OF MICE AND MEN. Study Guide

Transcription

1 OF MICE AND MEN Study Guide The title of the novel is taken from a poem by the 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns. In the poem, a mouse carefully builds a winter nest in a wheat field; despite the best efforts of the creature, the nest is destroyed by a ploughman. The poem is written in Scots dialect. The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promised joy! (The best laid schemes of mice and men Often go wrong And leave us nothing but grief and pain, Instead of promised joy!) The mouse, who once dreamed of a safe, warm winter, is confronted with the harsh reality of the cold, loneliness and possible death. There is a connection here with George and Lennie's dream of a place of their own and the destruction of that dream at the end of the story.

2 Contents: Background to the novel Storyline The opening and ending of the novel Settings Characters and Themes: George Lennie Slim Candy Curley Crooks, Curley s wife, Racism and Sexism Loneliness Friendship Dreams Violence Structure and style Inevitability Using quotations Writing in role The extract question Past GCSE questions Examples of examination responses Some key quotations from the novel

3 Backgound to the novel After World War 1, life in America was difficult. A recession meant that many farmers had difficulty producing sufficient crops to earn the money they needed in order to survive. To increase their productivity, some farmers took out loans to buy more land and agricultural equipment. In 1929, the stock market crashed with dramatic consequence: banks foreclosed on mortgages and called in debts. Many farmers lost their property and were forced to look for other work; this was very difficult as unemployment was high (25% when it peaked in 1933). In addition to the difficult economic situation, there was a seven year draught across the Great Plains and this, coupled with the overworking of the land, turned once fertile grasslands into a desert-like region known as the Dust Bowl. Thousands of farmers became migrant workers and headed west to California the Promised Land - where the climate allowed a longer growing season and the soil was fertile. The reality, however, was very different from the dream; Steinbeck s novels show how gruelling, challenging and lonely the life of a migrant worker could be. Storyline Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, are set down from a bus some miles short of their destination. George (who is clearly the one who makes the decisions) decides that they will spend the night in a clearing by the river and go on to the ranch where they hope to be working the following morning. As the two talk, it becomes clear that Lennie has a mental disability; he seems deeply devoted to George and dependent upon him for protection and guidance. George finds that Lennie, who loves petting soft things but often accidentally kills them, has been carrying and stroking a dead mouse. George angrily throws it away, fearing that Lennie might catch a disease from the dead animal. There are hints that they had to leave their last workplace quickly and George seems moody. As they settle for the night, George speaks of their shared dream of a place of their own where they can put down roots and work for themselves. Their good relationship is restored as Lennie listens with child-like simplicity. Next day, they arrive at the ranch and meet their new boss, his son and daughterin-law and some of the ranch workers. All the meetings take place in the bunkhouse. Candy, an old swamper followed everywhere by an old dog, gives them some information about the place and the people. The boss is annoyed that the new men arrived late; he is suspicious of George when George answers for Lennie and tells George he will have his eye on him. The boss son, Curley, is confrontational when he appears and George warns Lennie that he needs to keep away from him. Curley s wife is the next to appear; she claims to be looking for her husband but in reality is simply looking for company and conversation to ease her loneliness. She is highly flirtatious and creates a strong impression on both men: George sees her as trouble; Lennie thinks she is purty. Finally, some of the other workers appear. Slim, a jerkline skinner, gives the two men a friendly reception as does Carlson, another worker.

