Section 4 - Overview
English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men, topic 2.4.2
Section 4 Overview
This section shows how Crooks and Lennie are not too dissimilar - they have both been treated as outcasts. Steinbeck highlights racial discrimination in 1930s America through Crooks' experiences.
Isolation
- Crooks is the only black person on the ranch. He is isolated from the other workers because he is black - he is not allowed to live with the other workers.
- You could argue that Crooks and Lennie are similar because they are both treated unfairly.
- Crooks, because of the colour of his skin.
- People have different opinions on Lennie. Some people think he has a learning disability; other people think he could suffer from mental health problems. Lennie is arguably isolated as the other characters don't seem to understand him.
Crooks' power over Lennie
- Crooks seems to realise that he has power over Lennie. By taunting him about George leaving him, Crooks can make himself feel strong for once.
The power Curley's wife's threat
- Crooks’ change of heart about the dream shows just how much of an impact Curley’s wife’s racist abuse has had upon him.
Test yourself on Section 4 - Overview
What caused Crooks' change of heart about the dream?
What does Crooks taunt Lennie about?