Notesale: Turn your study into money

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What  does  John  Steinbeck  suggest  
about  racism  in  his  presentation  of  
Crooks?  
1900s  America  was  a  tough  place  to  live  in  for  black  people,  or  in  fact,  anybody  
that  was  not  white
...
 They  did  not  have  the  same  rights  as  white  
people  and  in  some  parts  of  America  were  in  fact  considered  no  better  than  
animals
...
 In  the  novel,  Of  Mice  and  
Men,  by  John  Steinbeck,  a  social  hierarchy  controls  the  ranch
...
     Society  views  and  treats  the  
three  bottom  tiers  of  the  social  ladder,  the  elderly  and  crippled,  women,  and  
African  Americans,  each  in  a  distinct  and  disrespectful  way  because  of  their  
physical  ability,  gender,  and  race,  which  also  leads  to  depriving  them  of  their  
dreams
...
 Candy's  
dog  is  shot  by  Carlson  because  'it  was  getting  too  old'
...
 Once  he  is  too  old  and  he  isn't  of  much  use  to  the  Boss,  will  he  
be  fired?    
From  the  start  of  the  book,  the  skin  colour  of  Crooks  is  made  very  apparent
...
 Ya  see  the  stable  buck's  a  nigger"
...
"  The  boss  regards  Crooks  as  an  inferior  being
...
 This  shows  that  the  boss  doesn't  even  regard  Crooks  as  a  human
...
 "For  being  
a  stable  buck  and  a  cripple"  and  "he  was  more  permanent  than  the  other  men"  
emphasises  that  the  combination  of  racism  and  his  disability  would  make  it  
extremely  difficult  if  he  wanted  to  find  another  job
...
 He  'flexes  his  muscles'  and  inevitably  Lennie  becomes  angry  
because  he  misunderstands  the  meaning  of  what  Crooks  said
...
 However,  because  of  the  way  he  is  treated  by  the  ranch  workers,  the  boss  
and  other  people,  Crooks  develops  an  aloof  personality  and  expects  that  because  
he  keeps  his  distance,  other  people  should  keep  their  distance
...
 The  conversation  between  Crooks  and  
Lennie  elucidates  to  the  reader  that  Crooks  is  very  lonely  and  actually  enjoys  
talking  to  Lennie
...
You  go  on  get  outa  my  room
...
"  This  also  shows  he  built  up  anger  and  shouted  at  
Lennie  because  he  is  a  ‘easy  target’
...
 
Nearer  to  the  end  of  the  chapter,  Curley's  wife  comes  into  the  bunkhouse  and  
starts  to  drill  Lennie  and  Candy  about  how  did  Curley's  hand  get  damaged
...
 Crook's  response  to  this  is  to  appease  her
...
 There  was  no  personality…no  ego
...
 This  would  be  his  
way  to  null  out  the  abuse
...
 Crooks  is  a  good  character  at  heart  but  the  constant  abuse  and  racism  
have  caused  him  to  develop  a  uncharacteristic  cruelty  towards  everyone
...
 I  think  that  Steinbeck  suggests  that  
racism  is  the  worst  type  of  discrimination  and  that  it  can  change  people  for  the  
worst
...
 "You  know  what  I  
could  do?  …  I  could  string  you  up  so  fast  it  ain't  even  funny"

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