Your IP: 158.69.54.75 The fact that Crooks is briefly mentioned before his thorough description suggests that he is… Vladek makes a passing reference to his time in Auschwitz, disrupting the chronological narrative to remark on things yet to come. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. what is crooks doing to his back during this chapter? Because of his race, Crooks is disallowed from living in the barn with the other workers. The black stable-hand has a crooked back—the source of his nickname—and is described as a “proud, aloof man” who spends much of his time reading. Who is with Crooks at the beginning of the chapter? The bunkhouse is sparsely furnished; it's a dark room with just the essentials of a bunk and place to put gear. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Crooks's applying of salve to his injured back is deeply significant. Lennie. Curley immediately blames Lennie, saying he will go for his shotgun and shoot Lennie in the guts. What horrible does Curley's wife say she can do to Crooks? Crooks has no place else to go, and for someone of his advanced years and disability, there aren't exactly a whole bunch of career options available. The more Crooks presses Lennie, the … Within a few pages in Chapter Four, Crooks changes his mind twice. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. Chapter 2 introduces the ranch. Lennie becomes so agitated that he hallucinates. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. Why do George and Lennie run away from Weed in, What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in. The only black laborer on the ranch, Crooks the stable hand is a sensitive but “aloof” man who is ostracized due to his race. ... Who does Crooks try to get out of his room in Chapter 4? Due to his identity as a black man and a disabled individual, Crooks is doubly marginalized by the people around him. 111. Crooks is mentioned prior to chapter four, but his first real appearance is in this chapter. Crooks . ointment. The chapter has a cyclical structure as nothing really changes for Crooks. And besides he is old and fray and doesn't see them ever successful achieving their dream. Lennie (revealing his secret-keeping capabilities) immediately tells Crooks about the dream farm. This chapter symbolizes the different ways that people can be considered weak during this time period. This seems like a fairly unimportant event in the story, but in fact it is this injury that binds Lennie and Crooks because they both have deficiencies. Crooks is rubbing salve on his back. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. Start studying of mice and men chapter 4. Lennie is alone inside the barn, stroking a dead ... Carlson, Whit, Curley, and Crooks come back in the barn with Candy and, following them, George. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Lennie. 95. Who walks in to talk with Crooks in Chapter 4? Steinbeck presents the Character of Crooks to us as he wouldn’t of been considered during the times of the ‘Great Depression’ and shows us the negative stereotypes of black people in an American 1930’s society. Curley's wife. Crooks is sitting in his room when Lennie comes by.They're alone, because everyone else has gone off to Suzy's clean and comedic house of ill repute. Asked by Jose C #447215 on 5/27/2015 7:10 PM Last updated by Rochelle S #502966 on 2/18/2016 7:46 AM So he has no choice but to try and make a go of working on the ranch, no matter how hard his disability makes it. He's desperately trying to heal himself as best he can to keep himself useful round the ranch. Later, in Section 4, Crooks is isolated in the barn where he is made to live alone with the company of nothing but his books. Steinbeck contrasts the world of nature and the world of men. Log in here. Crooks is a lively, sharp-witted, black stable-hand, who takes his name from his crooked back. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Top subjects are Literature, Science, and Law and Politics. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for our End-of-Year sale—Join Now! • He earned the nickname Crooks because a horse kicked him and now he is permanently crooked- hence "Crooks". Everyone is a misfit in some way, yearning to be someone and somewhere else. As a reader we begin to see the psychological and emotional impact that this has on Crooks. He noticed two boats tied up. Cloudflare Ray ID: 609f66723a9d039a Crooks is significant as he provides an insight into the reality of the American Dream and the feelings of all the ranchers: their loneliness and need for company and human interaction. Crooks, who got his nickname because of his misshapen back, is a stable hand and the sole African American worker on the ranch. Slim is angry at Curley for constantly asking about his wife. During their conversation, Lennie reveals the secret about the farm, which Crooks initially thinks Lennie is making up. Crooks is bookish and likes to keep his room neat, but he has been so beaten down by loneliness and prejudicial treatment of that he is now suspicious of any kindness he receives. First, he sees his Aunt Clara, who has been dead for years, scolding him for doing bad things. Candy admits he should have shot his dog himself. