Of Mice and Men Group

Question:

zoeboy
zoeboy
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Describe Crooks' living arrangements in Of Mice and Men. Why are they differen?

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Posted by zoeboy on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 6:29 PM and tagged with characters, crooks, of mice and men.

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  1. parkerlee
    parkerlee Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    Crooks has a room to himself because he is antisocial by nature and doesn't get along well with the other men. He has been working at the farm longer than most of them and has "earned" this meagre privilege.

    Another reason is that he is a Negro and is therefore naturally excluded from the farmhands' circle. Also, since his accident, Crooks is no longer able to work out in the fields doing "a man's work" but is delegated domestic tasks about the farmhouse. Both his colour and his handicap ostracize him as an outsider, and he feels bitter about this difference.

    Crooks takes refuge in his room, and the few belongings he does have show that he is more intelligent than he appears to be. For instance, he has books he cherishes and is particularly protectionalist when Lennie comes by the evening the other men have gone out to town.  When he sees Lennie means no harm, he says he can stay, then confesses about how lonely he really is. Underneath the "sour grapes treatment," Crooks is longing for the acceptance and companionship he is denied.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/ofmice/characters

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    Posted by parkerlee on Friday November 21, 2008 at 5:52 AM