“Crooks stood up from his bunk and faced her. 'I had enough,' he said coldly...Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself...Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. 'Yes, ma’am.'...Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego— nothing to arouse either like or dislike. He said, 'Yes, ma’am,' and his voice was toneless’” (Steinbeck 39).
Crooks is showing by his actions to Curly's wife that he "knows his place" he knows no to continue. That once he realized that it was very true he had no power when compared to Curly's wife it seemed like he lost all of his pride. Crooks is definitely a strong-willed man but he knows where the lines are and tries not to cross them. It also seemed like he was embarrassed. He seemed embarrassed because he "grew smaller" and "reduced himself to nothing" this typically used when people are ashamed of what they did and want to run away but they cannot so they make themselves as small as possible to make it seem like the disappear, perhaps not physically but mentally.