Crooks: A Study in Isolation and Discrimination
This page provides a deep dive into the character of Crooks from John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," exploring his physical description, social status, and the impact of racism on his life.
Highlight: Crooks' physical disability and race place him at the bottom of the ranch's social hierarchy, despite his intelligence and literacy.
Crooks is described as "a cripple," which not only refers to his physical disability but also symbolizes his social disadvantage. Unlike Candy, who is also disabled but white, Crooks faces severe discrimination due to his race.
Quote: "A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is."
This quote underscores the theme of loneliness prevalent throughout the novel and emphasizes the uniqueness of George and Lennie's relationship. Crooks' isolation is further highlighted by his exclusion from social activities with other ranch hands.
Example: Crooks is allowed to play horseshoes with the other men but is excluded from card games in the bunkhouse due to his race.
Crooks' character traits include:
- Sharp-witted
- Bitter
- Isolated
- Pessimistic
Vocabulary: Lynching - The practice of killing someone, especially by hanging, for an alleged offense without a legal trial, often used as a form of racial terrorism against Black Americans.
The threat of lynching is used against Crooks, demonstrating the extreme racial violence of the era. This relates to the theme of power and how it's wielded against marginalized individuals.
Quote: "Nobody never get to heaven; nobody gets no land."
This statement reflects Crooks' pessimism about the American Dream, a central theme in the novel. However, when presented with a glimmer of hope, Crooks quickly changes his tune, offering to work for free just for a chance at freedom and land ownership.
Definition: American Dream - The belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work in the United States.
Steinbeck uses Crooks' character to highlight the fallacy of this dream, especially for marginalized groups in 1930s America.
