How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph) Though Steinbeck did not originally include chapter numbers with the text, most editions are broken into six sections, based on day and time of day: Thursday evening = Chapter 1; Friday day = Chapter 2; Friday evening = Chapter 3; Saturday night = Chapter 4; Sunday afternoon = Chapter 5; Sunday evening = Chapter 6.
Quote #7
"I seen hunderds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads. Hunderds of them. They come, an' they quit an' go on; an' every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it." (4.62)
Crooks is a little too happy to point out that George and Lennie aren't the first ones to have a dream: every itinerant ranch hand just wants a little plot of land. Are George and Lennie going to make it good—or are they just going to "quit an' go on," like everyone else
Quote #8
[Crooks] hesitated. "… If you … guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I'd come an' lend a hand. I ain't so crippled I can't work like a son-of-a-b**** if I want to." (4.88)
Life in the 1930s was hard for everyone, but it was particularly hard for poor black men, who were often stuck doing the same work that their ancestors did under slavery for wages so low that they could barely survive.
Crooks' dream is to actually contribute to the farm and reap (literally) the rewards of his labor. Moreover, on the Dream Ranch, he'd be more than the crippled stable buck. He'd be one of the men—an equal—hard at work.
Quote #9
Crooks called, "Candy!"
"Huh?"
" 'Member what I said about hoein' and doin' odd jobs?"
"Yeah," said Candy. "I remember."
"Well, jus' forget it," said Crooks. "I didn' mean it. Jus' foolin'. I wouldn' want to go no place like that."
"Well, O.K., if you feel like that. Goodnight." (4.148-153)
After Mrs. Curley comes in and mocks them all, Crooks seems to realize that the farm is nothing but a fantasy. Poor Crooks: his dream was pathetic enough, and now he doesn't even get to have that anymore.