Sympathy is shown all over from tv shows, to books, to real life experiences. We begin to feel pity for these individuals because at times you can see the pain that they feel, you see what circumstances they have to overcome. In the show Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith is given a great amount of losses, from her mother passing away from alzheimer's, her step mother passing away from the hiccups, her sister dying from a plane crash, and her husband dying of a car crash. Us as an audience of the show, can feel what Meredith felt. We could see her pain and we could feel her loneliness after the losses she’s had. Pity is given to various characters in the book, Of Mice and Men; we see their struggles and we can feel their pain. Of Mice and Men …show more content…
In chapter 4, Lennie appears in the barn, looking for someone to talk to. He finds Crooks, but Crooks is, at first, unwilling to talk. Lennie asks Crooks why he isn’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and Crooks replies, “ ‘Cause I’m black”(Steinbeck 68). Lennie doesn’t understand racism, so Crooks has to explain, “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black”(Steinbeck 68). Crooks is also treated wrong by the boss, Curley, “The boss gives him hell when he’s mad.”(Steinbeck 20). It comes to show that because of his race, Crooks is treated badly. Crooks is excluded from many of the activities that the other men have simply because of his race; he is worthy of our sympathy because of the discrimination he had to deal with daily at the …show more content…
In chapter 4, Curley's wife comes into Crooks’ bunkhouse asking where Curley is, meanwhile Lennie and Candy are also inside. Curley's wife humiliates Crooks as he had told her to get out of his room or else he'd tell Curley; “Well you keep your place then, Nigger”(Steinbeck 81). Curley's wife began to offend him and began to give him rude racist statements, “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny”(Steinbeck 81). As Crooks was being told these rude racist comments he began to belittle himself because of the humiliation that he was feeling, Curley's wife belittled Crooks’ as a person with each slur that she gave, “Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. ‘Yes, ma’am”(Steinbeck 80). With each comment that Crooks was given we could feel how his personality would go down, he would present no emotion in order to respect the orders of Curley's wife, “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing...There was no personality, no ego-nothing to arouse either like or dislike... and his voice was toneless”(Steinbeck 81). Crooks is a character that we especially feel sympathy for because of the humiliation that he has to face because of the simple act of him being from a different race; we feel pity and anger of what he has to face on a daily
Historically, the black American solution to racially imposed loneliness and homelessness was to embrace the structure of family. White characters in the novel appear without families, for whatever reason. However, black Americans were compelled to come together as a people despised by others, to shelter and protect, even to the point of the creation of extended families, much as George assumes a protective all four. Significantly, Crooks does not receive an invitation to join George, Lenny, and Candy on the farm, even though he broaches the subject. Racial and ethnic minorities in America in the 1930s understood the importance of this strategy for survival because otherwise they would not have survived. Crooks gets described by Curley’s wife as “weak” because he is crippled and a Negro, two conditions which Steinbeck conflates into being synonymous in the novel. He functions in the role of a victim-savant. Acting as an insightful thinker and clarifying the meaning of loneliness for the reader, he remains an “outsider,” someone for whom the reader feels more pity than respect.246 By remaining on this ranch, experiencing unfair treatment, Crooks chooses his own racial victimization each and every day.246
In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck there are many events in the plot of the story that occur that prove that when man is cruel to man, some peoples lives are negatively affected. One instance in where this is proven true is when the men on the ranch and Curley's wife are cruel and discriminative against Crooks causing him to be the one to mourn. 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 hung 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. Also those examples are part of the theme of the novel, people need to accept and understand those different from themselves, which also helps to prove the interpretation of the quote. Another example in this novel that proves that when man is cruel to man, the lives of people are negatively affected is when Curley picks on and tries to hurt Lennie. Curley chooses to fight Lennie because he thinks he won't fight back but because George gets angry and tells Lennie to fight back, he does. George being angry is not the only negative effect that Curley's teasing had on man, but also now Lennie is angry and in danger of getting in trouble and Curley himself gets hurt.
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.
As Candy introduces George and Lennie where they are going to stay, and the people who work there, he shares information about the relationships of the men on the ranch. After mentioning Crooks, George asks why the Boss gives “the stable buck h**l”, to which Candy replies that “ya, see the stable buck’s a ni**er.” To which George replies “Ni**er, huh?” Candy assures George saying, “Yeah. Nice fella too” (Steinbeck 18). Crook’s has some of the worst experiences, but this is one of the worst ones that are given. The workers don’t care about Crooks and don’t give any disregard to him, they call him names and treat him very poorly. Later in the story, readers find out that Crooks was treated poorly in more situations, so he doesn’t think highly of himself and doesn’t think it’s fair. Lennie goes into Crooks’ room and talks about his rabbits. Since Lennie doesn’t remember much, Crooks thinks he can tell him about anything, because he isn’t gonna go around and tell everyone what he said, plus, Crooks can’t bring trouble upon himself because all of the workers except Candy are at a cat house. “There wasn’t another colored family for miles around. And now there ain’t a colored man on this ranch an’ there’s jus’ one family in Soledad. If I say something, why it’s just a ni**er.” Crooks thinks that he can say whatever he wants about his opinion, because it’s just a negro, and no one
Crooks is the stable buck. Crooks is and African American man whose back is crooked and the men, especially Curley, use him as a punching bag when they are upset because he is different. Crooks exclaims to Lennie, “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room” (Steinbeck 68). Crooks is not wanted anywhere which is why he has his own room. He is alone and separated from the other men because he is different. Crooks even states, “A guy needs somebody- to be near him… A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody… I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick” (Steinbeck 72). Crooks is saying that humans need other humans, humans are not meant to be alone. After realizing that George and Lennie’s dream might come true, Crooks offers, “… If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand” (Steinbeck 76). Crooks is offering to work on their farm for free just so he has a place that he is accepted and not isolated from the
Crooks is entrapped based on his color. " 'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink.” ( Steinbeck 34)
These characters have a different mentality, which makes them unique, in comparison to everyone else. To be an American is portrayed by these characters as being themselves, which has resulted them becoming lonely and an outcast. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Crooks’ race hinders his role in society, which makes him an outcast, and causes him to view America as a jailhouse. He is showing the stagnation that will be prolonged for all African Americans.
