I believe that every character in this book is lonely in their own way and has certain needs that they will inevitably never fulfil. I also feel that Crooks is the loneliest character in the book, this is because of the extremely racist and volatile environment on the ranch. He is not allowed to sleep with the other men in the bunkhouse: “ Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room… that …showed first 75 words of 308 total…

…showed last 75 words of 308 total…the bunkhouse are. Candy tells us that they let the nigger come into the bunkhouse last Christmas to fight with a skinner called Smitty, they tied Smitty’s feet together and it was much to Crooks’ credit that he won. Candy remembers Smitty saying that if he could have used his feet: “…He woulda killed the nigger.” Crooks has no status within the ranch, like the boss and Slim for example. He is very sub-serviant.