Final answer:
Crooks responds to the dream in 'Of Mice and Men' with initial skepticism, briefly allows himself to hope, but ultimately retreats to cynicism, considering his social situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Of Mice and Men, Crooks initially scoffs at the dream of owning a farm and living off the "fatta the lan'" as a childish fantasy. He points out the harsh reality faced by men like them, asserting that the dream everyone seems to have never really comes true.
However, as the conversation unfolds and he hears more about the plan, Crooks becomes swept up in the possibility and enthusiasm, going so far as momentarily to entertain the notion that he might join George, Lennie, and Candy, and also have a share of the dream. Nevertheless, this glimpse of hope is short-lived as Crooks retracts his interest after realizing the societal constraints and prejudices that make such dreams unattainable for him.