Crooks
1) Introduction
John Steinbeck portrays his version of 1930s America in his novel ‘Of Mice and Men’. ‘Of Mice and
Men’ is a Morality Play. Steinbeck intended to teach the audience about the importance of moral
behaviour, so characters were meant to represent different characteristic and portrayed the experiences
and temptations of humans rather than being particularly realistic or believable.
The novella takes place in a society devastated by the economic and social effects of the Great
Depression and one in which prejudice, loneliness and isolation have replaced the hopes of The
American Dream. His characters are very much a reflection of this society.
Crooks is a representation of racially discriminated people in 1930s America. Crook’s name ‘Crooks’
is a fitting mode of address. It represents the fact that he is defined by his inability to work, as his
spine is 'crooked' from working. Steinbeck is reinforcing the idea that during the Great Depression,
workers were defined by their ability to work, as it made them valuable to their ranch owners and
helped the owners earn money.
Through the portrayal of Crooks, Steinbeck exposes the effects of racial discrimination on African-
Americans, and exposes that when circumstances cause suffering for humans, humans inevitably
create more suffering: people are products of the society. The cruel and harsh migrant life during the
Great Depression created, encouraged, and produced cruel and harsh people.
2) Character description
When Crooks is first introduced, Steinbeck’s crafting of his physical appearance immediately creates
intrigue: he has ‘lean face lined with deep black wrinkles.’ ‘Lean’ suggests that he is malnourished.
When combined with ‘wrinkles’, which connotes constant struggles, anxiety, and tension, this shows
that the systematic racism has given Crooks long-term physical problems. The passive voice of ‘lined
with’ creates an image of the ‘wrinkles’ doing the ‘lin[ing]’, suggesting that the discrimination against
them was constantly forced. Since it was systematic, some black Americans felt they couldn’t do
anything to break the system.
Crooks also has ‘thin, pain-tightened lips.’ ‘Pain’ connotes anguish and suffering, which Crooks goes
through every day. ‘Thin’ connotes coldness, and combined with ‘tightened’, which connotes
suppression, suggest that because of his hardships, he has shut himself off and hidden his emotions.
In the 1930s, lynchings were common against black people who were accused of offending or hurting
white people. The mistreatment of African Americans was supported by a corrupt legal system. For
example, in the Trail of the Scottsboro Boys, black men were at the mercy of accusations by white
women. Crooks is an example of this, as all the prejudice he has faced throughout his life has had an
effect on his physical appearance.
The prejudice against Crooks is reinforced in the repeated, casual use of the n-slur. Many of the
characters use it even when they are not consciously insulting him. In the 1930s, racism was so
entrenched in society that most white people did not question it. To most white people living in
America at the time, segregation due to the Jim Crow laws was seen as normal, revealing how ingrain
the racism was.
However, he is not exempt from discrimination as well. He says, ‘I ain’t a southern Negro.’ After
WW1, The Great Migration happened where former slaves moved to the North or Western states.
Crooks wants to clarify that he was not part of this migration but was born in California where his
father owned a ranch. Hence, this quote has a tone of pride.
1) Introduction
John Steinbeck portrays his version of 1930s America in his novel ‘Of Mice and Men’. ‘Of Mice and
Men’ is a Morality Play. Steinbeck intended to teach the audience about the importance of moral
behaviour, so characters were meant to represent different characteristic and portrayed the experiences
and temptations of humans rather than being particularly realistic or believable.
The novella takes place in a society devastated by the economic and social effects of the Great
Depression and one in which prejudice, loneliness and isolation have replaced the hopes of The
American Dream. His characters are very much a reflection of this society.
Crooks is a representation of racially discriminated people in 1930s America. Crook’s name ‘Crooks’
is a fitting mode of address. It represents the fact that he is defined by his inability to work, as his
spine is 'crooked' from working. Steinbeck is reinforcing the idea that during the Great Depression,
workers were defined by their ability to work, as it made them valuable to their ranch owners and
helped the owners earn money.
Through the portrayal of Crooks, Steinbeck exposes the effects of racial discrimination on African-
Americans, and exposes that when circumstances cause suffering for humans, humans inevitably
create more suffering: people are products of the society. The cruel and harsh migrant life during the
Great Depression created, encouraged, and produced cruel and harsh people.
2) Character description
When Crooks is first introduced, Steinbeck’s crafting of his physical appearance immediately creates
intrigue: he has ‘lean face lined with deep black wrinkles.’ ‘Lean’ suggests that he is malnourished.
When combined with ‘wrinkles’, which connotes constant struggles, anxiety, and tension, this shows
that the systematic racism has given Crooks long-term physical problems. The passive voice of ‘lined
with’ creates an image of the ‘wrinkles’ doing the ‘lin[ing]’, suggesting that the discrimination against
them was constantly forced. Since it was systematic, some black Americans felt they couldn’t do
anything to break the system.
Crooks also has ‘thin, pain-tightened lips.’ ‘Pain’ connotes anguish and suffering, which Crooks goes
through every day. ‘Thin’ connotes coldness, and combined with ‘tightened’, which connotes
suppression, suggest that because of his hardships, he has shut himself off and hidden his emotions.
In the 1930s, lynchings were common against black people who were accused of offending or hurting
white people. The mistreatment of African Americans was supported by a corrupt legal system. For
example, in the Trail of the Scottsboro Boys, black men were at the mercy of accusations by white
women. Crooks is an example of this, as all the prejudice he has faced throughout his life has had an
effect on his physical appearance.
The prejudice against Crooks is reinforced in the repeated, casual use of the n-slur. Many of the
characters use it even when they are not consciously insulting him. In the 1930s, racism was so
entrenched in society that most white people did not question it. To most white people living in
America at the time, segregation due to the Jim Crow laws was seen as normal, revealing how ingrain
the racism was.
However, he is not exempt from discrimination as well. He says, ‘I ain’t a southern Negro.’ After
WW1, The Great Migration happened where former slaves moved to the North or Western states.
Crooks wants to clarify that he was not part of this migration but was born in California where his
father owned a ranch. Hence, this quote has a tone of pride.
