Essay/Term paper: You can't judge a book by it's cover

Essay, term paper, research paper:  College Book Reports

You Cannot Judge a Book By its Cover

- Lord Chesterfield once said, "You must look into people, as well as at them." If you apply this logic to Curley's wife and Crooks in the book, Of Mice and Men, you will find that they are the same in many ways despite their differences in race and sex. These two unfortunate souls live in a world full of shattered dreams, discrimination, and loneliness.

Langston Hughes once said, "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." This statement is undoubtedly a summary of the goals in Crooks, and Curley's wife's lives. Crooks had a glimmer of hope when Candy and Lennie told him of their plans of having their own farm. At first, he refused to believe in this because he had seen many men with the same intentions. Soon after, Crooks gets demoralized and realizes that he cannot enter a white world. He finally decides not to join the group.

Curley's wife also had a goal, which was to become a movie star. Before she married Curley, she met an actor who came through her town with a show. He promised her that she was a naturally good actress, and that he would get her into the movie business. He also promised he would write her, but she never received the letter. She thought that her mother destroyed the letter before she could read it. It can be assumed that the actor used his fame and position to have fun with Curley's wife. He promised to get her into movies to make her happy so she would not feel used. The actor probably never wrote her or even remembered her. Curley's wife married Curley because she was pressured by her family to find a husband. Curley had money, which was something that she needed so she chose him for a husband. She then is disappointed with her present life and unhappy with her new husband.

Discrimination is a prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment of a human being based on age, sex, or race. This is one of the main themes of the novel. Crooks is discriminated because he is of African American decent. Many of the men on the farm were racist which was common at this time. Because of Crooks's color, he was not allowed to eat, sleep, or even in the others' cabin. Therefore, Crook is angry at society for oppressing him so severely.

Curley's wife is cast out because she is a woman. Curley watches over her carefully since she is his wife and the only woman on the farm. Curley does not allow his wife to converse with the other workers because he is afraid she will be unfaithful. She complains that individually, the men are generally nice, but in groups, they shun her and are sometimes cruel. Since Curley's wife is oppressed, she lashes out at a target that is weaker than she is, which is usually Crooks. He does the same.

Finally, the most significant point is loneliness. Crooks and Curley's wife are the loneliest people in the book. Crooks says, "Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody to be near him…" It is evident that he is very lonely.

Curley's wife is also lonesome because she is only allowed to talk to Curley. In the end, she is so desperate for a friend that she unwittingly kills herself in the process.

In conclusion, Crooks and Curley's wife are alike in many ways: they both had crushed dreams, problems with discrimination, and extreme loneliness. They prove that you cannot judge a book by its cover.