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Crooks, :books:, :star2:, :neutral_face:, :red_flag:, :thought_balloon:, …
Crooks
Says
“’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me'" (Steinbeck 34)
Crooks educates Lennie that because of his skin color, he can't do what most workers like to do on the ranch. This action reveals that Crooks has gotten used to it, and rather worn a mirror to reflect their own hatred on themselves. Crooks knows that his skin color will cause his life to be difficult, so in turn, he has come to terms with it and learned how to defend himself in the best way he could.
"'There wasn't another colored family for miles around. And now there ain't a colored man on this ranch an' there jus' one family in Soledad.' He laughed. 'If I say something, why it's just a n* sayin' it'" (Steinbeck 35)
Through sharing his bittersweet memories of his childhood, Crooks reveals that loneliness has been woven into his entire life. His need for a childhood friendship, despite the boy's white skin, symbolizes innocence and how much he has learned since that occasion. Now as an adult, Crooks faces the same situation of isolation because of his race, although now he knows his limitations.
Effects on others
"Suddenly Lennie’s eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad. He stood up and
walked dangerously toward Crooks. 'Who hurt George?' he demanded" (Steinbeck 35).
These actions made by Crooks reveals that although he is a black man with many prejudices held against him during those times, he felt a bit of power over Lennie because of his mental disability. With this rare power Crooks feels over a white man, he takes advantage and goes to the extreme, resulting in Lennie being dangerously angry. Crooks when he realized what his consequence might be-- since he failed to realize it because he was caught up in the moment-- backs down and once again returns to his "spot."
“Well, you keep your place then, n*. I could get you strung upon a tree so easy it ain’t even funny" (Steinbeck 39)
Towards the end of Chapter 4, Crooks is presented as rebellious and powerful as he tries to challenge Curley's wife to follow his orders. Although, his effect on Curly's wife is not achieved, causing her to remind him of his "social position" and how it is lower than hers. This once again relates to the idea of social hierarchy and how one is treated solely on their skin color during those times.
Thoughts
“'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 37).
Although he refuses to say it out loud, Crooks enjoys the company of other men, since it is revealed earlier in the novel how alone he feels most of the time. Due to anger and disgust always being shown to him by other white men, when Lennie and Candy actually want to spend time with him, he doesn't know how to express his contempt with them.
"Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personailty, no ego-- nothing to arouse either like or dislike. He said, 'Yes, ma'am,' and his voice was toneless" (Steinbeck 39).
Through this quote, It can be said that Crooks realized his mistake in trying to challenge Curley's wife and once again put on his facade of being nothing more than a useless "animal." This once again relates back to the social hierarchy and how just because of Crook's skin color, he is treated unequally and unfairly compared to the whites on the ranch. It is crucial for Crooks to have two separate mindsets to be able to "switch" to in certain situations.
Looks
"His body was bent over the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity" (Steinbeck 33).
This description of Crooks evokes a sense of darkness and isolation that he experiences every day, that has seemed to physically grow on him through his deep eyes and face features. This resulted from years of racism and segregation, showing through his deep eyes his harsh experiences with brutality during those times. His eyes symbolize/reflect the pain and sadness he has endured as a black man during the 1930s.
"His lean face was lined with deep black wrinkles, and he had thin, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face" (Steinbeck 33).
This illustrates how Crook's life is dominated by pain- the pain of being the only black man on the ranch and of his "crooked" back. Although by the text saying he is a proud man shows that he has managed to rise above that pain. His deep wrinkles symbolize his deep understanding and lengthy battles he has experienced through his harsh life of being a black man during the 1930s. They can be thought of as "battle scars" in a sense.
Possesion & Environment
"And he had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905" (Steinbeck 33).
Through this quote, I can surmise that Crook strives to be literate on his own. He wants to be aware of the little rights that he has a black man during that time. This reveals that Crooks is an intelligent man with little to no schooling and that he does try to better himself nonetheless.
"Crooks’ bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blanketswere flung" (Steinbeck 33).
Through this quote, you can realize that since his room is part of the barn, this indicates that he is treated like an "animal" by the whites. His shed alone tells the reader that the whites on the ranch do not value him as a human being, but rather a working animal that can't and shouldn't think for themselves.
Actions
"Crooks saw the danger as it approached him. He edged back on his bunk to get out of the way. 'I was supposing',' he said. ' George ain't hurt. He's all right. He'll be back all right" (Steinbeck 35).
Through these actions, Crooks appears to have remembered his place in terms of strength when he takes advantage of Lennie's foolishness. Right as Lennie reaches his "climax" of anger and despair, Crooks backs up and tries to calm him down to protect himself from being beat up by Lennie (like Curley). These actions reveal that although Crooks likes to push on the limits, he knows when to stop and be cautious of his consequences & surroundings.
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