CHAPTER FOUR
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
1.  Does Lennie understand racism?  Why or why not?

2.  Does Crooks find Lennie less threatening than the other white men on the ranch?

3.  How does Crooks incite Lennie's rage?
THEME: LONELINESS
HOW IS EACH CHARACTER LONELY?

CROOKS:  look at the description of his bunk at the beginning of the chapter.  Everything is scattered.  Since he lives alone, he is able to live the way he does.

CANDY: Candy is old and crippled.  He has also just lost his oldest companion, his dog.  Also, think about how he is seen by the other men on the ranch.  Generally, how do we view old people?

CURLEY'S WIFE:  She is seen as a tart at this point in the novella, both by the men on the ranch and by us, the reader.  Do you really think she is a flirt, or maybe that she just needs someone to talk to?
HOW DOES LENNIE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN CHAPTER FOUR?
He gets Crooks to open up and reveal his past.  Why do you think Lennie is able to do this?

Also, for the first time, Candy comes into Crooks' room.  Why is this important?  Does this have anything to do with Lennie?
THE RETURN TO LONELINESS:
Curley's wife is able to return each character to their former disability.  Look at the names which she calls these three characters (Lennie, Crooks and Candy).  How do these characters react?  Do they stand up for themselves?  What does this say about the strength of these characters?
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