Sunday, January 31, 2016
Part 2: Crooks
Although all we really hear of Crooks is foreshadowing, I think there is enough to infer and think about regarding him. George seems surprised when the old man mentions that there is a black man on the farm. The old man describes him as nice, with a crooked back. (Hence the name?) We also hear that the boss often likes to "give him hell" when he's upset. Obviously, in this novel we are past the point of slavery. But this really shows how prevalent racial discrimination was for a long time, even after the Civil War. I think because Crooks is unique, it will be especially interesting to see how George and Lennie treat him. What do you think? Will they discriminate against him like so many others? Or will they view him as an equal?
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Will, I agree that crooks is the stable buck with the crooked back. I believe that, because Of Mice and Men is a social commentary, Steinbeck will address the issue of racial discrimination. This is an issue that commonly returns to our news and politics, and it was much more harsh before Martin Luther King's civil rights movement. I think that Crooks will be treated as unequal throughout the book and Steinbeck will bring the real effects of segregation and discrimination.
ReplyDeleteTo answer whether or not Lennie and George will treat him equally, I think that they won't. George is quick to judge and Lennie doesn't know any better. I infer that Crooks will be shown and treated as unequal throughout the book.