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How Does Steinbeck Present Crooks In Of Mice And Men

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In John Steinbeck’s award winning novel, Of Mice and Men, there are many characters, and they all have different personalities and backstories. One character Crooks, is presented on page 76 of the novella. Steinbeck uses various writing techniques in this extract, five of which I will be looking at in depth. Steinbeck uses negative adjectives such as dirty; mauled; tattered and battered to describe Crooks’ possessions. It is possible to infer that this is due to the fact Crooks is a black man, and black people were disliked in that specific time. It is because of this that the reader may think his items are pre-owned and that these items are given to him in place of new items, such as the pulp magazine Whit owns, owing to a racial prejudice. Alternatively, it is possible to infer that Crooks has owned these items for an extended period of time. Steinbeck has previously stated that Crooks has stayed at the ranch longer than anyone except perhaps Candy. This is since he is a cripple and also as he has his own room. The reader can deduce that Crooks takes care of his items and makes them last long, as they are meaningful to him. One item namely being …show more content…

Steinbeck uses various counts of symbolism on page 76. As we just discussed, the California civil code is a symbol of hope for Crooks. It reminds him that although people may still treat him differently, in the future, they may come to see him as an equal. On the other hand, he could be oppressing himself, if he himself dislikes himself. His numerous worn possessions indicate they have been used over and over, maybe due to Crooks’ loneliness and he keeps them to remind him of the fact that he may never be loved. A symbol of self-hatred. The adjectives used to describe things could also be symbolic. The depth and intensity of his eyes may be symbolic in the sense that he has seen a lot in his life and some things may have stayed with him. A symbol of

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Steinbeck characterizes each of them through loneliness which can be seen as a neutral emotion in each of them. Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife express the outcast of privilege and power throughout the novel. Although they all share similar experiences, Crooks and Curley’s wife will suffer way more discrimination in the

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1073 Words | 5 Pages

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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383 Words | 2 Pages

Yet Lennie does not understand the difference in how he makes friends and how Crooks makes friends. Steinbeck expresses Crook’s indifference by stating, “Lennie smiled helplessly in attempt to make friends. Crooks said sharply, ‘You ain’t got no right

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768 Words | 4 Pages

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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604 Words | 3 Pages

Even though Crooks puts in an equal amount of effort on the farm, he is treated poorly because of his skin tone and his physical disabilities. Imagery is one of many ways Steinbeck utilizes to convey the theme. Second, anaphora is used to convey the greater message of the evils of prejudice and segregation. On page 66 it says, “Crook’s bunk...”, “Crooks had...”, and “Crooks could...”. By continuously using Crooks’s name at the beginning of the sentences, it shows ownership to him.

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1287 Words | 6 Pages

Imagery is used “Crooks’ bunk was a long box with straw, on which is blankets were flung,” to show Crooks hierarchy, giving the idea crook was treated as an animal. The word “flung” is significant; it shows Crook has been a victim of bullying therefore has no care for life. This is a contrast to the other characters – they have ambitions; Crook has already given up. In the 1930s, racism was still prominent. Steinbeck uses ‘Crooks Room’ to show how black ranch workers were treated compared to the whites.

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964 Words | 4 Pages

This proves that crooks is isolated from the group because of his race. The evidence also proves that it affects him by being very anti-social and causes him to isolate himself from the other migrant farmers. The real question to sum up this is what does Steinbeck think of a Lonely African American migrant farmer who is isolated because his

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1725 Words | 7 Pages

In the novella, Of Mice and Men, the author John Steinbeck illustrates a ranch in the 1930’s during the great depression where those who fit into mainstream society run the show, and those deemed “outcasts” are rendered useless. Steinbeck depicts characters with setbacks that diminish their value in the eyes of society, and contrasts them to characters that have no difficulties conforming to the norm. Crooks, being a black man isolated by his race, and Candy, a elderly man limited by his age and missing limb are examples of Steinbeck characters that experience hardships because of the differences. The poor treatment of Crooks and Candy by the other characters, and their chronic unhappiness in a place that doesn’t value them, comments on how

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1378 Words | 6 Pages

However, Steinbeck also uses light and darkness to show the hidden sides of neglected characters such as Crooks. Crooks, the negro stable buck, is portrayed to have died from the inside and is living merely as a breathing corpse. Not because of the fact that he could not achieve the American Dream or live a lavish life. But, simply because of the fact that he is a negro who is surfeited of being ill treated and discriminated. “His eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity.”, give the impression that inside Crooks is full of anger and indignation.

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435 Words | 2 Pages

The reader is led to believe this through the author's quotes when Lennie asks, "Why ain't you wanted?”, and Crooks responds, "Because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.” (P. 68). The reader understands that Crooks is not accepted by the other workers on the ranch because of his race.

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1271 Words | 6 Pages

Steinbeck displays Crook’s isolation by describing how he lives alone in a “little shed,” excluded from the companionship in the bunkhouse. Crook’s possessions include many books that he reads instead of having company. “Crooks was a proud, distant man” because he has no choice but to endure this prejudice and isolation. Consequently, he bitterly guards his privacy, saying to Lennie, “this here’s my room... I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.”

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708 Words | 3 Pages

For instance, Crooks represents the part of society where people are discriminated against because he is black and is not allowed outside of the bunkhouse and Curley 's wife being a symbol of gender because she was the only lady on the ranch. Throughout the book John Steinbeck uses a large amount of improper grammar. He uses this to describe the backgrounds of the men. By using this kind of grammar it shows that these men are country and uneducated. He spells words incorrectly to show how the characters speak in their everyday

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964 Words | 4 Pages

When assembling a résumé or CV, it is important to consider one’s successes in both academic and personal pursuits to demonstrate a variety of technical skills and a sense of dedication to employers. Personally, I am interested in pursuing a career in the sciences -- specifically, software engineering -- so this essay will discuss two scientific achievements. First, in 2013, a partner and I earned first place in the prestigious TanenbaumCHAT Science Fair, to which every Jewish school in Toronto can only send three participants. Although the reward was approximately as small as the seventh-grade students who reaped it, I felt thoroughly achieved; it was an early sign for me that my interest in science could turn into a rewarding career. Earlier

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282 Words | 2 Pages

Crooks is very lonely and solitude for being alone every day. As a result, he wants to have friends who he can communicate with. No one has come into his room except for Slim and the boss, so when Lennie and Candy come, it is difficult for Crooks to “conceal his pleasure with anger” (75). Although he wants to express anger about people coming into his room, inside he is happy about it and enjoys it. This instability and loneliness that he has leads him to say how he could work for George, Lennie, and Candy on their farm.

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513 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck portrays the theme of social injustice throughout the story in the lives of several characters that include Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and the stable buck, Crooks. All of these characters are mistreated in some way, shape or form. The hardships that these characters faced help guide us to see the social injustice that is prevalent in the story. Lennie is a victim of social injustice due to the fact that he is mentally disabled. He is not treated fairly when he was accused of rape.

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