4 That evening, George and Slim sit in the bunk-house. George confides to Slim the reason why he and Lennie had to leave their last job in Weed Lennie had frightened a girl and she had (falsely) accused him of rape. Lennie appears with a puppy that Slim has given him; he delights in his new pet but is told he must take it back to its mother. As Lennie leaves, Candy enters with his old dog. Carlson insists that the dog should be put down (a mercy killing); initially Candy rejects the idea but when Slim seems to support Carlson s view he gives in. Carlson takes the dog away to shoot it. Crooks, the stable-buck, appears and Slim goes with him to the barn. The tension in the bunk-house is somewhat relieved by the arrival of Curley looking for his wife. A new tension is created as Curley heads for the barn in case she is there with Slim. Unaware that Candy is still in the room (facing the wall in his grief over his dog), George and Lennie speak once again of their shared dream. Candy, overhearing, offers to invest his money in the project and, after initial reservations, George accepts his offer - the dream seems closer to becoming a reality. Just as the three men are smiling at the prospect before them, the other men return from the barn. Curley has been spoiling for a fight over his wife but has found no-one to meet his challenge; frustrated, he picks on Lennie. A fight ensues. Curley s vicious nature is exposed as is Lennie s total lack of aggression. Only when told to fight back by George does Lennie become actively involved. His great strength is evident when he grasps Curley s fist and holds it, crushing it until every bone in Curley s hand is broken. Once Lennie has let go of Curley s hand, Slim takes charge of the situation. He tells Curley that he would be laughed at if the story of what happened was to get out; he suggests that Curley should pretend that he got his hand caught in a machine. In this way, Slim protects George and Lennie s jobs. The next night, most of the ranch workers (including Curley) go into town. Lennie, who has been playing with his pup in the barn, goes into Crooks room. Crooks sleeps in the harness room adjoining the barn. Crooks is angry with Lennie for invading his space (Crooks is not allowed in the bunk-house because he is black) but gradually he becomes less hostile. At first he is rather cruel to Lennie, suggesting that George might not come back from town. When he realises the effect his words have had (Lennie becomes threatening towards Crooks) he apologises and explains that his words have been prompted by his loneliness. Lennie tells Crooks that he and George are going to own their own land and when Candy appears, looking for Lennie, he confirms Lennie s words. Briefly, Crooks is caught up in the dream he offers to come an lend a hand. The unusual socialising in the harnessroom is cut short when Curley s wife appears. She says she is looking for Curley (though in reality she knows he has gone into town). The men are uncomfortable in her presence and she insults them ( They left all the weak ones here ). Empowered by thoughts of the dream, Candy stands up to her as does Crook; she turns on the stable-buck and threatens him ( I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain t even funny ). He is completely broken by her treatment of him and retreats into his shell. Curley s wife hurries back to the house as the men return from town. Crooks tells Candy he wouldn t want to be a part of their scheme.

5 Most of the men are playing horseshoes outside the barn: Lennie is inside. He has accidently killed his pup by petting it too hard and is imagining George s reaction when Curley s wife appears. She starts to speak with him, flirting with him in her attempt to ease her loneliness. She speaks of her unfulfilled dreams and allows him to stoke her hair. As Lennie strokes her hair harder she starts to panic and, in an attempt to calm her, Lennie accidently breaks her neck. He half-buries her body in the hay and runs away. Entering the barn, Candy finds her body and fetches George. George is only too aware of what must have taken place. He asks Candy to give him a few minutes before the old swamper tells the others what has happened. The rest of the men enter the barn. Curley is determined to hunt Lennie down and kill him. Slim, aware of George s anxieties, suggests Curley stay with his wife but Curley will not. The man-hunt begins. Candy remains - he is aware the dream is as dead as Curley s wife. The novel ends where it started. Lennie has returned to the clearing and George finds him there. George has equipped himself with Carlson s gun and is determined to shoot Lennie himself rather than allow Curley to do so. He reassures Lennie that all will be well and, once again, speaks of the dream. George shoots Lennie in the back of the head (an echo of the death of Candy s dog). The other men appear and take in the scene. Only Slim seems to understand what has happened and he reassures George ( You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. ).

6 The opening and ending of the novel. In the opening chapter of Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck presents the ideal image of the Californian Dream, a land of possibility and hope. He presents the landscape in positive terms. The foothill slopes of the Gabilan Mountains are described as golden a colour suggestive of opportunity, hope and value. The willows on the valley side are fresh and green with every spring, trees symbolic of the new beginnings of the American Dream, the eternal re-birth of hope. The rabbits calmly sit on the sand and the lizard makes a great skittering - Steinbeck s California here is peaceful, quiet and rich. It is in the second paragraph of the novel that Steinbeck hints at a sense of unease as humanity enters the scene. He describes tramps that come wearily down from the highway. A discomforting little wind [starts]... moving among the leaves ; the calm of the opening paragraph is altered. Indeed, the shade climbed up the hills toward the top it is the first example of a retreat, a withdrawal, of light that occurs again and again in the novel. The encroaching darkness is surely symbolic of approaching threat or menace. By the end of the novel notice how Steinbeck subtly changes the scene once more. The sun now had left the valley, the darkening of the landscape/scene is suggestive of the death of hope. We are told that shade had fallen and again, that the light had climbed out of the valley the sun itself seeks to escape the coming events. Indeed, this scene is an echo of the barn scene the place of the death of Curley s wife. The hay that came down like a mountain slope in the barn is initially illuminated by the bright lines of afternoon sun. By the end of the scene, after her death, the barn was darkening gradually. Steinbeck s use of darkness and shadow is a clear metaphor for the death of both Curley s wife and the American Dream itself. Images of nature in the final chapter are significant. The water-snake gliding smoothly up the pool, like George and Lennie themselves, is ultimately powerless to change its fate. The silent head and beak of the heron lanced down and plucked it out allowing it only to wave its tail frantically it is helpless and vulnerable. The little wind of the opening chapter has now become a far rush of wind, ominous as it drove through the tops of the trees like a wave. Lennie, described in animal terms for so much of the novel, becomes here at one with nature, sitting and drinking at the pool s edge and as vulnerable, therefore, as the creatures that also inhabit the landscape.

