" (103; ch 6) In the back of his mind, Lennie is quite fearful that George might leave him, but some how Lennie thinks that he knows George won't. This shows Lennie's great dependency on George to live with and be cared for. As a result, he is treated differently on the ranch. Considered a nice guy by most but not included in games, tournaments and outings.
Another character extremely oppressed by disregard, and small-minded people is the stable buck, Crooks. Crooks happens to be the only black ranch hand, evidently during a time when racial inequalities weren't quite as subtle or restrained as today. Unlike Lennie Crooks is included in tournaments and horse shoe games, but is forced to live alone away from every other ranch hand in the harness room, described as" a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn" (66; ch 4) " I ain't wanted in the bunk house, and you [Lennie] ain't wanted in my room. Why ain't you wanted? Lennie asked. Because I"m black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I"m black. They say I stink. Well I tell you, all of you stink to me." (68; ch. 4) Chances are that Crooks doesn't really think that everybody else on the ranch stinks, but it is likely that the discrimination against him hurts and by saying that he is hoping to return some of the pain that they have caused him. .
Not only does crooks endure emotional pain but in a way physical too, not because of his back but in reference to an earlier incident that Candy recalled when talking to George and Lennie. " They let the nigger come in that night. Little skinner name of Smitty took after the nigger. Done pretty good, too. The guys wouldn't let him use his feet, so the nigger got him. If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger." (20; ch. 2) By reading this passage one can see that they not only let crooks be endangered as some kind of sick entertainment, but also Candy himself doesn't even have the decency to call him by his actual name, just "nigger" as if that is all there is to him.
