- Portrayed as believing his treatment is both inevitable and acceptable (2)
• “it wasn’t nothing…you guys coming in a settin’ made me forget. What she says is true”
“Boss gives him hell when he’s mad. But the stable buck don’t give a damn about that”
- Forced to fight for entertainment (2)
• “They let the ni**er come in that night
“Little skinner name of Smitty took after him”
- Judged and labelled entirely by his job - his entire identity is bound up within ‘service’ (3)
• “The stable buck”
The ni**er
Slim the only one who calls him Crooks
- Physically disabled (2)
• “got a crooked back where a horse kicked him”
“In one hand he held a bottle of liniment, and with the other he rubbed his spine”
- Introductions by other ranch hands are racially demeaning
• “where is that ni**er”
- Segregated living conditions (3)
• “in the harness room, in the shed that leaned off the side of the barn”
“Broken harnesses…medicine bottles for himself and for the horses…a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905”
“A pair of gold rimmed spectacles”
- Redeeming relationship with Slim
• “Mr Slim”
“Hello Crooks”
- Relish and pleasure with which he emotionally and mentally tortures Lennie
• “his voice grew soft and persuasive…Crooks pressed forward some kind of private victory…face lighted with pleasure at his torture
- Racially abused by Curley’s Wife (2)
• “ I could get you strung up so quick it ain’t even funny”
“Crooks retired into the terrible protective dignity of the negro
- Almost tempted to join the dream - helps Steinbeck elevate the dream to further edenic pastures
“I never seen a guy really do it…why, I’d come lend a hand”
- Included in games
• “that ni**er sure can throw shoes”
- His possessions aren’t even his
• “damaged tools”
“Bottles of medicine both for him and for the horses