7 As George discovers Lennie, the shadow in the valley is now blue and soft. As George prepares to shoot Lennie, the valley was bluer, and the evening came fast. The end, of Lennie s life, of their dream together and perhaps of the American Dream itself, is near.

8 Settings Apart from the clearing in the brush (which is considered elsewhere in this guide), Steinbeck uses three other settings to provide a backdrop for the action: the bunk-house, the harness-room and the barn. The Bunk-house The bunk-house is the place where the men relax and sleep after their labour on the ranch. With such little employment available there is no need for ranch owners to provide anything but the most basic accommodation men are willing to work anywhere. The building is long and rectangular. Inside, the walls are whitewashed, the floor unpainted and there are three small windows and a solid door with a wooden latch. The room is bare to the point of being spartan. Eight men share the space with no privacy. The room is a place to sleep (it houses eight bunks), somewhere to store their personal effects (an apple-box is nailed above each bed and these act as small storage areas for the possessions of the men) and a place to relax (there is a stove for warmth and a table in the centre of the room). No chairs have been provided and the men sit on upturned boxes. In chapter 2, when George and Lennie arrive, the table is littered with playing cards an indication of the way the men entertain themselves. In chapter 3 we discover, that the lighting in the room is, like everything else, minimal; a tin-shaded electric light throws a bright light down onto the table. Steinbeck exploits this for dramatic effect; both the column of light itself and the shadows created in the areas beyond the lamp s reach provide atmosphere and enable conversations that are revealing. In his description of the bunk-house, Steinbeck is revealing the depressing existence the men lead. There is little comfort on offer and the meagre articles displayed on the make-shift shelves show how little they possess in terms of material wealth. The transitory nature of the workforce is evident: men only own what they can carry when they move from place to place. Nevertheless, beauty can be found in this world. Steinbeck describes how the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars. All of the characters apart from Crooks find their way into the bunk-house and this is where the reader first encounters the people who live and work on the ranch. (nb Crooks is excluded because of his race; when, in chapter 3, he needs Slim, he opens the door quietly and put(s) in his head. Candy speaks of a time when they let the nigger come in but this was purely to provide seasonal entertainment!) Several important conversations and events take place in the bunk-house: George s confession to Slim, the decision to shoot Candy s dog, the telling of the dream in Candy s hearing and the consequences, the fight. Make sure you are aware of all the conversations and events that take place in the bunk-house.

9 The Harness-room The harness-room is a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn. There is one small window (under which lurks a pile of manure) and a door into the barn. It is here that Crooks, the stable-buck, lives; in housing him here Steinbeck is making a point about his place in society, he is one step away from being treated as if he were an animal. The harness-room is furnished with a long box filled with straw (Crooks bunk - another detail that links him with animals), a working bench, an apple-box shelf, pegs used to store broken harnesses (Crooks himself is a broken man, crippled by a back injury). A number of possessions are scattered on the floor of the room. Crooks is a fixture at the ranch, unable to move on because of his physical incapacity; consequently, he has acquired more in the way of material possessions than the other men ( more possessions than he could carry on his back ). The men do not enter the harness-room (with the exception of Slim and, we may infer, the boss and Curley should they wish so to do). Lennie s invasion of Crooks territory, followed by the arrival of Candy and Curley s wife, is significant and Steinbeck uses it to reveal the natures of the characters: Lennie doesn t understand the situation at all, social division is something that doesn t seem to occur to him; Candy is embarrassed to be in Crooks room, he has never been in it before and his response highlights the racial divide; Curley s wife is given little or no respect from anyone nevertheless she feels she can both be in Crooks room and belittle him there. Make sure you know what happens in the harness-room. The Barn The barn is mentioned in chapters 3 and 4 but not described until chapter 5 where it becomes the backdrop for the death of Curley s wife. Off-stage, as it were, the barn has already been a setting for drama: Curley has gone there in pursuit of his young wife who he suspects is there with Slim. At the start of chapter 5, as in previous chapters, Steinbeck sets the scene with great care. The barn is piled high with new hay and above the crop hung the four-taloned Jackson fork suspended from its pulley. The idea of something sharp hovering above the scene draws on Greek mythology and the story of the sword of Damocles; a story often used to suggest a sense of foreboding brought about by a precarious situation. There is danger here. The details revealed to us throughout the story have, when we look back, prepared us for just the eventuality that is about to occur: Lennie will kill. At first glance, the scene is a peaceful one: it is Sunday, the horses are resting, the sun is shining, the men are playing a game with horseshoes outside. Closer examination reveals other details: the horses are actually rather restless ( they stamped their feet and they bit the wood of the mangers and rattled the halter chains ); the sun sliced in through the cracks (the use of the word sliced could

