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Crooks An Isolated Man In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Recommended: Critical race theory in literature

Faris Ghandour
Block D
January 5, 2016
“Crooks, an Isolated Man” People never realize that biologically, there is just one human race. Back in the 1930s, that wasn’t what people thought. All races other than white were not considered to be not human. In John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, Crooks was a significant man and more important of what society thought of African Americans. Crooks’ life was extremely harsh due to racism back in the 1930s. Crook is an African American man in the story. He is called ‘Crooks’ because of his crooked spine he got when he got struck by a horse. Crooks is the only African American man on the farm but is the strongest academic aspect. Crooks is enclosed by books which makes him very literate. Crooks is isolated from others because of his race. He feels useless just sitting in the barn with the other animals. Crooks can’t fit in because no one will accept him. Moreover, Crooks wants to be someone more important because of his huge knowledge of things. Crooks knows if he wasn’t African American he would be able to use his knowledge to help the other men. Crooks is like any …show more content…

Lennie is one of the few people who motivate Crooks. Crooks talks to Lennie and doesn’t worry about Lennie telling others. Crooks is told about the hope of a having a dream farm. Crooks takes advantage of that hope, but as soon as George comes back, George directly let go of the idea of including Crooks, which makes Crooks, even more depressed. Crooks' motivation is to simply have his voice heard, to have his experience validated. "This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see?" (Steinbeck, 70) This quote said by Crooks makes him believe that all the things he says don't matter because he is black. All the things he says doesn’t matter because he is black. Likewise, Crooks is a smart man that knows how to use his motivation to achieve what he

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Crooks isn’t allowed to sleep in the bunkhouse or play cards with the white men. He gets lonely and resentful from having to stay in the barn all the time. When he is talking to Lennie, he says, “‘S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse or play rummy

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Crooks is constantly being discriminated against which is the effect of being colored at this time. During the book talks to Crooks about the farm he desires, Crook says to Lennie, “S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that?” () Crook is at the bottom of the social hierarchy because of his race. This inequality is the barrier to his dreams of being

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Crooks is a instrestring character according to the story because he is only mentioned once or twice. He is interesting because by the two times he was mention you could tell right away that crooks is one of the loneliest people on the farm just like curley wife. In the story crooks is the only black person on the farm and this was a time of segregation so white people were not allowed to talk to black people. Crooks was lonely according to the story because he lives in his own bunk and is separated from everyone. Crooks has no one to talk to on the farm.

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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.

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I chose these people because they are either lonely or isolated. Crook is an African American stable buck who was kicked in the back by a horse and gave him a crooked back. They only mentioned crooks name a few times until chapter 3. Crooks is isolated in this story because he has a lot of items on the ranch. One of the items that tells us he's the oldest is because Crooks has a WW2 Right Book.

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Crooks is a character that is very overlooked in the novella. The book took place a little after the American Civil War, and lots of these vets are still alive and well. So, the basis of racism is still prominent around the nation and especially in the vast regions of the farming lands. Which keeps Crooks contempt from reaching his dreams in life because of his race. For example he says, "S'pose you didn't have nobody.

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They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black’” (68,72). All crooks wants is to treated like everybody else. He wants to be treated fairly and justly. The opportunity to hang and play cards with others is all he ever wanted since coming onto the ranch.

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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.

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Claudius reveals his real purpose of sending Hamlet to England, he wants to kill him. He is threats by Hamlet’s action and his words. Even though he is really scared, he pretends he is confident. He is the king of person really vain. 1.

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Loneliness and Alienation in “Of Mice and Men” In John Steinbeck’s novel, “Of Mice and Men”, many characters were plagued with loneliness and alienation, and most characters were in need of acceptance. The harsh time period of the Great Depression affected three characters in, “Of Mice and Men” greatly. Three characters that are plagued by loneliness and alienation and are in need of acceptance the most include George Milton; the protagonist of the novel, Crooks; the negro stable buck with a crooked back, and Curley’s wife; a young woman who just wants somebody to talk to. In this essay, you will learn why George, Crooks, and Curley’s wife were the loneliest and why other characters were not plagued with loneliness and alienation as much as these three characters. George Milton is the protagonist of the novel.

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Lennie’s strength and his childish mind is his biggest struggle that affects many people on the ranch and himself. Lennie is overprotective of George and about being with him he would do anything for the guy, so when Crooks tells him, “S’pose he gets killed or hurt so he can’t come back. ”(71) Lennie then contradicts his opinion”This ain’t true. George ain’t got hurt.

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Crooks is an African American farm worker that works with horses on the land. Being a colored person in this era was harsh, and the color of your skin automatically determined the amount of power you would have, so African Americans did not have power compared to everyone else in society. “Lennie watched her, his mouth half open. Crooks had retired into the terrible protective dignity of the negro.” (79;ch.4).

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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.

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Crooks is a black man who isn’t allowed to be in the house with all the men. The men won’t allow him to come in because of his color. Crooks is lonely and he doesn’t bother the men. One night Lennie came in and was talking to Crooks and telling them about the farm that they were going to get. For once Crooks thought well maybe I won’t be lonely I could go with them and don’t have worry about none of them.

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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.

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