Crooks
is the African American stable hand, who takes care of the horses and lives by himself in a
small room attached to the barn. Being that Crooks is the only black employee on the ranch, he
is discriminated against and marginalized throughout the novella. Unlike the other white
workers, Crooks is forced to live by himself and not allowed to room with the other men in the
bunkhouse. In ,enters Crooks's room uninvited, and Crooks reveals the extent of his loneliness.
Crooks tells Lennie that there is only one black family in Soledad, and says that nobody listens
to anything he has to say because he is a Negro. Crooks tells Lennie,
"If I say something, why it's just a nigger sayin' it."
(35)
Crooks then tells Lennie that he needs someone to
keep him company and feels left out because he's not allowed to stay in the bunkhouse or play
rummy with the white workers. Later on, Curley's wife enters Crooks's room, where she makes
everyone feel uncomfortable and is asked to leave. After Crooks tells her to get out of his
room, she replies,
"Listen, Nigger . . . You know
what I can do to you if you open your trap?" (39)
Curley's wife marginalizes Crooks by threatening him and treating him unfairly. Crooks
knows that he is defenseless against Curley's wife's accusations and is forced to keep quiet.
Overall, Crooks lives an isolated, lonely life, where he is excluded from certain activities and
privileges.
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