Explore the ways Steinbeck creates sympathy for and/or dislike for Crooks in Of Mice and Men
Steinbeck uses a description of a book in Crooks’ room to emphasise sympathy for him. In his room, the author tells us that he has “a mauled copy of the California Civil Code for 1905.” The use of the word “mauled” shows that the book is very well read and not looked after. The book could also be mauled because of his poor living conditions, for example, dampness. The fact that he owns this book could show that he has to prove his rights as people wouldn’t believe him. He does this later in the chapter when he says to Lennie "You got no right to come in my room.....You go on get outa my room. I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse and you ain't wanted in my room." He then goes on to explain how he is not wanted in the bunkhouse as the other workers, who are white, believe he smells and they shouldn’t have to breathe the same air as him. When Crooks says, “you ain’t got no right” this shows the readers that he has studied the book he owns and has learnt his rights off by heart. After Crooks says that he isn’t wanted in the bunkhouse you feel very sorry for him because it highlights his lonesomeness. It does this because there are over ten people that live on the ranch and they either live in the bunkhouse, or the boss’ house, whereas Crooks lives in a shed, next to where the horses live, on his own. The other workers on the ranch don’t have books like this because they have better rights
