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How Does Steinbeck Present Lennie's Attitude Toward The Ranch Workers

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In the 1930s, African Americans were casted away from all white people, leading them to loneliness. This topic is explored in John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men. The story takes place in California during the 1930s, a time when black people were hated by the majority of white people. Crooks, a black ranch worker lives in his own bunkhouse because most of the white ranch workers do not want to live with a black ranch worker. Most ranch workers dislike Crooks, and Crooks despises all of the ranch workers. Crooks has a negative and insensitive attitude towards the ranch workers, which is why he is isolated from everyone on the ranch. When Lennie, a ranch worker, is looking for his puppy in the barn, he appears in the doorway of Crooks' room, Crooks wants him to leave his room. Lennie ignores that Crooks wants him to leave his room by smiling at him. Lennie asks Crooks if he wants to see his puppy, Crooks responds by saying, "' I'aint wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain't wanted in my room'" …show more content…

During Crooks and Lennie's conversation, Lennie says that George is with the other ranch workers in town tonight. Crooks says, "'I said s'pose George went into town tonight and you never heard from him no more'" (Steinbeck 71). As Crooks gets to know Lennie, he notices that he talks very highly of George. Lennie mentions that George and the other ranch workers left the ranch to go into town, as Crooks did not know because he's isolated from everyone on the ranch, and wouldn't know if they went to town. Crooks messes with Lennie, saying that George'll never come back, which upsets Lennie. Crooks continues to mess with Lennie and doesn't care that Goerge is an important person to him because Crooks has an insensitive attitude towards the ranch workers. Crooks' insensitive attitude towards the ranch workers and why he is isolated from everyone on the

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Now afraid of what will happen, Lennie runs from the barn and follows the plan they had set up before they arrived at the ranch. Upon seeing George from his hiding spot Lennie says “I done another bad thing.” George replies, “It don’t matter” (98). After asking if he’s going to “give him hell” George denies this.

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Crooks is the loneliest because he lived alone and people treated him badly because he was black. Curley is always looking for his wife because Curley’s wife always hangs out with other people on the ranch. Lennie gets mad at Crooks for saying that George isn't coming back when George was hanging out with other people.

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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.

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Crook’s didn't want to be bothered at this time to he would rather be in his room alone, cause when lennie was looking around he had seen Crook’s has Glasses, A Dictionary, And Some Dirty books he had these things because he was his own independent person. The workers on the farm know that Crook has his job to do and they have there job to do, this tells us that working class people were not treated the

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Lennie’s “disarming smile defeated him (Crooks)”, and therefore Crooks felt willing to show acceptance to Lennie and allow him to “Come on in and set a while”. Coming across more affectionate now, as even Steinbeck insists that Crooks “tone was a little more friendly”. Now that Crooks has been given some time to get comfortable in that atmosphere, he returns to the delicate matter of everyone else gone up town. Lennie begins to talk about the rabbits and the future dream he shares with George and Candy - at first Crooks in a way laughs it off and belittles his comments. Until Lennie shows his instance on their plan, so Crooks in return shares a story regarding his childhood and how that’s impacted his present perspective.

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Crooks and his family were poor and with another black family that was miles from his house. Crooks kept telling Lennie that George wasn't coming back to him. The only reason Crooks told him that is he

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In the middle of the novel, Lennie unsolicitedly visits Crooks secluded shack. Indirect characterization of Crooks is apparent while discussing the discrimination issues with Lennie. They converse, “‘Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘Cause I’m black.

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He has to live in a separate room than the rest of the workers because he is black. When Lennie comes to visit him, he does not know what to do because the other ranch workers have not been in his room. When they talk, Crooks realizes that Lennie is not intellectually strong and he relies on George to make his decisions. Crooks says, “Jus’ talks on, an’ you don’t know what the hell it’s all about” (Steinbeck 70). Crooks discovers that he can use his mental strength to gain power over Lennie.

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While Lennie is still in his room, Crooks taunts Lennie by saying George will not return to him, and finds satisfaction in his distress. He also rambles on why he has so many books, and how they’re not enough for a man. “Crooks face lightened with pleasure in his torture” and “Books ain’t no

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Seeking for somebody to understand him. He tries to scare off Lennie by explaining what it would be like to have no one. “Crooks said gently, maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he is going to come back.

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(Steinbeck 68). This quote explains to the reader that since Crooks is black the others on the ranch wont allow him to accompany them. Crooks had gotten used to being alone and separated from the other characters on the ranch. The novella strongly displays the intolerance of characters for differences that the characters can

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Contrasting Crooks’ somber attitude with Lennie's undying innocence makes it clear where Steinbeck stands on the matter. For example, Crooks is temporarily seduced by the idea of Lennie and George’s farm, but is almost immediately brought down by reality, and Curley’s wife. She brings him back to the reality of a black man at the time, saying: "Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny" (39). After this event occurs, Crooks disregards his rare idealism, saying that he “wouldn’ want to go no place like that” (41).

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The quote says that a guy needs someone, and that reflects how Crooks is feeling: he feels that he needs someone. This connects to the theme of loneliness and how it can dramatically impact your life. When you have someone you don't have to be alone and read all night. Crooks has experienced extreme loneliness because he doesn't have any friends. When Crooks is talking to Lennie about if George supposedly, left he is saying what happened to him and one reason why he is so lonely; the other reason being because he is black and it is the early

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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 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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