The child is standing up gallantly and assertive, but what nobody can see is how all he is made up off is broken shards of glass. His youth was filled with pain, abuse, and hatred. Feeling intimidated and hesitant, he looks for someone to tease and single them out to cover up his true pain and show he is better. This is a classic tormentor. A tormentor is not robust, they are exactly like the people they pick on: divergent and hesitant. This theme of strength and power coming up from vulnerability is clearly shown in the book Of Mice and Men through repetition. The pupilage group of characters in the book are insecure and diverse, therefore they pick on the others to make themselves feel more dominant or take everyone down with them. Crooks is a minority on the ranch by virtue of being the only African-American with a crooked back from a kick from a horse. Crooks being the only African-American makes him get discriminated every day. Nobody goes to talk to him and he just feels weak. No power over anyone, no contact with anyone, no connections with anyone. This all changed once Lennie walked into his room. Seeing another white man was upsetting to him so he tried to get him away but once Lennie was inside, he realized that he was different than everyone else. Lennie has been just another minority, although he is big, he has a brain of a child. Trying to get some power and feel strong Crooks starts to give Lennie a scenario where George would leave him and what would happen.