Crooks' environment is made far more clearer here, as he shows us what place grew him into his cynical nature, and his many books further demonstrate a key aspect of his character which is his knowledge. He's grown up in this cruel world and lived it longer than George and Lennie and seen more, learned more, and read more. But he's only learned and live through the environment, never moving past or being able to master it, mianly due to the time period's restritions.