Crooks

Question 1

How is Crooks described and represented?

Answer 1

• Named so because of his crooked back, caused by a kick from a mule
• The stable ranch, lives on his own, the only black man

Question 2

How is Crooks used as a symbol of discrimination?

Answer 2

• Not allowed in the bunkhouse
• Casually referred to as a nigger
• Has his own room alongside the animals
• Curley’s wife illustrates racism and its effects when she says she could have him lynched in one word from her mouth
• Only Lennie does not see the colour on the man’s skin

Question 3

How is Crooks shown to be proud?

Answer 3

• He tells Lennie he is the descendant of landowners not slaves
• Does not accept charity from anyone

Question 4

How is the predatory nature of human existence shown through Crooks?

Answer 4

• Scares Lennie and makes a story up about leaving him to scare him
• Crooks enjoys this briefly as he needs to feel superior: discrimination is in human nature

Question 5

What indicated Crooks’ loneliness and insecurity?

Answer 5

• He wants to become part of the dream farm
• He is worried like Candy, that he too will one day become useless
• He needs a place to feel like he won’t be put out and discarded, which is this dream ranch