Crooks is not allowed to enter the Bunk house, whereas Candy’s dog can. Therefore clearly this shows that they treat animals better than him. Although the dog has someone that looks out for him, crooks has no one except his books. Despite him believing that “Books ain't no good”.
Crooks had a bright childhood where he could play with white children and socialise with them, but this discrimination against him has affected him deeply. He never accepted this way of life unlike other slaves of his time, “I got a right to have a light” this shows that he is aware of his rights, even when he is having a simple conversation with mentally ill Lennie, who has no idea about rights not even his.
Evidently this discrimination made crooks desperate for a companionship, “A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody” this demonstrates that crooks has gone to the point where he is dying for a shoulder to cry on, even Lennie with a childlike brain. “Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you”, This implies that he doesn’t care if the friend is white or black, furthermore it shows that crooks is not racist. He plays horseshoes all day as an attempt to be liked and be accepted for what he is.
Similarly Candy is discriminated against because of his age. As they know that he hasn’t got the physical strength to defend himself or his dog, they take advantage of him and forced him to allow his only friend to be killed. Steinbeck used this to clarify that within the society the powerful ones rule the helpless and no matter what we do there will always be evil around us.
“Why’n’t you get candy to shoot his dog”. This makes candy think that this could be the prospect for him when he gets useless. It drove him to the desperation point of putting his life saving into the hands of complete strangers wanting to escape from the same ending as his beloved dog. The men on the ranch describe the dog as a "stinking hound" and an "old bastard". Candy feels dejected as he says "I wish somebody would shoot me when I become useless". He feels left out and not respected because of his age as they killed his only friend, he feels that he doesn’t wish to live without his precious dog anymore.
Candy, a lost old man, he’s missing a hand and his most reliable and trust worthy companion. “i lost my hand my hand right here on this ranch, that’s why they gave me a job swampin’” this worries candy that he will get fired soon because if he can no longer work he will be dispensable. Steinbeck used this character because the older generation would relate to him.
Curley’s wife is the only women on the ranch. Everybody makes fun of her; they don’t talk to her as a friend because she’s a woman. “Aint I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am anyways?”.This quotation shows that she is quarantined from the other migrants just like crooks and candy they are all isolated characters. The men on the ranch don’t give a chance to get to know her personally, they just labelled her a “trouble maker”, and being Curley’s wife doesn’t do her any favour.
As we never hear her real name in the book it shows how belittled she is, she is seen as a property of Curley’s. Steinbeck did this because back in those days men were dominant and women were just seen as house wives. The men on the ranch act on their prejudice calling her nasty names such as a “rattrap”, “jailbait”, and “tart”. Due to this she feels alone and discriminated against, because she is only seeking for attention to make friends, she’s is not what they describe to be.
Curley’s wife is desperate for a companion just like candy and Crooks; she wants someone to listen to her because Curley is never around, he never gives her the attention she needs, “I don't like Curley, he ain't a nice fella”, clearly shows that she isn’t happy, she feels trapped and lonely. Due to this she wonders around the ranch looking something to do, someone to talk to.
Overall in conclusion Steinbeck carefully used these types of characters, because they each represent different society at that time of the book. Racism was very high and discrimination against women and the elderly were very common. I think the novel has relevance in our culture; it portrays the issues of discrimination and racism. I think Steinbeck wrote this book to show the world that within our society we have a disgusting habit of making other feel down.
