The Loneliness That Engulfed The Stable Buck

The Loneliness That Engulfed the Stable Buck
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck expressed many important ideas through characters about dreams, friendship and loneliness. Of Mice and Men tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers that live during the great depression. The two men end up on a new ranch after Lennie causes some trouble, and this ranch has some interesting characters. Through the character Crooks in the story, John Steinbeck expresses important ideas that loneliness takes away hope, makes relationships with people hard, and develops streaks of meanness.
John Steinbeck uses Crooks to express an interesting idea that loneliness takes away hope. During the story, Lennie and Crooks are conversing when Candy

walks in and starts to talk about, the dream about George, Lennie, and himself owning some land with a house, specifically about the rabbits they plan on having. Crooks is not convinced at first. Candy eventually explains to him that they already possess most of the money, Crooks then finding himself induced into what Candy tells him is true. Crooks then shyly asks if he could join the dream, however a little while later, he takes it back.. “Candy and Lennie stood up and went toward the door.
‘Candy!’
‘Huh?’
‘Member what I said about hoein' and doin' odd jobs?’
‘Yeah," said Candy. "I remember.’
‘Well, jus' forget it," said Crooks. "I didn't mean it. Jus' foolin'. I wouldn' want to go no place like that(83).’” This passage demonstrates that as quickly Crooks became excited about the dream, he abandons it just as fast, saying to Candy, “‘I didn’t mean it. Jus’ foolin.’” Crooks was so accustomed to being so lonely, having nobody to talk to, or to be there for him that he just accepts it, and is not even the least bit hopeful of having a better life. An additional example of Steinbeck using Crooks to show that loneliness takes away hope takes place when Lennie starts talking to Crooks about the dream of them owning a plot of land. Crooks replies to Lennie, “‘..Nobody ever gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head(74).’” Crooks has had nobody, or anything for so long, that he has no reason to believe, or support Lennie with his dream. He has no reason to believe that it is possible because it has not been possible for him for the longest time. Steinbeck uses Crooks and the passages above to express a thoughtful concept that loneliness takes away hope.
Furthermore, Steinbeck uses Crooks to express the idea that loneliness makes it hard to find relationships with people. In chapter four, Lennie enters Crooks’ room, telling Crooks he saw the light, and he was looking for his puppy. Consequently, Crooks says to Lennie, “‘Well, I got a right to have a light. You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room(68).’” It can be seen though this passage that Crooks did not want Lennie in his room. Loneliness had taken over Crooks and he had gotten so used to it, that he did not try to talk to Lennie, or to be nice to him. Crooks accepted the burden of loneliness, allowing the feeling to persuade him in not trying to create new friendships, (relationships). Moreover, Steinbeck describes how Crooks lives alone in his own bunk house on the ranch because Crooks is black, and he is not wanted by the other men. On page 68, Crooks tells Lennie that he is not wanted in the bunkhouse, and Lennie asks why. Crooks replies, “‘Because 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, all of you stink to me(68).’” This part of the text shows how Crooks is not wanted by the other men because of his race, and he recognizes that. Crooks thinks less of himself because he is black, and therefore thinks that he deserves to be lonely. Crooks does not feel like he should have any friendships with the other men because he is black, this making it hard for him to interact with them, or to be nice. Clearly, Steinbeck uses Crooks to express the idea that loneliness makes it hard to find relationships with new people.
Finally, Steinbeck uses Crooks to express the idea that loneliness can develop streaks of meanness. Throughout the story, it is clearly demonstrated that Crooks is not the friendliest guy. He does not interact much with the other men, and he keeps to himself. In chapter four of the novel, Lennie is in Crooks’ room, and they are talking. Crooks, knowing Lennie is not the brightest, makes an attempt to distress Lennie, asking him what he would do if George left him,
“‘I said s'pose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more.’ Crooks pressed forward some kind of private victory.

"Just s'pose that," he repeated.
‘He won't do it," Lennie cried. ‘George wouldn't do nothing like that. I been with George a long a time. He'll come back tonight-’ But the doubt was too much for him. ‘Don't you think he will?’
Crooks' face lighted with pleasure in his torture. ‘Nobody can't tell what a guy'll do,’ he observed calmly. ‘Le's say he wants to comeback and can't. S'pose he gets killed or hurt so he can't come back.’” In this passage, Crooks tries to get Lennie to imagine what it would be like if George did not return to him. Lennie, instead of thinking what it would be like, challenges Crooks and tells him that George will return. However, thinking about it was too much for him, and he needed to clarify it, asking Crooks for what he thinks. Crooks was trying to get Lennie to feel how he feels, lonely, and sad. Crooks enjoyed when Lennie shared in his pain, even if it was only for the slightest moment. It was mean of Crooks to do this to Lennie, and his loneliness caused it. Crooks needed someone to share in his loneliness, even if it meant being mean to them. His loneliness developed the streak of meanness shown from him. Evidently, Steinbeck uses Crooks to demonstrate the powerful idea the loneliness can develop streaks of

meanness.
Loneliness is a very important idea throughout John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice And Men. Many of the men on the ranch are lonely, and are off on their own. The novel demonstrated that important idea of loneliness through a very complex character, Crooks. Through Crooks, Steinbeck showed the ideas that loneliness can diminish hope of a better life, make it hard to find relationships with people, and can result in somebody becoming mean.