In the novel "Of Mice and Men" John Steinbeck, uses the character of Crooks to represent racism and symbolize the separation of the black community occurring at the time in which the novel was set. Crooks is significant as he provides an insight into the reality of the American Dream and the feelings of all the ranchers: their loneliness and need for human interaction.
Steinbeck illustrates Crooks having an aggressive and defensive character when he and Lennie meet each other for the first time. This expresses Crooks since he uses a defence mechanism through loneliness to keep people away from him to stop him from getting into trouble. “A guy goes nuts when he ain’t got nobody” this reflects upon Crooks miss having company and makes him jealous of George and Lennie’s relationship …show more content…
The fact that he has his own room with quite a few possessions shows that he has a more permanent fixture on the ranch than all the other ranch men who go from ranch to ranch looking for work. It is clear to us that the reason why Crooks has his own room is "'Cause I am black" therefore the other ranch men don't want to be in the same room as him. The reason why Steinbeck has pointed out to us Crooks' possessions in his room, is because he is trying to show us that due to Crooks being alienated from the ranch men he is able to hold more of his possessions to himself, since he doesn't go to the bars and shops because of his colour and therefore is saving up money to buy other stuff. Similarly because Crooks does not have any real relationships with the other men as "They say I stink." he is not able to trade his books or other possessions with them. His isolation makes it necessary for him to form a bond of sorts with things rather than people; so Crooks clings desperately to his possessions because he has nothing else to cling
Steinbeck illustrates Crooks having an aggressive and defensive character when he and Lennie meet each other for the first time. This expresses Crooks since he uses a defence mechanism through loneliness to keep people away from him to stop him from getting into trouble. “A guy goes nuts when he ain’t got nobody” this reflects upon Crooks miss having company and makes him jealous of George and Lennie’s relationship …show more content…
The fact that he has his own room with quite a few possessions shows that he has a more permanent fixture on the ranch than all the other ranch men who go from ranch to ranch looking for work. It is clear to us that the reason why Crooks has his own room is "'Cause I am black" therefore the other ranch men don't want to be in the same room as him. The reason why Steinbeck has pointed out to us Crooks' possessions in his room, is because he is trying to show us that due to Crooks being alienated from the ranch men he is able to hold more of his possessions to himself, since he doesn't go to the bars and shops because of his colour and therefore is saving up money to buy other stuff. Similarly because Crooks does not have any real relationships with the other men as "They say I stink." he is not able to trade his books or other possessions with them. His isolation makes it necessary for him to form a bond of sorts with things rather than people; so Crooks clings desperately to his possessions because he has nothing else to cling