P: Crooks is the one on the ranch who is by himself and is unable to mix in with the others at all because of his colour.
E: This is proven through the phrase , Crooks, on a black man's loneliness: "S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books.
A: Through the repetition of the conjunction "s'pose," a lexical field of isolation is created which further emphasises the sheer hardship he faces being the only black man, which simultaneously provokes the reader to feel empathetic towards him. Another reason that the reader will feel empathetic towards Crooks at this point is because of the fact that he his openly confiding in Lennie which gives the impression that he isn't able to do this on a normal basis.
English: John Steinbeck
Regions of the cerebral cortex associated with pai...
To the PainP: Crooks is aware that not only is his weakness his crooked spine but also his colour.
E: "This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see?"
A: The use of alliteration with "busted-back" suggests how Crooks is emphasizing the fact that he is not only black but is also significantly weak compared to the others because of his back. Through this the double marginalism Crooks faces is emphasised
which creates sympathy towards him. This further gives the impression that he is almost purposely trying to devalue himself which implies how he is vulnerable and is almost trying to use this as a privilege as the weak are not listened to and taken account of.
P: Even though Crooks is the only Negro at the ranch, Steinbeck displays him as an extremely independent worker.
E: This is evident from, "This...