A life without friends is a road that no man wants to travel down. Some people wish they didnt have 'certain' friends, while others would die for them. Being put down, neglected, and not having the oppurtunity to share secrets and feelings with one another is being demonstrated in Steinbecks historical fiction novel "of Mice and Men". Crooks is a character that longs for a friendship.
Crooks has no friends and is very "up-tight" about even talking to people. When he describes to Lennie how he felt, you see that he is also "nearly crazy with loneliness". The only reason people even talk to Crooks is to give him orders to work with the horses. This is why it's so hard for him to open up to people. "I said s'pose George went into town tonight and never came back." explained Crooks. Unlike Lennie, Crook's isn't used to talking to people and was showing Lennie what he feels like everyday. Crook's doesn't want people to view him for his color, but as a man.
He is a very static character as he doesn't change his personality during the book. Chapeter four began and ended with Crooks by holding "a bottle of liniment, and with the other he rubbed his spine." Crooks' schedule everyday is spent reinacting the same events he persued the day before. People don't ask to hang out with Crooks and give him something different to do in fear of losing their reputation. He desires the 'American Dream' but is held back from reaching it from people telling him he can't achieve it. This caused him to never speak greatly in fear of being "strung up on a tree". He wants to have friends, but isn't given another chance due to racism.
Crooks started to believe what other people were saying to him and his vision of friendship was destroyed. He started accepting the name "busted-back nigger" by all the co-workers who called him that. More than anything he realized that he probably isn't going anywhere in life and has no one there to tell him it's okay. He never has anyone stand up for him and put an end to his mistreatment. Crooks is alone, he even said his only friend he had was a white kid when he was little and was forced to stop seeing by his dad. The color on his skin limits him to absolutely anything he wants to do. Crooks can't even play cards with all the guys when they're in their cabin.
Lennie is one of the greatest oppurtunities Crooks has to express himself and let out the anger he has kept cooped up inside of him for a long time. Crooks felt a slight bond in friendship during their conversation they had. The sad thing is, Crooks was feeling all hyped up after Lennie started talking to him but was thrown back to reality by Curleys' wife after told him he isn't worth anything. His 'American Dream' can be grabbed, but without being able to see past the color of one skin straight to his heart and to accept him for who he truly is, there is no hope. Crooks is a man who is held back from getting friends by his race and he will always envy those who have them.
