Chapter 4

In this chapter Steinbeck allows us to visualize Crook's room.

"On one side of the little room there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow plank door leading into the barn. Crooks' bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. On the wall by the window there were pegs on which hung broken harness in process of being mended ; strips of new leather; and under the window itself a little bench for leather-working tools, curved knives and needles and balls of linen and thread, and a small riveter"(Steinbeck 66 1937).

George, Carlson, Slim, and Curley decided to spend some time in the "whore" house. All who were left were Candy, Lennie, and Crooks.  Crooks was in his room as usual, when Lennie all of a sudden drops in. Crooks was amazed that someone other than him was in his room. Later after that Candy entered Crooks' room.

Crooks said darkly, “Guys don’t come into a colored man’s room very much. Nobody been here but Slim. Slim an’ the boss”(Steinbeck 75 1937).

Crooks has probably never had more than two other people in his room. When he started to interact with Lennie he became a little bit more friendlier. When both Lennie and Crooks start to gain a sense of conversation, he asks Crooks why he isn't wanted. Lennie doesn't seem to understand the fact that     African-american's did not have any human rights. They were forced to follow the Jim Crow laws, which were unjust. Crooks was forced to live away from everyone else just like segregation.

 "Why ain't you wanted?" Lennie asked. "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me"(Steinbeck 68 1937).

Crooks seems frustrated and lets out his emotions about the way he is being treated. He is constantly being physically and verbally abused. It's interesting he lets out his emotions to Lennie, because he knows Lennie doesn't really understanding what he is saying. it's equivalent to talking to a rabbit. Crooks probably doesn't want to know about so says it to Lennie.

This chapter really reveals Crooks as a person and the many hardships he unfortunately has to go through.