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Crooks - Coggle Diagram
Crooks
Says
"'Cause I'm black. They pay 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 106)
This speaks to a part of Crooks that makes him very angry and the reader is able to tell that in Crooks past there was discrimination. The reader can also infer that Crooks is forced to look after himself most of the time because of the racism.
Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. 'Yes ma'am."' (Steinbeck 119)
This evidence is provided later on in the chapter so we are able to see the difference between his two personalities. This type of response seems to not actually represent who Crooks is but who he is supposed to be. This change in his personality also could be a reason as to why he is able to work on the farm for so long.
Thoughts
"Crooks saw the danger as it approached him. He edged back on his bunk to get out of the way". (Steinbeck 110)
Although Crooks edged on this type of interaction he does not want to get involved in any type of altercation. His mind was able to immediately understand that he needed to calm Lennie down. Crooks was able to adapt and it proves that Crooks does have common sense.
"Crooks sat perfectly still, his eyes averted, everything that might be hurt drawn in" (Steinbeck 120)
Crooks went into a full shut down of his character. There was nothing left of him which means that this is a normal response to those who abuse their power to scare him. However the reader can infer that Crooks later would curse and get very aggressive in response of being forced to act a certain way.
Actions
"His excitement had increased unit he pounded his knee with his hand. 'George can tell you screwy things, and it don't matter.'" (Steinbeck 109)
When Crooks finds something interesting or just plain funny to him he becomes rambunctious. This also speaks to his character due to him not caring about Lennie's feelings. This is a high contrast to how George and the others on the farm act toward Lennie. Crooks does not take into account that Lennie is slower than the others and laughs at him for it.
"Crooks scowled, but let Lennie's disarming smile defeat him". (Steinbeck 107)
It seems as though this would be a type of foreshadowing done by Steinbeck. There is no doubt that Crooks does not like anyone because of the discrimination that he faced, however, even when Crooks does not like being with new people, Crooks is able to warm up to Lennie.
Looks
Crooks could leave his things about, and being a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men. (Steinbeck 104)
From this quote we are able to tell that Crooks is a bit messy and that he is also a cripple. Being a person of color in the days that the book is set it causes many problems for the community because there was a lot of racism and discrimination.
"Crooks, the negro stable buck" (104 Steinbeck)
In this time period being a "negro" was considered still a bad thing but it does also help the reader come up with a better idea about the character. This also informs the reader that out of all the men and women on the farm only one of them is black.
Effect on Others
During his conversation with Lennie throughout pages 109-111 Steinbeck depicts Crooks egging Lennie on by stating, "S'pose George don't come back no more. S'pose he took a powder and just ain't commin back. What'll you do then?" This causes Lennie distress and Crooks keeps pushing him by not reassuring Lennie and taking pleasure out of Lennies pain.
From this interaction with Crooks the reader was able to determine that when Crooks gets the chance to mess with someone he will take it. This was quite a dangerous thing to do considering that Lennie could kill anyone without meaning to, but, Crook does manage to place doubt and his own ideas into someone else's head.
Possession & Environment
"And he had books, too: a tattered dictionary..." (Steinbeck 104)
It is very important to know that Crooks enjoys learning because previous chapters only described him as either a stable buck, a negro, or his messed up back. This bring light on a part of Crooks that could mean he is very intelligent .
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