Of Mice and Men Crooks Essay Example

security and protection. The presence of numerous books and “A pair of large-gold rimmed spectacles” (pg. 76) suggests that books are Crooks’ sole source of entertainment in his isolated state, yet his ability to read showcases his intellect. His room is cluttered with boxes containing a variety of tools acquired from his numerous past jobs. Steinbeck attempts to convey to the reader that Crooks has been a ranch worker for a significant amount of time, accumulating numerous possessions over the years.

Crooks showcases the harmful impact of loneliness on a person; his character generates sympathy as the root causes of his cruel behavior are revealed. Due to experiencing continual isolation, Crooks becomes wary of anyone who tries to befriend him. His separation from others is heightened by the constant pain he endures from his spinal injury. Additionally, his deformed back prevents him from working alongside the other men, depriving him of his final chance for personal interaction with them.

Crooks dominates the other men during their game of 'horseshoes', showcasing his exceptional skills, while recognizing that this is his sole opportunity to connect with others. I suspect that Crooks desires human interaction but prefers to reject it rather than face rejection himself, possibly because of the mistreatment he has encountered in the past. As soon as Lennie enters Crook's quarters, Crooks instinctively adopts a defensive stance, becoming rigid and sporting a scowl on his face. This demonstrates his protectiveness over the only personal space he possesses. He firmly states, "You have no right to enter my room. This room belongs to me."

The quote "Nobody got any right in here but

me" (pg. 77) demonstrates the challenges that Crooks faces on the ranch. When Lennie enters his house, it becomes evident that Crooks is a very isolated man who values his privacy. In his own space, he feels powerful and in control, unlike when he is around the other men. However, Lennie's simplicity disarms Crooks' initial hostility and softens him with his smile. Having experienced discrimination and isolation for so long, Crooks teases Lennie by suggesting that George may not return from town.

Crooks' cynical behavior is not intentional, but I believe he feels that Lennie has invaded his personal space, insulting or bullying him. Crooks and Candy share a similarity in the ranch's social hierarchy. Both suffer from disabilities that place them in the lowest rank. Due to the color of his skin, Crooks is lonely and isolated from the others. Similarly, Candy experiences loneliness because he is not as capable as the other workers. His handicap prevents him from performing the same work as the rest of the men. Consequently, when they go off to work, Candy is left behind.

The novel conveys the theme of loneliness, and Steinbeck portrays this through characterisation by using sexism, racism, and ageism. In a conversation with George, Candy refers to the Stable Buck, saying "Give the Stable Buck hell?... Ya see the stable buck's a nigger" (pg. 22). The separation of black people from white people due to the belief in their inferiority is the reason why Crooks is left alone and friendless. Crooks expresses his feeling that "A guys goes nuts if he ain't got nobody."

The text suggests that it doesn't matter

who the person is, as long as they can communicate, the main character would work for them for free. This idea is supported by Steinbeck's use of the character Candy to portray loneliness. Candy becomes lonely after his dog, which the other men at the ranch describe as a "stinking hound" (pg. 50) and an "old bastard" (pg. 51), is shot. Candy feels dejected and expresses his wish to be put out of his misery when he becomes useless (pg. 51). The loss of his dog leaves Candy in despair as it was his only companion. Both characters cling to the hope of owning a dream ranch with George and Lennie, but ultimately this leads to nothing.

Both he and Crooks struggle to make friends - he due to constantly moving for better work, while Crooks faces color discrimination as a permanent worker. The itinerant workers, unable to stay in one place for long, cannot form lasting relationships and even if they did, the nomadic lifestyle would likely destroy them. Candy, realizing this, becomes bitter, similar to Crooks' cynicism.