The Character Of Crooks In The 1930's '

There, they encounter many different characters with their own shortcomings, whether mental, physical, or social. Each character and their handicap together represent a specific theme in the novel. Crooks is the African-American man who works in the stables of the farm. He got kicked by a horse many years ago, resulting in his crooked back. While his back is indeed a physical defect that hinders him, but the thing that segregates him from the others is his race.

The 1920’s was an era filled with new changes and inventions, cultural developments and numerous political conflicts. In January of 1920, the 18th amendment placed a ban on the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. Organized crime was already present, but the Prohibition Era drastically increased its activity. The closure of all alcohol related companies was the main reason behind increased unemployment ; diligent Americans suddenly were drinking a banned substance. During these tough times, families turned to crime in order to make fast money.

Crooks is by far the most pitiful of the three outcasts. We have to keep in mind the setting of this novel. In this time period in history, black people were oppressed. Crooks was not allowed to play cards with the other men, nor was he allowed in the bunkhouse (68). He had to stay out in the stable with the animals, because that’s how big the difference was between him and the other guys.

Lennie walks into Crooks’ room wonders why Crooks isn’t playing cards with the others and Crooks explains why he’s not wanted. Stenbecks writes, “...ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse… cause I’m black… They say I stink” (Steinbeck 68). This proves Crooks becomes reconciled to discrimination by his peers because of his own race. Back then, men and women in color were mistreated so Steinbeck is giving a good idea on how people abused the basic human rights to hurt others physically and mentally.

To begin, Crooks' experience with his racism ruined his dream and drastically changed his actions and how he responds to the blatant racism. Direct Quote #1-The narrator described “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing”(Steinbeck 81). EXPLANATION: The blatant racism shown to crooks made him feel sad and depressed changing his personality. The way Crooks responded to the situation changed the way the other men in the room and the audience saw him.

He is given his own room to live in since he is unwanted in the bunkhouse, which is where all the other men sleep. He resents the other people working on the ranch because of how they treat him. Crooks is marginalized because he is an African American and this causes him to push other people away from him. Crooks is marginalized

Crooks John Steinbeck wrote the novel Of Mice and Men of two ranchers, who came across a stable buck that is a Negro. The story of this stable buck is quite disconsolate, he has a crooked back on account of a horse that kicked him, which is how he got his name Crooks. Crooks is isolated from the rest in a separate room, “The boss gives him hell when he’s mad” (Steinbeck 20), and he has to take and deal with these conditions accordingly. However, Crooks is intelligent, lonely, and an expert.

Crook’s character is being discriminated due to his skin color which soon caused him to be disregarded. Although at a certain point, Crooks stood up but no good has come to him. Challenging discrimination is strenuous, however it is necessary in order for an individual to advance. One of the most lousy assumption made during the novel’s time period is the hierarchy between the color of men.

Crooks is a black man who has been given the nickname because of his crooked back. He is another character in the novel that is discriminated against. Similarly, as Lennie and Candy are discriminated because of their weakness, Crooks is discriminated because of his race. For example, he says how he “ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse… can’t play [cards] because I’m black” (68). His race causes him to be separated from everyone else and be isolated in his own room.

Anna Witte Adella Parnell Eng. III Pre-Ap February 13, 2023 Gangsters Corrupting the 1920s The nineteen twenties were full of many memorable moments shaped by writers, politicians, and mobsters. Yet, why do people not know about this fact? Consequently, that would be due to the corruption, bribes, and secrecy mobsters used behind the scenes to drive such social movements during those years.

Of Mice and Men “listen, nigger,” she said. “you know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (pg.80). This shows how the word “nigger” is used to control a black person. In the book of Mice and Men the word “nigger” is used quite often but towards crooks, since he is the only black person in the book.

They say I stink. Well I tell you all of you stink to me.” ” (65) Crooks was shunned because his physical appearance and wasn’t treated the same as the rest of the men. This makes Crooks a key character that informs us of the social injustices that where prominent during the time period of the novel.

He reads a lot. Got books in his room. ’”(Steinbeck 20) This demonstrates that even though Crooks is black he is still smart and does more than sit in his room feeling bad for himself because he is alone. This quote also shows that even though Crooks is black he is still seen as a nice guy.

Crooks (named crooks after being kicked in the back by a horse) is a very controversial character as he is the only black member of the farm and doesn’t actually feature to much in the book. When he is in it though most of what we find out is when Lenny walks into his room. From the start its clear that crooks is a very abused and defensive because he says “You got no right to come in my room” as soon as he notices Lennie stood in his room even though Lennie doesn’t really see any difference between skin colour and doesn’t understand why this is happening. Most of what can be known about Crooks is from the items in his room. His room is actually connected to the barn showing they do not value him as a person but only as a stable buck.

In the book “of Mice and Men”, Crooks works as a stable buck on the ranch. Crooks is an older man as textual evidence states “His lean face was lined with deep wrinkles”,pg.67, paragraph 3. I can surmise he is an angry man because on page 73, paragraph 3 it states ‘A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe reading books or thinkin’ or stuff like that! Crooks is a very lonely man out in the barn. Based on pg.74 paragraph 1 Crooks states ‘’ Your nuts I’ve seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’’ on ranches, with their bindles on their back on that same damn things in there heads.