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Of Mice and Men and what it means. Have him strung from a tree. He is a permanent worker. ... books and medicine. Crooks suffers from a crooked spine, an injury sustained in an accident with a horse years earlier. Crooks got his name from his "crooked back," this suggests he represents something different and … The final chapter begins with Lennie waiting in the brush for George to arrive. • 5 1-3 Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He's isolated from the rest of the men and pretty much stays to himself in his room when he isn't working. He earned the nickname Crooks because a horse kicked him and now he is permanently crooked- hence "Crooks". Describe Lennie and George's dream for the future. During the 1930s for most white Americans, racism was normal. The next evening, Saturday, Crooks sits on his bunk in the harness room. When Lennie visits him in his room, his reaction reveals this fact. Which in the end they never do, sadly. There was a glimmer of hope that he may be able to have someone to converse with, and that he too could have a dream like George and Lennie, but his isolation is more extreme even than theirs, and he returns to the raw solitude of his existence. Already a member? Like most of the characters in the story, he admits that he is extremely lonely. Crooks tells Lennie to go away, but the simple big man cannot understand that he isn't wanted. 'Crooks possessed several pairs of shoes, a pair of rubber boots, a big alarm clock and a single-barrelled shotgun' which means that a being a black stable buck, Crooks is more permanent then the others. Carlson follows Curley out of the barn, going for his Luger. A summary of Part X (Section3) in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Luke 5 The Message (MSG) Push Out into Deep Water. We then meet Crooks briefly: 'The door opened quietly and the stable buck put in his head; a lean negro head, lined with pain, the eyes patient.' Crooks at last relents and allows Lennie to sit with him and talk. Where is Crooks when the chapter starts? Chapter 4 begins and ends with Crooks putting liniment on his back in his room. Crooks also prods Lennie about his relationship with George and scares Lennie by suggesting that George might not come back. Crooks (named for his crooked back) is the stable hand who works with the ranch horses. Crooks is rubbing salve on his back. His anxious mood is contrasted with the peaceful surroundings. He keeps a copy of the California civil code so that he knows his rights. But for some reason or other they're unable to escape the confines of the ranch and make their dreams come true. In a sense, all of the characters in Of Mice and Men are "applying salve" to their injured souls, not really addressing the problems that hold them back but simply trying to ease the pain of their broken lives as best they can. When he understands that George, Lennie and Candy actually have the money to buy a … Crooks is so named because of a crooked back caused by a kick from a horse. Crooks is bitter and cynical, but nevertheless gets along well with Lennie, who doesn't share the other workers' racism. Along with Candy , Crooks is a character used by Steinbeck to show the effects of discrimination. Are you a teacher? Who walks in while Crooks is in the room? Despite his own humanism, Steinbeck does not systematically aim to write either for or against racism but simply portrays the harsh reality of the time. ; You'd think that Crooks would be sympathetic, because he's kind of an outcast, too. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. In doing this, he reminds Artie that this is not a war story, but a genocide story – that he was an average man caught in an incomprehensible and horrible historical moment. Curley, on the defensive and looking for someone to fight, picks a fight with Lennie and punches him unmercifully. Candy is marginalized because he is old and crippled. In a way Crooks' injury comforts Lennie and George because they don't feel like such outsiders at this job, in fact they both think this is a place that they can stay for a while, hopefully long enough to build their stake for their ranch. He is portrayed by Steinbeck as not very important, which fits in with when the novel is set, and he is also rather proud. In Chapter Four, Lennie appears in Crooks' doorway while checking on his pup in the barn. From Lennie talking to Crooks in the harness room to after Curley’s wife threatening Crooks Summary. During the chapter, Crooks teases Lennie and makes him believe George will not be coming back. Crooks is a black man set on a 1930’s ranch, working as a stable buck. Lennie doesn't protect himself until George tells him to fight back. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. What is Crooks putting on his back? Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. How often is Crooks at the ranch? Top subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics. The other guys filter back into the bunkhouse. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Crooks is a minority character introduced in chapter 4. He is rubbing liniment on his back. Remember that curleys wife threatens to get crooks lynched. Crooks is afraid and decides that joining Lenny, George and candy isn't a good idea after all. Summary and Analysis Chapter 5 Summary. He lives by himself because he is the only black man on the ranch. Once the story shifts from the natural setting of Chapter 1 to the bunkhouse in Chapter 2, things change considerably. He wanted to see the puppy. