paragon'' emerged. This significant period in time was known as the Harlem Renaissance. Blacks attained the opportunity to work at ?upper-class? jobs, own their own homes, and establish status among themselves. To no ones surprise, they still were not accepted into the so called ?upper-class' of white society, but they neither worried nor became distressed over the fact. They created societies of their own which opened doors for blacks to attain opportunities that were absolutely unheard of, just before the Renaissance. It was from this same society where the beautiful melodies of jazz emerged. Colleagues and peers of their own race, which created a powerful bond between them, accepted Blacks. The attitud es which prompted the movement were those that came about because of the beginning of : (1) the nationalist tendencies of the time, (2) the movement of black Americans from slavery to freedom and from rural to city living, (3) Afro- Americans renewed pride in their African heritage, and (4) the influences of the period ?bounded by the close of the Civil War and the economic collapse of the 1930's.? From education, to the stage of Broadway, to music, and to a revived race, blacks possessed more intelligence, talent, and ingenuity then they will ever be given credit for and it all began with the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the ?New Negro Movement?, was the greatest of literary periods in which creativity and vehemence were clearly expressed. Literature was no longer a white write looking at the black experience from his/her perspective, making judgments and trying to find understanding about the black culture, but of emerging Black American writers that obviously could understand and relate to the context of black life and culture. With these writings came a new feeling of confidence and racial pride which gave these writers the freedom and power to express what it really meant to be black, living within a dominant white society. These writings that vary from novels, autobiographies to poetry behold the unforgettable memories of pain and turmoil and the continuance of the Black American struggle for freedom. The writers of the Renaissance period had to accept a nationalistic perspective so to be able to be totally aware and conscious of the social limitations force d upon the Black American. They also had to understand the frame- work of America to totally understand that they were to be possessions and nothing more. One of the most influential writers of the Renaissance period was James Weldon Johnson. He not only expressed the impact of the characteristic style of the black preacher, but also became a mentor to a majority of black writers who subsequently formed the core of the Harlem group. Just a few of the most eminent writers that emerged from this period was the great Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Wallace Thurman, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, and W.E.B. DuBois. Along with the outpouring of literary genius, also came a plethora of black art. Black artists contributed to Harlem's excitement by creating art, which expressed their identity and introduced black themes in to American Modernism. Form the period of 1919-1929, Langston Hughes described the artistic explosion of the times as he wrote the ?Harlem was in Vogue?. Like the brilliant musicians, poets, novelists, and dramatists that created such influence during the Renaissance of Harlem came the outstanding visual stories of black painters and sculptors. Unfortunately, whites controlled the black exhibition of black art, which they entered into competitions exclusively for black artists. During the 1930's the programs were abruptly halted which meant that private support for the artists virtually disappeared. Yet, during the period in which black art emerged, it was the first of the arts to define visual vocabulary for Black Americans. The artists born within the period of the Harlem Renaissance were spread across