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Crooks - Coggle Diagram
Crooks
context
racist language was very common in the 1930s
there was segregation in many US states
there was horrific racist violence such as lynching without any trial or conviction
blacks didn't have equal rights in the USA until the 1960s, before the Jim Crow laws were removed
blacks had very little autonomy or power over their own lives
African Americans were seen as inferior to the rest of society.
lack of autonomy over his own life
quotes
'he reduced himself to nothing'
'Yes ma'am,' and his voice was toneless'
'no personality, no ego'
'Crooks stared hoplessly at her...and drew into himself'
'I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny'
'Crooks seemed to grow smaller'
dream gives brief moments of hope - 'why I'd come an' lend a hand'
he is good at his job, but bottom of the pile of ranch workers
because of his race, he can't hope to ever have power or dignity
the dream has a powerful effect on crooks, giving him the courage to stand up to Curley's wife. However his confidence is fragile and it becomes shattered when Curley's wife threatens him.
Dream gives him a small sense of hope, but only lasts shortly
only character with his own room (segregation)
quotes
'large gold-rimmed spectacles'
'he held a bottle of liniment'
'he stiffened and a scowl came on his face' hostile unwelcoming nature when Lennie enters
'a few dirty books'
crooks' room is small, basic and functional, but also homely and his own, full of all of his possessions
from his possessions we can tell that he's practical and active. his books show he reads and has interllect
people who try to come into his room get a frosty reception as privacy is one of the only rights he has
victim of racism and therefore lonely
quotes
'a guy needs somebody - to be near him'
'they play cards in there but I can't play because I'm black'
'I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse'
'A guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick'
'Books ain't no good'
crooks is the only black man in the book and hence is excluded from the bunkhouse because the other workers say he smells - he is lonely and misses the company of others
his loneliness makes him bitter and he seems jealous of George and Lennie's friendship - tries to make Lennie feel lonely as well by suggesting George might leave him
crooks is a proud and cynical man but also vulnerable
he is threatened by Curley's wife, and he believes it is true, so is very careful about what he says and does
quotes
'proud, aloof man'
after Curleys wife haad been in 'Crooks avoided the whole subject now'
'A colored man got to have some rights even if he don't like 'em' - has to have his own space (segregation)