10 suggest violence). Is Steinbeck subtly preparing the reader for the events to follow? Steinbeck s focus narrows to Lennie and the reader learns of the death of the pup and then witnesses the death of Curley s wife. After Candy discovers the body and rushes out, the barn seems to orchestrate events: The barn was alive now. The horses stamped and snorted, and they chewed the straw of their bedding and they clashed the chains of their halters. At the end of the chapter, when the man-hunt sets off, Steinbeck writes that The barn was gradually darkening. Throughout the novel he uses light to provide tone and carry metaphorical meaning; this small descriptive detail says much about the loss of the dream ( Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm. ) and the imminent death of Lennie. Make sure you know what happens in the barn.

11 GEORGE George is the hero of Of Mice and Men. He is small and quick with dark restless eyes. When they first appear, George leads and Lennie follows behind. His concern for Lennie is seen immediately when he tells Lennie not to drink the water because it might be scummy. His speech is colloquial, using slang and swear words. George and Lennie s dream is to own their own land and live off the fatta the lan. They dream of independence. Their relationship makes them different from the other guys. George says, Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world George and Lennie are different because they have each other; they have someone that gives a damn. Sometimes George becomes frustrated with Lennie and talks of how he could get along so easy if I didn t have you on my tail. George looks after Lennie because George is a good, loyal and responsible person, but he also does it because the relationship gives him something he desperately needs friendship and companionship in a harsh and lonely social environment. George confides in Slim and we learn why George feels so responsible for Lennie he has come to appreciate the fundamental goodness of Lennie. George s relationship with Candy shows George s humanity his sympathetic interest in the old dog and later when he admits the old swamper to a share in the dream again show George s humanity. George is normally astute, a shrewd judge of character. He senses that Curley is dangerous I don t like mean little guys but in a way enjoys thinking that Lennie would be able to deal with him if he became too cocky Well, he better watch out for Lennie. He is also aware that Curley s wife is trouble, calling her jail-bait and a rat-trap. When George urges Lennie to get Curley, we wonder whether he always makes the right decisions. The greatest test of George s character comes with the discovery of Curley s wife dead in the barn where Lennie has left her. He shows compassion and practicality in his comment, I guess we gotta get im an lock im up. We can t let im get away, the poor bastard d starve. He tries to reassure himself, Maybe they ll lock im up an be nice to im, but George knows the ways of the world too well. The responsibility and the decision are his. He has protected Lennie for a long time and the last thing he can do for him is to give him a quick and humane death. As George retells the dream for the last time then shoots his friend, we see George s great humanity. We also sense the death of something within George himself the loss of hope, the loss of the dream the loss of his companion and the loss of his purpose in life.

12 Lennie Background: Lennie Small used to be looked after by his Aunt Clara. When she died, George ended up looking after Lennie. He used to tease Lennie in front of people because Lennie would do exactly what George told him. However, Lennie s steadfast loyalty and a near-death encounter made George stop. In fact, George feels truly responsible for Lennie and has a genuine affection for him. George and Lennie were working in Weed before travelling to the ranch. They were run out of town because a girl in a soft dress accused Lennie of rape. This was untrue. He just wanted to feel the soft fabric of her dress and when she screamed, he panicked and held on tight, which is his first response in a crisis. Physical Appearance: Lennie is a very large man and is very strong. He is continuously linked to animals throughout the text. In Section 1, he is described as: a huge man, shapeless of face dragging his feet the way a bear drags his paws and snorting into the water like a horse. Personality: Lennie is a simple, sweet and innocent character who inspires sympathy in the reader throughout. He is a gentle giant, who would never intentionally hurt anything but he does not know his own strength. He is also very forgetful. He is keen to please George and tries to be just like him: He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George s hat was. Lennie can be crafty. He is described like a terrier when he doesn t want to give the dead mouse to George. Even though he is simple, he can be quite manipulative to George: Lennie avoided the bait. He had sensed his advantage. Lennie is pre-occupied with soft things and being able to look after the rabbits when they get their own place. If I get in any trouble, you ain t gonna let me tend the rabbits.

