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Steinbeck uses the novella ’Of Mice and Men’ and the workers on the ranch to show the microcosm of the 1930s American Society and culture. He especially portrays Crooks in a particular way to show how Black Americans were treated in this time that the novella was set. Steinbeck uses Crooks throughout the novella to present the role of Black Americans. The first introduction of Crooks is given through Candy’s speech when he is describing the character of Crooks to George and Lennie. “Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger” He mentions Crooks by the way in which all the ranch workers address him which is as the word “nigger” during the course of the novella. This is seen as acceptable in 1930s America as all the characters seem to address Crooks in this way. Not mentioning the name Crooks and referring to him as ‘nigger’ makes the readers feels sympathy towards his character and makes them think of the racial discrimination that he is going through. From this you can also see how the way in which Candy mentions this is as if it is normal and part of everyday life to degrade all Black People. The quote can also show how Crooks has been referred to in this way many times as the way in which Candy mentions it is as if it is a fact that cannot be changed and the fact that he’s a ‘nigger’ is stained permanently into him. Further on in the novella, Crooks is seen to gain more sympathy as he mentions how at he remembers the time when he did have friends and “they was always near me, always there.’ This shows how he did use to have someone in that he could rely on and now that has changed because as a Black American he just gets discriminated. The word ‘always’ shows certainty in the way that he used to be happy with his life. Crooks mentions... ... middle of paper ... ...roughout the novella. Crooks describes Slim to be “a real skinner” as “he looks out for the team.” Crooks likes Slim because this is who he looks up to as the character slim is the only one who talks to Crooks and doesn’t refer to him as a ‘nigger’ like all the other ranch workers do. Crooks is regarded as an equal in Slim’s eyes. Furthermore, this can be seen as ambiguous as Steinbeck mentions how he may only talk to Crooks as he is seen to have a similar job in the stables and that he needs Crooks to be able to complete his work. Finally, to conclude, Steinbeck uses the character of Crooks to show how a Black American would fit in the 1930s American society. Using the microcosm of the ranch helps to show the readers how he would be treated, how much respect he would be given and what his character and jobs would be like compared to that of normal White Americans.
Crooks, the black stable buck, is isolated from the community of migrant workers because of his racial status. When Lennie goes into the barn to see his puppy, he and Crooks have a conversation. “'Why ain't you wanted?' Lennie asked. 'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black'” (68). Lennie is too kind-hearted and intellectually slow to visualize the apparent racial boundary that sets Crooks aside from Lennie and the rest of the workers. Crooks is so isolated from the rest of the workers that he says he “can't” play cards, not that he isn't allowed to, which means that the racial boundary is like a wall Crooks cannot cross. Because he is black, Crooks believes that he cannot play cards with the white men. He can't get over the racial boundary, and believes he will be forever separated from the white men. In the beginning of chapter 4, Steinbeck describes Crooks' living space. “Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the...
Back in the 1930’s, in Salinas, California, there were ranches on which men from all over the country worked. There is a story about the life of two men on those fields, working, as the author describes what happens to them through literary devices that help the reader understand the moral of it. In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, masses of foreshadowing and symbols are used to higher the effect the story gives the reader.
"Crooks is a black man that experiences isolation because the society in which he resides is racist. As a result, the previous quote was his means of finding a personal connection to Lennie. Like Lennie, Crooks has a "relationship" with loneliness. He knows that when people get lonely, they tend to get sick. Crooks is rejected from every group of people and cannot socially interact with others.
In the short novel Of Mice and Men, the two characters Crooks, a Negro stable hand, and Curley’s wife, a lowly farm woman, have a very important purpose. The author, John Steinbeck uses them in different ways to get across a message. Although they are very different, they both struggle with loneliness and a lack of identity throughout the whole story. During the book, Steinbeck shows similarities, differences, and an overall message about the treatment of African Americans and women in this time period through the characters of Crooks and Curley’s wife.
Steinbeck clearly shows that Crooks never has any say on the ranch. No one cares about him. He’s just a “negro stable buck” (66). In this novella, No one ever talks to him except for candy. Lennie finally finds himself going into his room. While in there they speak about racial profiling. Crooks tell lennie that he’s the only African Americans on the ranch. He tells Lennie how he’s “alone out here at night” (73). He has nobody to talk to all he does is read books and think. The people on the ranch care less about his needs and wants, all they want him to do is to continue his work...
