Compare and Contrast Essay Example: Crooks from Of Mice and Men and Max Vandenburg from The Book Thief

The 20th century, a time of extreme insecurity for African Americans and Jews alike. One group faced disgust and hatred long after their declaration of “freedom,” the latter found themselves plagued with the evils and lack of humanity that came with World War II. Both parties live a life filled with injustice. Crooks of the short novel Of Mice and Men and Max Vandenburg from The Book Thief find themselves on opposite sides of the Earth, yet, as is common with minority individuals within this time period, they know a life filled with caution that comes with not feeling accepted within their own home because of factors out of their control. Crooks and Max, despite large cultural differences, share the connection that comes with being an oppressed individual, showcasing itself in how they perceive others and their overall quality of life. 

Isolated and shunned from society, Crooks and Max became closed off, distrusting, and lonely. Having a separate room away from the white men, Crooks becomes agitated when Lennie and Candy enter his room one evening. It is obvious that Crooks wants the company, but throughout the entire encounter he still closes off in order to protect himself from the white male figures and the power their skin color has over him. This defensive response comes about because as a black man Crooks can become easily disposable if he angers the wrong person. Living a life filled with racism makes Crooks push everyone away, as he finds a life full of loneliness safer than one in the company of a white man. Similarly, upon arriving at the Hubberman’s doorstep, the family who promised to protect him from the German soldiers during World War II, Max Vandenburg is always on edge. Sleepless nights became Max’s norm, most of them filled with dreams of Hitler. Although Max found comfort and trust in the Hubbermans after their continuous loyalty, Max refuses to put them in continuous danger as house searches conducted by the soldiers become more common. Even after finally having moments of care and love, he gave up the only friends he allowed himself to make at the time. Max plunged into the night, once again alone and scared of what or who may find him. Both men, despaired by fear and mistrust, for the most part faced their battles alone.

A life lived predominantly in survival mode permanently changed Max Vandenburg’s and Crooks' quality of life. Max never feels safe. Whether he found himself running away from German soldiers, hiding out in the Hubberman’s house or surviving the harshness of a concentration camp, Max can never catch a break. Max spent life trapped in the reality of his enslavement, he felt weighed down by the bleak outlook his future contained. Furthermore, the Jew’s quality of life does not get the chance to improve until he is into his late 20’s to early 30’s when he can finally find the meaning of life again after surviving life in a concentration camp. Due to factors out of his control Max’s livelihood disappeared with the beginning of World War II. Working as a buck stable on a farm that does not treat him equally, Crooks lives an unfulfilling life. There are two factors that add to his depressive state, one is his physical disability, as he bends at the back, unable to completely stand up. Not only does Crooks’ back hinder him from a better job and life, but so does his race. Always seen as the black man in every aspect of his life most likely made finding a stable job willing to pay him enough money to live quite hard. Crooks, instead of fighting for a better place to sleep, or finding a new job, has learned to accept and become used to the bare minimum treatment he received throughout his life despite the work he does for others. Both men found themselves robbed of better opportunities.