Crooks Analysis Under the effects of racial discrimination, Crooks faces isolation from the other men on the ranch. Crooks’ loneliness becomes apparent from the very beginning, when he is first introduced by Candy. Candy uses derogatory language to describe him, and refers to him as a racial slur. Despite Crooks and Candy working on the farm together, they never formed even the slightest relationship. Crooks’ feelings as an outsider are further revealed when Lennie joins him in his room when the other men are gone. Crooks acknowledges that he is segregated from the rest of the men when he Lennie asks why he isn’t wanted and he replies, “ ‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink” (68).
