Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Crooks - Coggle Diagram
Crooks
Actions
"This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man. He
kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs." ( Steinbeck 105)
-
-
Crooks does not fit the racial stereotypes of being uneducated and dirty that were prevalent during this time.
"For a moment she stood over him as though waiting for him to move so that she could whip at him again; but Crooks sat perfectly still, his eyes averted, everything that might be hurt drawn in. "(Steinbeck 120)
Here we see how quickly Crooks changes from his real self to his submissive self. That submissive side is the only one we have seen up to Chapter 4 in the book. This is the first time we see how quickly Crooks can shift ways his ways of acting.
Crooks has to live this sort of double life and hide who he truly is because of society's prejudices, sterotypes, and racist culture.
Says
“You’re nuts.” Crooks was scornful. “I seen hunderds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads. Hunderds of them. They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ‘em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head." ( Steinbeck 112)
Crook's situation in life has made him a very pesemistic person. He understands the cruelty of the world and has no hope for it or himself.
Crooks is unfiltered in his speech when he is speaking comfortably speaking. He is very blunt and does not sugarcoat.
-
Crooks said sharply, “You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.” Lennie gulped and his smile grew more fawning. “I ain’t doing nothing,” he said. “Just come to look at my puppy. And I seen your light,” he explained. “Well, I got a right to have a light. You go on get outa my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room.” ( Steinbeck 105-106)
-
Crooks is very defensive of himself and what little he has. This is most likely a result of society's general view on him because he is Black. He had to have tough skin and always he on the defense due to the widespread racism and discrimination in the time he lived in.
Crooks is comfortable when talking with Lennie even thought he is white. He quickly realizes Lennie's intelectual disability.
Since he has so little privacy, Crooks treasures his room, even though it is not the best thing in the world.
Thoughts
"Crooks said irritably, “You can come in if you want."Candy seemed embarrassed. “I do’ know. ‘Course, if ya want me to.”“Come on in. If ever’body’s comin’ in, you might just as well.” It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger."(Steinbeck 113)
Crooks is happy to have company, even if its Lennie and Candy
Crooks is very lonely, he is isolated and it is extremely evident that he does not get much visitors or geniune social interactions except with Slim who is his boss.
-
“I said s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more.” Crooks pressed forward some kind of private victory. “Just s’pose that,”he repeated.“He won’t do it,” Lennie cried. “George wouldn’t do nothing like that. I been with George a long a time. He’ll come back tonight—” But the doubt was too much for him. “Don’t you think he will?” Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture. “Nobody can’t tell what a guy’ll do,” he observed calmly." (Steinbeck 109)
-
POSSESSION & ENVIRONMENT
Possessions
"And he had book too; a tattered dictionary and a maules copy of the Califronia civil code of 1905. There were battered magazines and a few dirty books on a special shelf over his bunk" (Steinbeck 104)
California Civil code of 1905 - First California civil code to state that all Californian citizens have equal rights in California.
This shows us that Crooks knows his rights and understands his mistreatment as a person of color. Also could indicate he has used that book to prove people who refused him space in a hotel, restaurant, etc. wrong; Crooks is a fighter.
-
Crooks owns books which means he is literate. This skill was a big deal in this time as many people, even whites, could not read; Crooks is educated.
-
Environment
Candy came in, but he was still embarrassed, “You got a nice cozy little place in here,” he said to Crooks. “Must be nice to have a room all to yourself this way." "Sure," said Crooks. "And a manure pile under the window. Sure, It's swell." (Steinbeck 113)
-
The room Crooks is given is right next to a pile of horse manure (we know how that smells). Since he is Black he is given an even lower quality space than the day laborer's bunk.
Crooks is resilant besides his setbacks, he lives there day after day and never is complaining (because he really can't). Even though society tells him he deserves filth, he knows his worth.
-
Effect on Others
“You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all. Now you jus’ get out, an’ get out quick. If you don’t, I’m gonna ast the boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more.” She turned on him in scorn. “Listen, N------r,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself." (Steinbeck 119)
Due to his skin color, Crooks only has an effect certain people. Because he is Black, Candy becomes embarrased to even come into Crook's room since it breaks social norms.
-
Looks
"Crooks stared at Lennie, and he reached behind him and took down the
spectacles and adjusted them over his pink ears and stared again." ( Steinbeck 106)
Crook's spectacles can represent his intelligence and/or wisdom. Spectacles/glasses have for a decent time, even in the 1930s, been symbols of being education, reading, and intelligence.