“‘Why ain’t you 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.” In the book Of Mice and Men, the author, John S
teinbeck, clearly shows loneliness within each character. However, Crooks has it worse than anyone else. Crooks is a black stable buck and lives separately in the barn. A while ago, Crooks was kicked in the back by a horse, causing him to be forever bent over, and this is where he gets his nickname. Crooks’ loneliness may be the result of how he is treated, for example, he is constantly put down and verbally and physically assaulted by the other men. Additionally, his separation from the other men has literally made him go insane. There are several …show more content…
This means he is the target if something goes wrong and he never receives praise when something goes right. His race is treated like a disease and has him separated from everyone else. While everyone enjoys themselves, plays cards, and shares jokes with each other, Crooks is treated like an animal and sleeps in the barn. “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black”(Steinbeck 72). This demonstrates that Crooks has begun to feel like he is not equal to everyone because of his race. If Crooks experienced all this pain today, it would be a classic scenario of bullying: He is called names, he is assaulted, and beat on constantly. However in this case and time period, it is completely normal for this to type of thing to happen, so no one steps in to stop it. “Sure. Ya the stable buck’s a nigger.” “Nigger, huh?” “Yeah. Nice fella too. Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him. The boss gives him hell when he’s mad”(Steinbeck 20). Crooks never gets a break, whether he is getting called names or he is getting beaten. The punishment for a black man is significantly more severe than a punishment for anyone else. This situation is even worse when Curley’s wife uses this knowledge against him. “She closed on him. “You know what I could do?” Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and pressed himself against the wall. “Yes, ma’am.” “ Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (Steinbeck 80- 81). To have and use this kind of power against Crooks is demoralizing and humiliating to him. Whenever he tries to speak up for himself he is put back
teinbeck, clearly shows loneliness within each character. However, Crooks has it worse than anyone else. Crooks is a black stable buck and lives separately in the barn. A while ago, Crooks was kicked in the back by a horse, causing him to be forever bent over, and this is where he gets his nickname. Crooks’ loneliness may be the result of how he is treated, for example, he is constantly put down and verbally and physically assaulted by the other men. Additionally, his separation from the other men has literally made him go insane. There are several …show more content…
This means he is the target if something goes wrong and he never receives praise when something goes right. His race is treated like a disease and has him separated from everyone else. While everyone enjoys themselves, plays cards, and shares jokes with each other, Crooks is treated like an animal and sleeps in the barn. “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black”(Steinbeck 72). This demonstrates that Crooks has begun to feel like he is not equal to everyone because of his race. If Crooks experienced all this pain today, it would be a classic scenario of bullying: He is called names, he is assaulted, and beat on constantly. However in this case and time period, it is completely normal for this to type of thing to happen, so no one steps in to stop it. “Sure. Ya the stable buck’s a nigger.” “Nigger, huh?” “Yeah. Nice fella too. Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him. The boss gives him hell when he’s mad”(Steinbeck 20). Crooks never gets a break, whether he is getting called names or he is getting beaten. The punishment for a black man is significantly more severe than a punishment for anyone else. This situation is even worse when Curley’s wife uses this knowledge against him. “She closed on him. “You know what I could do?” Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and pressed himself against the wall. “Yes, ma’am.” “ Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” (Steinbeck 80- 81). To have and use this kind of power against Crooks is demoralizing and humiliating to him. Whenever he tries to speak up for himself he is put back