Morgan Hollindale
Of Mice and Men- Steinbecks presentation of Crooks
Crooks is a supporting character in the book "Of mice and men" by John Steinbeck. He is a stable buck with a broken back. Also he is racially abused by virtually everyone because of his black skin. Due to this, he has developed hatred towards white people and spends all of his time alone in his room. In this era (1930's) it was seen as normal to be abusive to black people or to treat them as lesser people or even animals. Crooks is first mentioned in chapter 2 (Pages 40 and 41). Candy mentions that the boss would "Give the stable buck hell". In response, George asks "Give the stable buck hell? questioning why someone would be given hell, and Candy replies with "Sure, ya see the stable buck's a nigger". George then replies with "Nigger, huh?" indicating he understands why the boss would "Give the stable buck hell" and that George himself believes that it is alright to take your anger out on him because he has black skin. The next thing that Candy tells us about Crooks is that "They let the Nigger come in that night. Little skinner by the name of Smitty took after the Nigger. Done pretty good, too. The guys wouldn't let him use his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the Nigger. The guys said on account of the Nigger's crooked back, Smitty can't use his feet". This informs me that the guys used Crooks as a punching bag for entertainment and humour, something that no one would do to an animal, suggesting that Crooks is represented as less than even an animal.
At the beginning of chapter 4 Steinbeck tells us about Crooks' room. The fact that Crooks isn't allowed to live in the bunkhouse with the others and instead has to live in the spare room in the barn could suggest that he is treated on par with an animal. Steinbeck tells us of the items that Crooks' room contains such as books, shoes, magazines, medicine, working tools and more. It is quite likely that the reason he "possessed several pairs of shoes" is because he has to work more than the other men due to his skin colour. This could also be said for the working tools. Crooks has to spend a lot of time with animals and so may catch a lot of illness' which could be why he owns lots of medicine. Steinbeck describes Crooks as a "Proud, aloof man" showing that despite his skin colour he tries to keep his pride. Crooks says that "You got no right to come into my room, this here’s my room, nobody got any right in here but me". This gives me the impression that despite Crooks not having many rights, he wants to keep hold of the ones he has got, this is also the reason as to why Crooks hordes a lot of his possessions. Crooks also said “I ain't wanted in the bunk house and you ain't wanted in my room". The fact that Crooks uses the word "and" instead of "so" shows that he is trying to make out that even if Crooks was allowed in the bunk house he still wouldn't let anyone in his room. However we know this isn't true because Crooks lets Lennie into his room and tells him "A guy goes nuts if he doesn't have anyone near him" this also shows that Crooks just wants to have some company.
Crooks tells Lennie about his past life and about how he used to live on a farm with his brothers and be treated equally by the white people, however he soon understands that Lennie doesn't understand a word that Crooks is saying as Lennie simply interrupts his monologue with "George says we're gonna have alfalfa for the rabbits". Crooks then realises Lennie doesn't understand however he doesn't care because any company is better than no company to him; this again shows just how lonely Crooks is.
Crooks attempts to shift his feelings of sadness and loneliness on to Lennie when he says “S’pose he gets killed or hurt so he can’t come back.” This quote implies this because it is making Lennie worry about George’s whereabouts. Crooks sees this and still continues to torment Lennie in an attempt to make someone else suffer. He probably does this because he wants to see what it is like to be in power which he never gets to feel because he is always the one who is being overpowered. However Crook’s dominance doesn’t last long, because Lennie becomes extremely angry leading Crooks to apologize and back away. Crooks then attempts to excuse his behavior when he says “S’pose you can’t go in the bunk house like the others” this heavily implies that Crooks knows the way he is treated is wrong however he has to deal with it. This is also the reason that Crooks owns a copy of the “California civil code”.
At first Crooks is certain that Lennie’s dream won’t become a reality when he says “You’re nuts” and “I never seen a guy really do it” however Lennie continues to persuade him that they will prevail. However we see Crooks start to believe him when he says “You say you got the money?” For a while, this makes Crooks feel like he can be part of the American dream despite him deep down knowing that this can’t actually happen due to his skin colour. As Candy arrives at the door, Crooks says “Come on, if ever’bodys comin in, you might just as well”. Then Steinbeck goes on to say “It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger.” This line tells us that Crooks just wants someone to talk to and that he enjoys the company. Crooks now believes in the dream and wants to be included in it.
When Curley’s wife enters the room, Crooks tells her to leave however is quickly put in his place when she responds telling him that he is a nigger and that she can easily have him killed. This then allows Crooks to realise that he will never be able to be included in the dream. We see this when Steinbeck says “Crooks reduced himself to nothing.” He then tells Candy that while he and Lennie were in his room, he forgot his place however when Curley’s wife entered the room she quickly reminded him of his place. Crook’s says this in the line “You guys comin in an setting made me forget, what she says is true”. Steinbeck uses Crooks as a way of showing that at the time of this book was set, black people were treated poorly and even to an extent like animals. Curley’s wife also says “Looks like they left the weak ones behind” as she enters the room which means that because Lennie is stupid, Candy is old and disabled and Crooks is black they are seen as weak.
Unfortunately, Crooks tells Candy not to him in the dream because he has remembered his place as a black person. Crooks puts this across when he says “Member when I said about hoein’ and doin’ odd jobs?” and “Well just forget it, I didn’t mean it. Just foolin’, I wouldn’t want to go to no place like that”. He is trying to make out that he never had intentions of being included in George, Lennie and Candy’s dream however it is clear that he did and just wants to claim that he didn’t because he wants to protect his pride after Curley’s wife had informed him that he will never be able to be featured in a dream. “The last thing we see of Crooks in the book is “Crooks sat on his bunk and looked at the door for a moment, then he reached for the liniment bottle.” Steinbeck includes this in the story to signify that nothing has changed since Lennie and Candy entered the room because this is also the first thing we see of Crooks in the book.