Of Mice and Men
CROOKS
QUOTATION
CHARACTERISTIC
1. “nice fella” P41
This is said by Candy,
Crooks is liked by the
ranch hands.
2. “Got a crooked back
where a horse
kicked him.” P41
3. “He reads a lot. Got
books in his
room.” P41
physical disability
4. “...a lean negro
head, lined with
pain…” P77
As a result of his
disability Crooks is in
constant pain which he
must learn to live with.
This sets him apart
from the other ranch
hands as he has a far
greater degree of job
security, he is not an
itinerant worker.
5. “...he was more
permanent than
the other men.”
P98
6. “a proud, aloof man”
P99
7. “He kept his distance
and demanded
that other people
kept theirs.” P99
8. “I ain’t wanted in
the bunk house.”
P100
E. Whyatt
educated
Has the way he’s been
treated turned him into
a ‘proud’ man, or is this
part of his nature?
This is a self defence
mechanism. Crooks
does not allow himself
to become close to
people, because of his
colour he is only too
aware of the possible
consequences of
forming relationships.
Crooks is not allowed to
mix freely with the
other ranch hands,
THEME
AUTHOR’S VIEWPOINT:
by having the other
characters like Crooks is
Steinbeck again subtly
showing us that he
disagrees with racism?
PHYSICAL DISABILITY
AUTHOR’S VIEWPOINT:
by presenting an
educated black man is
Steinbeck again subtly
showing us that he
disagrees with racism?
PHYSICAL DISABILITY
AUTHOR’S VIEWPOINT:
by giving the only black
man on the ranch one
of the few permanent
jobs is Steinbeck again
subtly showing us that
he disagrees with
racism?
LIFE FOR RANCH HANDS
IN 1930’s AMERICA
RACISM
RACISM
LIFE FOR RANCH HANDS
IN 1930’s AMERICA
Lowton Community Sports College
Of Mice and Men
understandably this
makes him feel bitter
and resentful.
9. “…(his) face lighted
The result of the abuse
with pleasure in
which Crooks constantly
his torture…” P103 suffers from has lead to
him becoming bitter.
This is a classic example
of the victim becoming
the bully.
10. “A guy goes nuts if
Crooks, because of his
he ain’t got
colour, is much more
nobody.” P105
isolated than the other
ranch hands. He is very
lonely and suffers
greatly as a result of
this.
11. “I had two brothers. Background info.
They was always
Coming from such a
near me, always
close family will make
there…” P105-6
his current loneliness
much more unbearable.
12. “… a room all to
Crooks is the only
yourself...and a
worker to have his own
pile of manure
room. This is mainly
under the
because of his colour.
window…” P107
This adds to his
isolation. Notice that
the manure is dumped
outside his window –
what will this cause?
13. He “had reduced
Another self defence
himself to
mechanism, developed
nothing”. P114
as a result of suffering
from racial abuse.
14. “...If you...guys
Crooks is so desperate
would want a hand to end his loneliness
to work for
that he offers to work
nothing– just his
for free.
keep, why I’d
come and lend a
hand…” P109
15. “...I could get you
Curley’s wife’s threat
strung up on a tree here shows us that,
so easy it ain’t
despite The California
even funny.” P113 Civil Code, black people
didn’t have any real
rights.
E. Whyatt
RACISM
LONELINESS
RACISM
LONELINESS
RACISM
RACISM
LONELINESS
RACISM
LIFE IN THE 1930’s IN
AMERICA
Lowton Community Sports College