How does Crooks live in Of Mice and Men?

Answer 1

Crooks is a subject of 'racism', which was common in that part of the world in those days. The other men don't intend to deliberately insult him, but he has to sleep in his own room, separated from the other man in the bunk-house. The others treat him as 'different' and consequently he finds himself isolated and lonely.

However, he takes a certain delight in his privacy. He is intelligent, and is a nice, sensible and fair man. And, whilst very knowledgeable of his legal 'rights', he just appears, rightly or wrongly, to accept this current 'fate'.

However, in the narrative, we see that he takes great pleasure in inviting into his room Lennie, and soon afterwards another man, Candy, an old ranch hand.

Although they enjoy some conversation together, when some external trouble starts brewing, Crooks advises the men to go, saying "I ain't sure I want you in here no more. A colored man got to have some rights even if he don't like 'em.'

Crooks doesn't seem to be a vengeful person. In fact, he was more permanent at the ranch than the other men, and had also accumulated a lot of personal possessions. Consequently, in the original story, it does appear that Crooks ever 'got his own back on the other men', nor did he ever seem to feel the need to.

Answer 2

He wants company because hes black he is always on his own when Lenny and Candy go to see him he tells them to get out but secretly he wants them there to talk to him and because Lenny is simple and Candy is also lonely they all want the same thing not money not a great life just friends (only know this because i studied of mice and men for 12 years)

Answer 3

Crooks lives like most black people did in 1930s America, where they were racially segregated from white people; just like in buses, restaurants and public seating. Blacks couldn't mix with whites.

He lives in the barn with the animals that are chained up; foreshadowing beyond the novel that Crooks is a slave and their for life to work.

Crooks lives in pain with his crooked back. He continuously rubs liniment on his aching back and this is a cyclic theme in chapter 4 of eternal suffering for him, either because he'll be on the ranch for life it seems, or, in a wider picture, he will eternally suffer because of the colour of his skin.

Crooks lives in fear of his rights, and that he could be murdered any day. He's very passionate about his rights, shown by the books he has in his room that are tattered because he reads them a lot, and in the novel he even stands up for his rights, but is put back down by Curley's wife when she puts him back into his place in the hierarchy when she explains, "I could get you strung from a tree so easy it ain't even funny." This portrays people's attitude towards blacks in the era.

Answer 4

Crooks lives in a segregated living quarters adjacent to the main barn on the ranch. He is mistreated and isolated due to his race, with his living conditions reflecting the racism prevalent in the society at that time. Despite his intelligence and capabilities, Crooks experiences loneliness and discrimination on the ranch.

Answer 5

In "Of Mice and Men" Crooks treats Lennie so poorly because Lennie is handicapped. Crooks does not understand how gentle Lennie is and thinks he is just a dumb brute.