The stable buck in John Steinbeck’s novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ is Crooks. He is a black man who works in the stable due to his race and his physical disability, having a crooked back as a result of an accident.
Crooks often experiences loneliness and isolation, as he is segregated from the other ranch workers because of the discriminatory attitudes of the time. His character represents the social hierarchies and the harsh realities faced by marginalized individuals during the Great Depression.
Throughout the story, Crooks desires companionship and is drawn to Lennie and George’s friendship. His interactions with them reveal his deep-rooted yearning for human connection, making his character a poignant symbol of the loneliness that many characters in the book endure. Crooks’ bitterness and resentment also highlight the effects of racism and social isolation on an individual’s spirit.