13 Relationships: Lennie and George have the main friendship in the book. George is the leader and Lennie is the follower, much like a dog and his master: even in the open one stayed behind the other. Curley develops an immediate dislike for Lennie because of his size. The reader expects that this will lead to trouble. Beliefs: Lennie believes that he is safe because George and Lennie travel together, so they will never be lonely like other workers. Lennie doesn t understand the concept of racism. He is eager to befriend Crooks, rather than hate him because of the colour of his skin. Lennie loves to hear about the dream of him and George owning a house and living off the fatta the lan. It relaxes him like a bed time story or lullaby for a child. Key events/what he does: Section 1 - Lennie asks George to re-tell their dream. The reader becomes clear that this happens on regular occasions. Lennie refuses to give George a dead mouse and manipulates George by saying that he will run away and live in a cave if George doesn t want him. Section 2 - Lennie and George arrive at the ranch. Lennie speaks out of turn in front of the boss even though George had repeatedly told him that he mustn t. They nearly lose their jobs. Lennie is fascinated by Curley s wife and is intimidated by Curley. Lennie overhears Slim talking about his pups and begs George to get him one. Section 3 - Curley attacks Lennie to make himself look bigger in front of the men: Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. Lennie does not fight back until George says he can, at which point he crushes Curley s hand. Section 4 - Lennie tries to befriend Crooks and wants to go into his room. He becomes angry when Crooks suggests that George may never come back. Section 5 - Lennie tries not to talk to Curley s wife but she persists until he gives in and tells her about his dead pup. He stokes her soft hair but accidentally kills her when she panics. Section 6 - Lennie imagines his Aunt Clara and a giant rabbit telling him off. Lennie is pleased to see George, who distracts him with their dream before shooting him in the back of the head. Lennie dies instantly before Curley can hurt him.

14 What he says: Lennie is fascinated by Curley s wife: She s purty. Lennie senses that there will be trouble at the ranch. Let s get outta here. It s mean here. Lennie keeps getting into trouble: I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing. Lennie copies the way that George speaks throughout the story: I ll break their God damn necks. What others say about him: George describes Lennie to the boss as strong as a bull. This shows how capable Lennie is in physical work. George warns Candy that Curley better not start on Lennie as: Lennie don t know no rules. Slim s description of Lennie: He s jes like a kid. Candy s description of Lennie: a nice fella. Curley s wife s description of Lennie: Jus like a big baby. Slim also describes his as a cuckoo. Lennie s link to themes in the text: People show prejudice towards Lennie because he is simple. Lennie is always focused on the dream of living on a small farm and being allowed to tend the rabbits. This also links to the American Dream of people searching for a better life, especially at this time when they were living through the Depression. Lennie and George have a special friendship, which is a stark contrast to the usual, lonely life of an itinerant worker. Lennie and George s friendship has parallels to the friendship of Candy and his dog, which is echoed in Lennie s death. Key words: innocent, simple, strong, follower, childlike, loyal, gentle, dangerous, forgetful, manipulative, excitable

15 SLIM Slim is... a jerkline skinner who is excellent at his job....capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. (Chap. 2) very friendly to George and Lennie from the beginning. "His tone was friendly. It invited confidence without demanding it."(chap.2) a good listener and is understanding. He was kind to Lennie and knew why Lennie did some of the things he did. When Lennie crushed Curley's hand, Slim saw past how hurt Curley was to see Lennie's fright. "'It ain't your fault,' he said. 'This punk sure had it comin' to him'" (Chap. 3). Slim willingly gave Curley a drink when he was hurt. "He held it to Curley's lips"(chap. 3). This shows he is caring and understanding, even to Curley. the only one other than George who understands Lennie's ways. "'Jesus,' he said. 'He's jes' like a kid'"(chap. 3). Slim knows Lennie is not just a big dumb guy. always aware of other people's feelings. When Candy had to put his dog down, Slim knew Candy was devastated. "Slim said,' Candy, you can have any one of them pups you want.'" He tells Carlson to take a shovel to bury the dog. (Chap. 3) a natural leader; everyone respects his opinion and looks up to him. He doesn't need to assert his authority, he is quietly dignified. From the beginning he is portrayed as royal and noble. " he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen." (Chap. 2). The other characters often look to Slim for advice. For instance, only after Slim agrees that Candy should put his old dog out of its misery does he agree to let Carlson shoot it. Candy looked helplessly at him, for Slim s opinions were law... Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none. (Chap. 3) powerful and authoritative. He is not afraid to stand up to Curley in chapter 3. Well, you been askin me too often. I m getting God damn sick of it. If you can t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me. At the end of this chapter, he also threatens Curley, But you jus tell an try to get this guy canned and we ll tell ever body, an then will you get the laugh. (Chap. 3) a quiet, insightful man, Slim alone understands the nature of the bond between George and Lennie, and at the end, he reassures George that he did the right thing. You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me. (Chap. 6) respected and admired on the ranch even Curley listens to him. When Lennie smashes Curley's hand, Slim is the one who intercedes and tells Curley he will not have George and Lennie fired. "If you don't tell nobody what happened, we ain't going to.'"(chap. 3) not judgmental but inspires confidence. When George first meets Slim, George tells him about Lennie's troubles in Weed. George senses in Slim a person of intelligence and empathy who will not be mean to Lennie, make fun of him, or take advantage of him.

