| What does the description of Crooks’ room reveal about him? | While he is a stable buck, the dictionary, the Bible, the chapbook and the glasses show that he can read and has a self respect in that he wants to know his rights, and all his possessions show that he is more permanent than the other people in the ranch. |
| Why is Crooks’ name appropriate? | His back is crooked, the result of an accident of when a horse kicked him. |
| Why does Crooks allow Lennie to enter his room? | Crooks doesn’t Lennie in his room because it is the one space that is his. Additionally, Crooks is forbidden from most of the places or activities associated with the white men on the ranch; so this is bid opportunity to control the situation for once. However, when Crooks realizes that Lennie is someone he can talk to– a pleasure unknown to Crooks– he allows Lennie to enter. He is so lonely that he is willing to let down some of his barriers (at least for a while) in order to talk to someone. |
| How does Crooks’ words to Lennie about loneliness reinforce the theme of the novel? | Firstly, it enforces the theme of separation, segregation, and loneliness by drawing another character into a mix of detached characters. Crooks and Curley’s wife both serve as examples of how people on the farm who are different are disregarded, or looked own on. Secondly, Crooks words enforce the theme of the American Dream and it’s futility. Crooks tells Lennie, within his speech on loneliness, that having one’s one plot of land is an impossible dream and that success is so unlikely there is little point in trying. |
| What are Crooks’ reactions to the dream of the farm? | Crooks is the kind of guy that doesn’t believe in dreams because he thinks they’re crazy and when he heard of their dream about owning a ranch he says that during his life he has saw many people who haven’t established their dream of owning land. So Candy doesn’t really have dreams, and when he heard that they have money and everything is all set. He starts believing in dreams and goals. |
| Show how Candy’s comments to Crooks and Lennie relate to the dream of the land to Steinbeck’s theme of economic exploitation. | This took place during the Great Depression, so it would be difficult to raise money for the farm. Yet Candy believes they can make it. |
| How does the behaviour of Curley’s wife seem deliberately designed to the provoke men? | She mentioned that they “left all the weak ones here,” and has put Crooks down just because of his skin color. She has also called Lennie “dumb” |
| What motives does Steinbeck suggest for her behaviour? | Firstly, the fact that she doesn’t have a name suggests that she’s big even important enough to mention her name, thus holidaying sexism. Also she seeks for other men because she doesn’t want to be the house wife, also known as discrimination. Her goals of becoming a movie star were also crushed. |
| How is her nature as a destructive character most clearly revealed? | She puts down others to make herself seem superior, and also threatens to have the men fired because of her relation with Curley and the boss. |
| In what ways does Crooks retreat before her attack? | Crooks reluctantly says he was just kidding about joining the small farm. |
Of Mice and Men – Part 4
April 29, 2020