What is Crooks' American dream in Of Mice and Men?

Crooks's
American dream is the same as the one that animates the other men. For a brief moment, he
becomes genuinely excited about the idea of being part of 's dream of owning his own small farm,
where he can live off "the fat of the land." The dream of independence, of being one's
own boss, of being able to take a day off when one likes, of being rooted in a community rather
than wandering, and of being able to choose one's own companions, has a great appeal to all the
ranch hands.

Crooks's desire for it is, I believe, Steinbeck's way of
communicating the universality of this deep-rooted dream: it cuts across race, age, and mental
or physical ability as a deep and heart-felt desire.

Because of the realities
of racism and Crooks disappointments and isolationhe is not even allowed to live in the
bunkhouse with the other menhe is the quickest to perceive the futility of the dream, at least
for him, and to quickly lapse back into the reality he knows.