16 the only one on the ranch who appreciates the difficulty of George's position. He understands the constant oversight George must exercise in watching Lennie and keeping him out of trouble. It is Slim, in the end, who suggests that George did the right thing in killing Lennie mercifully. He explains the alternative: "An s'pose they lock him up an' strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain't no good, George." (Chap. 5) present at every crucial part of the story: the death of Candy's dog, the smashing of Curley's hand, finding the body of Curley's wife, at the pool after George has shot Lennie. In each case, there is violence or the threat of it. Each time Slim helps make the assessment to do what is merciful or what is right. OTHER QUOTATIONS: Hell of a nice fella. Slim don t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team. (Chap. 2)...he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen. (Chap. 2) the prince of the ranch (Chap. 2) "There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talked stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love." (Chap. 2) His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. (Chap. 2) His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer. (Chap. 2) Slim neither encouraged nor discouraged him. He just sat back quiet and receptive. (Chap. 3) calm, Godlike eyes (Chap. 3) But jus the same, he better leave Slim alone. Nobody don t know what Slim can do. (Chap. 3)

17 CANDY Old, frail, disabled, weak aint got the poop Lonely gossips Loves his dog link with George and Lennie hell of a good sheep dog ; killing of the dog parallel with the killing of Lennie Comes in on the dream- fearful of a lonely future Joins in the verbal attack on Curely Discovers the dead body of Curely s wife- devastasted that the dream is over. Candy is the first person introduced at the ranch. He is presented either as a gossip or simply as a lonely old man who is pleased to find someone to talk to. Steinbeck uses him as a way of presenting information and ideas to the reader. He tells George and Lennie about life on the ranch. He seems fair-minded speaking appreciatively about the boss. Candy has lost his right hand in a farm accident and is now reduced to the meanest job on the ranch, that of a swamper. His function in the novel is to show the reader what happens to an old man who is coping with physical disability, loneliness and fear of rejection. He is a thoughtful character who reflects on the life of the itinerant workers: A guy on a ranch don t never listen nor he don t ask no questions, which reveals the isolation of the ranch workers each keeps to himself. Candy sums up Curley Always scrappy and Curley s wife I think Curley s married a tart. Candy provides a parallel to George and Lennie in that he clings to his old dog for companionship, just as George and Lennie rely on each other for companionship. The killing of Candy s dog reveals the emotion and suffering of Candy and we feel great sympathy for him. Candy pleads with George to be allowed to share George and Lennie s dream, knowing that the future holds nothing for him when he is too old and useless to work. He becomes optimistic about a better future, with George and Lennie, but his hopes are dashed by the death of Curley s wife. He sounds pitiful when he says You an me can get that little place, cant we, George? You an me can go there an live nice, can t we, George? Can t we? It is Candy who discovers Curely s wife dead in the barn. He shows that he is a realist when he says of Lennie Curley s gonna want to get im lynched ; he knows this means the end of the dream and he takes out his sorrow and anger in a bitter attack on Curley s wife, calling her a Goddam tramp. He is a pathetic figure as His eyes blinded with tears he turned and went weakly out of the barn.