First and foremost, Crooks is a person who gets treated with discrimination, much more than anyone else. Simply because he is black and has a crooked back, from which he received his name from. People continuously treat him horribly, one person being Curley’s Wife. “Well you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even
In Crooks’ case, he is isolated because of his race. When Crooks talks to Lennie about why he is excluded from the bunkhouse, he responds with, “Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black” (Steinbeck, 68). Crooks feels that the other men on the ranch exclude him. Another example of this is when Curley's wife says to Crooks, “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny” (Steinbeck, 81). Curley's wife is being
He portrays that the survival of the fittest is a just rule, with using a weak character’s weakness to dominate them. In the book it is shown that you have to be physically, emotionally and mentally strong to withstand the pressures. In the story we see a character that is weaker compared to everyone on the ranch, that is Crooks. He is weak because of the color of his skin. The moment when Curley’s wife enters Crooks room and starts talking with the men, Crooks is scared that Curley himself might see them. So this leads Crooks to talk against the woman, but the woman threatens to lynch Crooks. The author illustrates the woman using a weakness such as color to threaten Crooks with “Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.”(p.81). This perfectly shows how in the real world a black man is not able to rebel against a woman or any other character. Steinbeck shows this as a universal truth. Crooks faults are unable to compete with a woman who is stronger than him. In other words the african american is weak and in his relationship with the woman, he is unable to compete with her as she possesses power that dominates and threatens him. Although both characters similarly face isolation and loneliness or have lost something, the
An example of how the men are discriminative towards Crooks is that he is forced to live in a shack away from the bunkhouse and also Crooks says that "They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say "I stink" and "I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse." An example of when Curley's Wife is critical towards Crooks is when she looks into his room to see what Lennie and Crooks are doing and then she states, shaking her head, that they left the weak ones behind. Also, she threatens to have Crooks hanged because a black man should never talk to a white woman the way he just had. As a result of all of these discriminatory acts against him, Crooks feels unwanted and lonely because of his color and placement on the farm.
Steinbeck uses hierarchy in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ to show that all the characters in the novella hold different statuses. Steinbeck then shows in the novella how this links with the 1930s depression and how in his novella he conformed and also challenged stereotypes.
When Curly’s wife went to Crooks to ask if he has seen Curly around, Curly said that he hasn’t seen him, but still she was standing there and Crooks said, “You got no rights coming in a coloured man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all.” Steinbeck’s use of Crook’s dialogue shows that Crooks had enough pride and independence to stand up to Curly’s wife. She turned on him in scorn. “Listen, Nigger,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself. Steinbeck uses Curly’s wife’s dialogue to tell the readers that Crooks was always discriminated against. When Lennie was wandering around at the ranch and went into Crook’s room, Crooks said, “You go get outta my rooms. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house and you ain’t wanted in my room.” Steinbeck uses crook’s dialogue, racism and loneliness to demonstrate that Crooks wanted to be left alone, but also from inside he wants to talk to someone. Readers may feel sympathy at Steinbeck’s idea of racism. Crooks was always treated badly and is always discriminated against.
Authors often demonstrate social commentary through their books and novels. They often go from controversial topics, such as discrimination among races and political views. From Monetary need and poverty to the different social classes. John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, a clear example of this social commentary, showcases the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two outcast workers who move from ranch to ranch in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression. In this book, Steinbeck addresses the real-life issues of economic struggle and social classes by demonstrating it through imaginary characters that show their economic necessity, that glorify dreams, and that interact with other characters.
He is proving how extreme isolation can cause one to crave human interaction. Although Crooks acts like he is reluctantly inviting Lennie in, he was truly excitedly welcoming Lennie, who stopped to talk in Crooks’ own house where no one else ever goes. Today, racism is still around, even though it is not as prevalent as it was when this book was written. For example, there is still unjust crimes toward African Americans, which have sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.
The racial discrimination was one of the aspects of the discrimination in this story. Consequently, Crooks had to battle with various difficulties and conflicts, which prevented him from reaching his full potential. The ranch hands did not let Crooks live, eat, and play with them because his skin colour was different. It led to the conflict between him and Lennie. "Why ain't you wanted?" Lennie asked. "Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.” (Steinbeck, 68). In this conversation between Lennie and African - American stable buck Crooks, Crooks explains why he could not accepted to play cards together with other ranch hands. The fact that other ranch hands discriminate Crooks because of his skin colour is one of the important examples that prove social belief that race was one factor to determine a person’s value in Depression era. Crooks was isolated. This isolation prevented Crooks ...
Racial discrimination has been around for a long time, judging people for the color of their skin. Crooks is affected by this because he is black. Blacks in that time were thought as lesser than the white people. The racial discrimination affects Crooks' life in only negative ways. He is plagued by loneliness because of the color of his skin. His lack of company drives him crazy. Only when Lennie comes in to his room does he feel less lonely. He talked of his loneliness using a hypothetical scenario of George leaving Lennie. Crooks' responds to this discrimination by staying in his barn and being secluded. He doesn't want anyone to be in there but deep down he does so he can have some company. He isn't wanted in the bunk house or to play cards with the others because he is black. This effected the story by letting people walk all over him, letting them think they can do whatever they want, and ultimately making the people think they have a lot of power when really they do not.