From the narrator’s lengthy, detailed description of Crook’s room in the barn, the reader can infer several things that emphasize how he is different than the other men on the ranch.
The sheer abundance of his possessions is the first detail that highlights a difference. Many of the men on the ranch only have a few personal items, because they are migrant workers who must travel from job to job. Most migrants carried their meager possessions in a sack or bindle, which is why Curley’s wife often refers to the workers as “bindle stiffs.” In contrast, Crooks has far too many possessions to carry with him if he had to travel. This shows that Crooks has a permanent presence on the ranch.
Another difference that this description underscores is his separation from the other men. Unlike the ranch hands, Crooks lives in a secluded section of the stable that is his room. At one point, Crooks sarcastically remarks about the lovely smell of horse manure that pervades his living space. He is not allowed to sleep in the bunkhouse or even go in there because of his race. The description of his room as an isolated, somewhat undesirable location highlights the discrimination he faces on the ranch.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Steinbeck goes into a great amount of detail when describing Crooks’s room. What does Steinbeck's description tell the reader about Crooks? How is he different from the other workers?
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