18 The Character of Curley Curley is the son of the boss of the ranch. He is the most obviously violent character on the ranch. He should have the respect of the men, but instead he is mocked by them. This is different from Slim. Slim is a much calmer figure and commands the natural respect of the men. He is introduced in Chapter 2 - PAGES 46 and 49 Key points: Through his movements and the way he speaks, Steinbeck makes Curley come across as aggressive and unpleasant. He always seems ready for a fight. His attitude towards George and Lennie is immediately challenging and unfriendly: His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious. He seems to be aggressive and ready to fight: His hands closed into fists. He gets angry easily. For example, when Lennie doesn t talk: He lashed his body round. He speaks in an angry way: By Christ, he s gotta talk when he s spoke to. Candy has a theory about why Curley is like he is - it s because like a lot of little guys he picks scraps with big guys because he s angry he ain t a big guy. CHAPTER 3 - PAGES Curley seems determined to pick a fight with Lennie. He gets a chance when he thinks Lennie is laughing at him: No son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. In this chapter, Curley shows how violent he can be. He doesn t seem to care: He slashed at Lennie and smashed down on his nose. The words slashed and smashed show strong violence and suggest he is full of rage. Curley, however, comes off worst: He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie s paw. Curley loses the fight but this fuels his desire to take revenge on Lennie later. The accidental killing of his wife gives him the chance. CHAPTER 4 - PAGES Curley s wife talks a little about her marriage to Curley and we get an impression of their marriage. Key points: - She clearly hates him: Sometimes I d like to bust him myself. - He doesn t seem to show her much affection: Think I don t like to talk to somebody once in a while? This gives us the impression that she is very lonely, despite being married, and that Curley doesn t show much interest in her.

19 - Curley spends his time in the house boxing and boasting: Spends all his time sayin what he s gonna do to guys he don t like. She listens to him say how he s gonna lead with his left twice. We get the impression that Curley: - is wrapped up in himself - doesn t care about others - dreams of revenge and violence CHAPTER 5 - PAGES When Curley finds his wife dead, he gets his chance for revenge: I m gonna get him. He s determined to shoot Lennie in the guts. Curley is not interested in using the law or trying to understand what happened. Understandably perhaps, he wants justice. As far as he s concerned, the only way to deal with the situation is with violence. Summing up: Overall, Steinbeck presents Curley as: - aggressive Curley lashed his body round. - unfriendly He glanced coldly at George and Lennie. - quick-tempered Come on, ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. - violent Curley slashed at his eyes. - a bully Well nex time you answer when you re spoken to. - uncaring towards his wife Swell guy, ain t he? Spends all his time sayin what he s gonna do to guys he don t like. - only interested in fighting - See above quotation. Always has a glove on his hand. - jealous (worried that other men might be with his wife) Where the hell s, Slim? - disliked and not respected by others - Curley says he s keepin that hand soft for his wife. That s a dirty thing to tell around. - unloved by his wife I don t like Curley. He ain t a nice fella. Note: Curley clearly links with the themes of violence and power. He uses his power to control and hurt others. However, what about the other themes? Is he, too, perhaps lonely? What dreams does he have?

20 CROOKS, CURLEY S WIFE, RACISM and SEXISM. Crooks, the stable-buck, is discriminated against because he is black: If I say something, why it s just a nigger saying it. This shows that the other men on the ranch ignore him simply because of the colour of his skin. Curley s wife is also discriminated against because she is a woman. We know this because she is not even given a name; she is simply referred to as Curley s wife. In this era blacks and women were classed as second class citizens and a woman was often thought of as her husband s property. Steinbeck illustrates this by ostracising Crooks from the other men and leaving Curley s wife nameless. Crooks and Curley s wife are both isolated and feel lonely. Crooks tells Lennie, S pose you didn t have nobody. S pose you couldn t go into the barn and play rummy cause you was black A guy needs somebody to be near him I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sick. Crooks sleeps in the harness room away from the other men. This shows how they do not wish to interact with him. Curley s wife also is desperate for company, Think I don t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time? Both characters are lacking in companions, which is not helped by them having to live separately from the rest of the workers. This is why Curley s wife is flirtatious; she is constantly looking for attention. Crooks and Curley s wife both use power over other people to try to feel important. Crooks, scares Lennie, suggesting that George will leave him: I said suppose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more. Curley s wife also threatens Crooks: Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain t even funny. Both Crooks and Curley s wife have very little power on a day to day basis; when they find others who are more vulnerable than them Lennie is intellectually inferior to Crooks and Crooks is socially inferior to Curley s wife - they can t help but abuse that power as it is so rarely possible to as normally they are the underdogs. Crooks and Curley s wife both have or have had dreams of their own. Initially Crooks is cynical that the dream can be realised: I seen hundreds of men come on by the road every damn one of them got a little piece of land in his head. An never a God damn one of em ever gets it. However, when Candy confirms they ve got the money, Crooks realises this could be a chance for him. Crooks, wants to join Lennie and George: If you guys want a hand to work for nothing just his keep, why I d come and lend a hand. Crooks suddenly sees the possibility of a good future, one in which he can be useful. Curley s wife had a wish to be in the movies. She was disappointed and that is why she married Curley. She is very unhappy because she married on the rebound. Steinbeck makes us feel sorry for Crooks and Curley s wife in a number of ways. He describes how they both need companionship, how they are both isolated Crooks in the harness room, reduced to living with the animals, and Curley s wife in the boss s house, the only female on the ranch. Steinbeck shows the reader how