Being an African-American in the 1930s, Crooks was subject to some discrimination on the ranch. “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 obviously trying to emphasize that she is superior to Crooks because she has the power to get him killed. “‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink.” (Steinbeck 68). The other workers on the farm exclude Crooks from the activities in the bunkhouse. Since Crooks knows that he is not wanted there, he stays confined in his small room in the barn. The people on the ranch blatantly discriminate Crooks because of his
Crooks has been on the same farm for years, constantly being mistreated by whoever wandered onto it. For example, in the novella Of Mice and Men the character Old Candy contributes, “‘Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger’” (Steinbeck 20). Crooks is constantly classified by the color of his skin. People constantly poke fun and throw racist, ungodly comments his way. He is affected by his position in the world because he is unable to earn substantial pay and feels separated from society because of the tone of his skin. Corrpsoifnyl, Crooks is unable to participate in games on the farm, nor live in the same living quarters as the others because of his skin color. For instance, on page 68 Crooks states in a conversation with Lennie, “‘Why you ain’t 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.’” (Steinbeck). Crooks position in the world causes him to be unable to participate in events just because he is an African American member of society. Proportionately, Crooks feels separated because he cannot make a mark on the world because of the color of his skin and is forced to tend to farms for little to no pay for hours at a
In the book, it states “insert quote here”. What makes this particular case so interesting, however, is how Steinbeck used a member of an oppressed group to demonstrate this message. In the analogy of the predator and the prey, Crooks would be considered as the prey, with the predator being the society of that time period. However, this behavior actually caused the prey to turn into the predator! This use of Crooks really drives home the point more so than simply using another character as the
Through the characters of Crooks, Curley’s wife, George, and Lennie, John Steinbeck shows readers that during difficult times, everyone ends up isolated. In the story, Crooks experiences isolation through racism of the people in the ranch. Everyone in the ranch called him “nigger” and treat him as if he is disgusting.
Being a negro in 1937 didn’t earn you a lot of rights, especially at Curley’s farm. “Maybe you guys better go, (he/Crooks said) I ain’t sure I want you in here no more A colored man got to have some rights even if he doesn’t like ‘em.” (Steinbeck 82) One of people that really shows Crooks he has no rights is in fact, Curley’s wife. There is one quote after Curley’s wife has spoken to Crooks that also shows how very little rights he has. “Crooks has reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego- nothing to arouse, either like or dislike. He said “Yes, ma’am,” and his voice was toneless.” (Steinbeck 81). In a sense Crooks shows oppression because unlike like the other two characters, all he wants is to be more than a negro man, he wants rights. The other two characters had dreams and hopes, while Crooks just in a sense, just wanted to be free.
Curley’s wife has a sense of power over the other workers because she is married to Curley. Despite being female, she is able to do as she wishes and fool around, as even her husband cannot control her. She has the power to intimidate and threaten the male workers, as seen in the quote directed at Crooks, “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.” Crooks is the only African-American character in the novel. Despite being a male, he possesses less power than Curley’s wife due to his skin colour. The use of tone in this quote highlights her authority over the dark skinned man as a white female. In the novel, Crooks is made to be isolated by his colour, living alone in a separate room with the horses. His room symbolises a jail cell of the repressed. He is not wanted in the bunk house and cannot socialise or play cards with the other workers. He is always called the ‘nigger’ by the men, which shows how racism is taken for granted. This is an example of how defenceless he is in society. Another example is when Steinbeck describes Crooks room. “Crooks had his apple box over his bunk, and in it a range of medicine bottles, both for himself and for the horses,” suggests that he is treated like an animal. Social power and powerlessness are demonstrated throughout the novel in which shows us how different people are treated in
Racial Prejudice is what’s presented by the others on the ranch towards the only African American man on the ranch. They would call his crucial names, bad mouth him and some would even threated him, giving him the fear of losing his job. Crooks was isolated from all the other workers, he had his own room of to the side, not allowing anyone to be in his room, because he preferred being isolated. At this portion of the story the reader is able to begin making a connection between Lennie and Crooks, even though the discrimination is shown more frequently toward Crooks because his skin is a different color, they both feel unwanted at the ranch, they both want to leave. Crook allows Lennie to come into his room one night just for alittle while all the other men were out, they sat and talked for alittle, until Curleys wife grows nosey and comes to the door to see what they are talking about. Curley’s wife is the only female on the ranch so she is all over the place, in everyone else’s business except for her own. As Crook is enjoying the company that he is having with Lennie at this time and he tells Curleys wife to leave, she then becomes offended and grows mean saying “do you know what I could do to you if you open your trap?”(Steinebck 80) trying to intimidate Crooks. She knows that he is unable to do or say anything out of the way to her, giving the reason why she does