Take note as to how Crooks is in the beginning of the chapter, in the middle and then at the end. His personality and interests. Even consider the fact that he begins and ends with rubbing the liniment (medicine) on his crooked back pain, all alone. Then..
Explain HOW the chapter begins and ends represent Crooks’ lifestyle and future? (that is, what is Steinbeck stating about Crooks' future and even for others like Crooks? Will they change? Whose fault is their loneliness and hate)
In the beginning of the chapter, Crooks was rude to Lennie. In the beginning, Crooks gets mad and annoyed with Lennie when Lennie talks about George and the rabbits. During the the middle of chapter 4, Crooks gets a little interested about the ranch that George, Candy, and Lennie are going to have. Crooks wants to join them on their own ranch because he would get treated better than the way he's being treated now. At the end of chapter, Crooks totally shuts down when Curley's wife threatens him if he got out of line with her. Crooks went from being rude and brave to completely quiet and scared.
ReplyDeleteCrooks went in a cycle, one in which he goes through often. He is used to his unkind life, that once his brief moments of daydreaming is over he regresses right back to that bitter man he was before. He buys into the belief that no one will treat him equity he can barley daydream any different, and in such is a tragic character.
ReplyDelete@Gagosto, I totally agree to your comment 100%. It sounds like words comming out of my mouth. But anyways, do you know why Crook snapped at the beginning?. He is the perfect example of the loneliness question. He was upset and mad at the fact the color of his skin took the judgement of everyone and the same people critized on it. He never really had any friends at the ranch and when Lennie showed up, of course he would be on his game, but he got use to Lennie and made like a little friend to talk to.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the chapter Crooks is this very rude guy. Crook puts on this tough guy act. He tells Lennie about his lonely childhood and how he has to be brave and tough so that no one can walk all over him. When Lennie tells him about the house that Candy and Lennie and George are going to save up a bunch of money and buy it so they wont have to listen to anyone, Crook got inattentive about the subject and asked if he could join the whole plan. He wanted to get out of the ranch and be free from everyone. He got a little scared when Candy’s wife got aggressive with the whole situation. So Crook went from tough guy to a little wimpy.
ReplyDelete@GAgosto I totally agree with your post. In the beginning of the chapter Crooks doesn't even want to talk to Lennie but after Lennie talks about him and George's plans he starts to begin to be happy. At the end of the chapter he does get scared of the consequences of Lennie and George's plan and completely gets quiet again just like in the beginning of the chapter.
ReplyDeleteDo any of you ever feel like you have to break some kind of "cycle" that you are stuck in? That is, you want to have a different life than what everyone expects you to follow?
ReplyDeleteWill anyone ever answer the rest of the prompt? ..."Will they change? Whose fault is their loneliness and hate)DO you know anyone like this-doomed in a vicious cycle of meanness?
ReplyDeleteScored 10/26/11
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