Crooks is not only a realist about his position in society, but he is also prophetic about George and Lennie's dream. Like the many other migrants he has seen come and go, Crooks tells Candy that he has never seen one realize their dream for land. The reason they do not get the land is stated clearly by Crooks and echoed by Curley's wife. Crooks explains, "I seen guys nearly crazy with loneliness for land, but ever' time a whorehouse or a blackjack game took what it takes." This pronouncement is played out in Whit's and the rest of the hands' behavior on Saturday night: All have gone into town. They never see beyond the end of the week. Curley's wife reinforces this idea when she tells them "If you had two bits in the worl', why you'd be in gettin' two shots of corn with it and suckin' the bottom of the glass. I know you guys."
It is always the dream of the powerless to have a little land where they can make their own decisions and be their own bosses. In this case, having their own place would ease the loneliness and put a damper on Candy's fear that he'll be turned out when he's too old to work, Crooks' fear he'll be gone because of his race and bad back, and George and Lennie's desire to be free of the boss and do what their hearts desire. But Crooks certainly tells the reality of the story in one of the most poignant speeches in the novel: "Just like heaven. Ever'body wants a little piece of lan'. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It's just in their head. They're all the time talkin' about it, but it's jus' in their head." This speech foreshadows George's plight at the end of the book.
