Once encouraged to do so, he reveals that he has an intelligent awareness of life. He has thought hard during his long hours of solitude.
His new found confidence and self-respect encourage him to try to counter the intrusion of Curley's wife, but he is humiliated by her vicious threats. His new optimism is finally defeated by George's dismissive attitude to the suggestion that he might participate in the running of the "Dream Farm".
Crooks loses out on a lot of things because he is not part of the white community. He loses out mainly on friendship, which causes Crooks to feel isolate and lonely throughout the novel.
Crooks is a very lonely man and so he reads a lot, if he was to mix with the white community he would be out enjoying himself. He has no one to talk to and is segregated from the rest of the ranch community having his own room in the barn.
I think if Crooks were to have a choice he would enjoy mixing with the white men but at the first sign of trouble he would return to the protectiveness of how own room in the barn. Crooks loses out mainly on respect from the ranch community because he is willing to do anything in which he is told to do. He still receives no praise or respect form the ranch community.
I think Crooks has drawn himself into a false sense of security, he has hidden himself form the rest of the world, afraid to show his true personality. Crooks I'm sure is a kind and generous person but because of the years of torment and segregation he is forced to remain hospitable to the white community.
Crooks is a smart and educated person who is not able to show his thoughts and emotions to anyone. He does not complain about the insults and racial remarks which Curley's wife makes because he knows if he does his new found confidence will be shattered with an extreme racial remark.
Crooks although he loses out greatly also gains a lot from being segregated from the rest. He keeps himself to himself giving him plenty of time to think things through.
I think Crooks imagines that if he were to mix with the white community he would only receive abuse. An example of this was when Crooks got into a fight when he was allowed into the ranch at Christmas. This is also why Crooks gains a lot form not being apart of the white community ie not being there for them to abuse or to make racial remarks towards.
