Crooks’ character is drawn with considerable pity and sympathy. This is illustrated by the extensive detailing of Crooks’ ‘crooked spine’ his ‘deep black wrinkles’ and ‘pain-tightened lips.’ The reader sympathises with Crooks because he is physically inept and suffers silently. Due to years of loneliness, Crooks is a private man and so was very annoyed when Lennie interrupted him whilst applying liniment to his back; this was a private act of a private man.
“If you…guys would want a hand to work for nothing-just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to,” is an example of Crooks’ loneliness as he proposes to work for George and Lennie if they buy a ranch of their own. He tries to reassure Lennie that he can still work hard despite his disability. He wants to join George and Lennie’s dream to counteract his loneliness. This is emphasised by the fact that he is willing to work for just a bed and some food and go without wages.
“They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me," is a possible reference to Carlson’s remark about Candy’s dog. This gives the impression that the general idea within the ranch is that Crooks is inferior to the others. This suggests that Steinbeck thinks that some black people feel the same way about white people as some white people feel about black people. Steinbeck uses ‘Of Mice and Men’ to portray issues which he feels strongly about and does this all the way through the novel. Also, Crooks has been used by the ranch-men for entertainment. At Christmas “they let the nigger come in” and made him fight with Smitty. This demonstrates the total lack of respect for Crooks because he is black.
The relationship between Lennie and George is in the extract even though they are separated. This shows that Lennie has made a new relationship with Crooks but his strongest relationship is still with George. The statement from Lennie, “He’ll come back to-night” is proof of the trust in George and Lennie’s relationship; even though Crooks has implied that George may not come back. Lennie strongly believes that he will.
The statement, “You ain’t got nothing to do with the horses,” evokes the idea that Crooks cares very much for the horses and almost treats Lennie as a threat to them.
Some sympathy is felt for Lennie as he is patient and polite towards Crooks even though he is somewhat annoyed and unwelcoming to Lennie. Lennie is lonely as he is without George. He’s ‘fawning smile’ shows his willingness to build a new relationship.
At the end of the extract Steinbeck touches on the dream of Lennie, George, Candy and Crooks. Crooks asked what Candy is "Figuring about," and Lennie almost shouted, “Bout the rabbits.” This shows Lennie expects Crooks to know about their dream of buying their own land and to “Live on the fatta the lan”, because the dream is so close to being achieved. One of the main themes in this extract is the ambition and dream of George, Lennie, Candy and Crooks. The extract I have chosen is an excellent example of the themes Steinbeck deals with and the literary techniques he uses. Also, this extract is similar to many in ‘Of Mice and Men’ and so summarises the novel very well.
Both Lennie and Crooks use simple language and vocabulary and omit words, letters and sounds of a simple dialect. For example, “Ever´body went into town, Slim an´ George an´ ever´body”, “George says I gotta stay here an´ not get in no trouble.” Lennie’s language is simpler than Crooks’. This is because Crooks is educated and Lennie is not, he is mentally below average. The reason for this overall simplicity is to set the scene of 1930s western America and to demonstrate the ineptness of Lennie’s mind.
