how does the promise of the farm embolden candy and crooks?

Candy feels for the first time that his life may not be over after all. He has seen Carlson shoot his dog, and realises that this amount of compassion will not be shown to him when he has outlived his usefulness. Candy is able to swamp out the bunkhouse, but wishes to have more of a purpose. Hoeing in the garden and caring for the chickens alongside Lennie and George would be a much more comfortable way to end his days than he currently envisages. He feels a comradeship with George and Lennie and his spirit is strengthened as a result.

Crook's positive outlook is much more shortlived. Spurred on and excited by the fact that Lennie does not judge or humiliate him for either his color or his disability, Crooks feels he could be part of society again instead of an outcast in the barn. Sadly his dream is quickly destroyed by Curley's wife, who ridicules and humilates him, with a threat of her control as a white woman.