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Stereotypes In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Steinbeck shows how labeling and stereotyping influence how people look at the world by showing how Lennie is treated by George. “People are going to label you It’s how you overcome those labels, that's what counts”.(One Tree Hill). This is a good quote for Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck because their are many characters who are stereotyped but they overcome it. For example, Lennie is always stereotyped he is stereotyped of being soft, but he fights back at one point which shows how he overcomes his label. Lennie isn't the only character though that is labeled or stereotyped. In the book Lennie is stereotyped of being dumb because he can’t remember anything. First, George told Lennie about when they got work cards and Lennie checks his pocket for it and says, “ I ain’t got mine, I musta lost it… Then George says , I got both of ‘em here.(Steinbeck 5). Lennie forgot that George had both of the cards which causes him to freak …show more content…
Curley came in and was getting in Lennie’s face and George says to Lennie, “ you try to keep away from him… Don’t ever speak to him”.( Steinbeck 29). For instance, George was getting scared for Lennie because curley was sizing Lennie up . George was only being protective, so he told Lennie to stay away from him, and to not talk to him. This shows how George is a stereotype of being a parental figure because he is protective over Lennie. Next, Lennie is stereotyped of being childish because he pet’s soft things. George realized that Lennie had taken one of the pups and Lennie says,” Give ‘em to me, George. I’ll take ‘em back. I didn’t mean no harm, honest George I didn’t. I jus’ wanted to pet ‘em a little.”(Steinbeck 43). Lennie doesn’t understand anything about the pups. George has to tell him to stop petting them because that’s all he does. Lennie petting the pup shows how Lennie is stereotyped of being

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