As a black man and a cripple, Crooks is isolated from everyone else on the ranch. Although he can play horseshoes with the men, he isn’t allowed in the bunkhouse to play cards or socialize.
Crooks is especially envious of Lennie’s relationship with George. George takes care of Lennie and they have steady companionship. Lennie is someone George can talk to about anything – in part because Lennie won’t understand or remember what he says. They even have a dream to share.
At first Crooks doesn’t want Lennie in his room. His dignity is very much tied up in his ability to control who enters his room.
‘I ain’t sure I want you in here no more. A colored man got to have some rights even if he don’t like ‘em.’
Once he accepts Lennie, Crooks realizes that he is in a rare superior position to a white man. His misery and envy bring out his cruelty, and he toys with Lennie about George leaving him. When Lennie starts to get upset, “Crooks’ face light[s] with pleasure in his torture.” Crooks soon sees how dangerous it is to throw Lennie into a panic, stops the teasing and calms Lennie down. Crooks then reveals his own need:
‘Maybe you can see now. You got George. . . . S’pose you didn’t have nobody. . . . I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.’
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