How Does Steinbeck Present Crooks In Of Mice And Men

Crooks is a symbol of how society treats the disabled and African Americans. Having to deal with the loneliness and the segregation that the ranch members put forth on him. he confides in Lennie “A guy needs somebody- to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody.”(Steinbeck 72). Unfortunately, Because of the amount of melanin in his skin he is shunned and treated like an animal. He sleeps in the barnhouse, works on the land, and comes back to his stable. When Candy mentions the dream to Crooks he temporality thinks that he could call something his own like they are. Which is something very few African Americans had because less than seventy years before African Americans themselves, were property. Curly’s wife then enters the room to Crooks vexation. When he tells her to leave, she replies scornfully “Listen Nigger… You know what I could do?....Yes, ma’am.” Crooks says. She continues to make herself bigger and him ever so small, “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny.” (Steinbeck 80-81). Knowing the truth in her words not only Crooks but Candy and Lennie dwindle in their comments to get her out of Crooks’ room. Interestly enough though, only Lennie, the flawed human is the only one to not see crooks color.

He represents the African Americans now in a way that if a person of authority today (which in this particular quote is Curley’s Wife) were to mistreat a person of color in anyway to the point of even killing them and there will be no punishment unto the murderer.
Crooks is a symbol of maintaining personal dignity in the midst of challenging adversity. Unlike the majority of African Americans at that time Crooks can read and he prides himself in being a descendant of a landowner. But unfortunately he is an African American in a society that is prejudiced against them. He lived in a time that people would have scientific theories about how African Americans were inferior to White people or how they are more dangerous. After George’s reaction to Crooks knowing about the ranch he takes back his offer, even though it might be the only insurance to getting a place to stay, “Candy! …. ‘Member what I said about hoein’ and doin’ odd jobs? …. Well, jus’ forget it,” said Crooks. “I didn’t mean it. Jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’ want to go no place like that.”(Steinbeck 82). Instead of begging like most might’ve done he gathers the remains of his dignity and continued what he was doing before. He’s not allowed in the bunkhouse because he's black. He keeps his room immaculate because he is a prideful man. “This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man.” But it is his pride and his solitary confinement in the barn that cause him to be bitter when people enter his room. “He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs.” (Steinbeck 66). With the dehumanization that is put onto Crooks he still perseveres through and maintains his dignity. Steinbeck uses the character Crooks to show the universal truth of discrimination that are still used today.