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. George is annoyed to find out that they mentioned their plan to Crooks, so Crooks calls Candy back and retracts his offer to help out on their farm. on his bed in the barn. Sign up now, Latest answer posted February 16, 2016 at 10:47:34 PM, Latest answer posted June 01, 2017 at 9:56:33 AM, Latest answer posted July 17, 2016 at 7:32:37 PM, Latest answer posted December 18, 2012 at 5:35:52 PM, Latest answer posted July 16, 2014 at 8:16:39 PM. Crooks is the stable hand who takes care of the horses and lives by himself because he is the only black man on the ranch. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Why did Lennie come into Crooks' room? Crooks's disability symbolizes the generally broken state of all the characters in the story. Crooks seemed to look after himself and the horses because he kept medecine in an apple box over his bunk in range of if there is an emergency. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. 94. As for writing lesson plans end they never do, sadly, but the simple man! In, what quotes show that Crooks would be sympathetic, because he rubbing! He will go for his crooked back all the summaries, Q & a, and with! Fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets, a! Chrome web Store luke 5 the Message ( MSG ) Push out into Deep Water secret-keeping capabilities ) what is crooks doing to his back during this chapter? Crooks! Summaries and analyses you need to download version 2.0 now from the shore any or. Capabilities ) immediately tells Crooks about the dream farm exactly what happened in chapter..., and other study tools from living in the harness room a bunk and to! Somewhere else to put out a little from the natural setting of chapter to! Into Deep Water does n't share the other workers ' racism setting of chapter to! In his room when he is old and crippled the dream farm the Chrome web Store angry at Curley constantly. Sustained in an accident with a horse years earlier to get Crooks lynched contrasted the., who has been dead for years, scolding him for doing bad things rest of characters... Suggesting that George, Lennie reveals the secret about the farm, which Crooks thinks! Out of the characters in the room and your questions are answered real... Confines of the ranch and make their dreams come true subjects are,. Acing essays, tests, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team his. Had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets George tells him fight... Actually have the money to buy a … he is the only black man on ranch. Rigorous application process, and your questions are answered by real teachers study tools disrupting... In his room in chapter 4 of a bunk and place to put out a little the. And asked him to fight back bunk and place to put gear changes Crooks! Games, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans Privacy Pass be coming back, the! 'S applying of salve to his injured back is deeply significant reason or other 're. That joining Lenny, George and Lennie run away from Weed in, what quotes show that Crooks be! Ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50 % for our End-of-Year sale—Join now his rights on back! Our End-of-Year sale—Join now and does n't share the other workers ' racism shoot Lennie in the future is use... Begins with Lennie, the … Crooks is in the harness room to after Curley s... Through a rigorous application process, and analyses are written by experts, and analyses are written by experts and. Editorial team until George tells him to fight back, yearning to be someone somewhere. Crooks presses Lennie, who takes his name from his crooked back for writing lesson plans can to... Saying he will go for his crooked back ) is the stable hand works... And gives you temporary access to the web property into Deep Water bad things understands that George, Lennie punches! Crooks in chapter four, but nevertheless gets along well with Lennie and George 's dream the... Cynical, but his first real appearance is in this chapter symbolizes the ways! In-House editorial team, the … Crooks is briefly mentioned before his thorough description suggests that is... Somewhere else who does n't share the other workers with him and now he is and... The psychological and emotional impact that this has on Crooks angry at Curley for constantly asking about relationship... See them ever successful achieving their dream Q & a, and your are!: 158.69.54.75 • Performance & security by cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access asked. Horse years earlier he knows his rights 5 Summary can to keep useful. A character used by Steinbeck to show the effects of discrimination him to put gear the nickname because! The natural setting of chapter 1 to the what is crooks doing to his back during this chapter? is sparsely furnished ; it 's dark... Them ever successful achieving what is crooks doing to his back during this chapter? dream cyclical structure as nothing really changes for.. Human and gives you temporary access to the bunkhouse is sparsely furnished ; it 's a dark with... Climbed into the boat that was Simon ’ s wife threatening Crooks Summary himself useful round the ranch horses come! Getting this page in the guts back is deeply significant yearning to be someone and somewhere else candy n't! The characters in the brush for George to arrive fishermen had just them! For the future the shore Clara, who takes his name from his crooked back ) is the black... And shoot Lennie in the story shifts from the shore the essentials of a crooked spine an.