21 society treats minority groups and these two characters represent the discrimination felt by blacks and women. Crooks is lonely because he is a cripple and a negro in a predominately white society, at a time when negroes were considered to be inferior. Steinbeck seems to be pointing out that human companionship is vital to people regardless of race, class or gender. TASK: Imagine you are Crooks. At the end of the story you think back over what has happened since George and Lennie arrived at the ranch and the effect these events have had on you. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Remember how Crooks would speak.

22 Loneliness Loneliness is a key theme in Of Mice and Men. George is the character who expresses this most powerfully: Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don t belong no place They got nothing to look ahead to. George and Lennie are different because they have each other. The fact that this is unusual is remarked upon by the boss and by Slim. Curley s wife is also lonely, the only woman in a man s world. She says to Lennie, Why can t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely. The only man who talks to her is Lennie. Her loneliness leads her to Lennie and to her death. Candy and Crooks are examples of a different kind of loneliness that of the cripple and the misfit. Candy is lonely because he is old, has lost a hand and has almost outlived his usefulness. Crooks is lonely because he is a cripple and a Negro, an outcast, shunned by white society and with no other blacks nearby. Loneliness makes Candy turn to his dog for companionship, until even that is taken away from him. Crooks is forced to retire behind a defensive barrier of cynicism and obedience, his intelligent mind seething all the while. When Whit draws attention to a letter in a magazine sent in by Bill Tenner, he makes a great deal of it, even though he had only known Bill briefly it shows how tenuous their relationships were. There are no good relationships between men and women. The men go to brothels and the marriage between Curley and his wife is not a good one. Curley s insecurity and aggression suggest that he too could be described as lonely. The only one who doesn t seem lonely is Slim. He is different from the other men; he is wise, compassionate and Godlike and seems to exist on a different level from the other characters. When George loses Lennie, he too will be like the other men lonely. From his portrayal of the characters we see Steinbeck s sympathy and compassion for these lonely men.

23 FRIENDSHIP GEORGE AND LENNIE When George and Lennie are first introduced, their relationship is established. The men are outwardly of the same class (wearing identical clothes and carrying identical gear), but one walks behind the other. George is the leader. However, as the novel progresses, it seems he doesn t value himself as necessarily superior to Lennie - they re both in it together. Lennie looks up to George. In the first chapter, Lennie watches George and imitates him exactly....and Lennie imitated him, raising his head to see whether he were doing it right. (Chap. 1) George and Lennie's friendship appears to be like a father-child relationship. We see this in the way that George looks after Lennie and talks to him, particularly in the opening chapter (e.g. You never oughta drink water when it ain t running, Lennie.... Think I d let you carry your own work card?... Give it here! ) I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl (George: Chap. 1) At first it may appear that Lennie depends on George and that George s life would be much easier without Lennie, but it soon becomes clear that George needs Lennie too. No look! I was jus foolin, Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me. (George: Chap. 1) George went on. With us it ain t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don t have to sit in no bar room blowin in our jack jus because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us. " (Chap. 1). In this speech, George gives a timeless definition of a friend: somebody that listens, cares and looks out for you. It s clear that both men rely on and look after each other. George is a friend (and not a father or a master) because he is so willing to admit that he needs Lennie too. The boss is suspicious of George and Lennie's friendship I said what stake you got in this guy? You takin his pay away from him? (Chap. 2) George and Lennie's friendship is highly unusual, as ranch workers tended to travel alone: Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. You know how the hands are...they quit and go out alone. Never seem to give a damn about nobody. (Slim: Chap. 3)

24 GEORGE AND LENNIE: OTHER QUOTATIONS 'But not us! An why? Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you...' (Lennie: Chap. 1) Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. (The boss: Chap. 2) We travel together, said George coldly. Oh, so it's that way.' George was tense and motionless. Yeah, it s that way. " (George/Curley: Chap. 2) 'Made me seem God damn smart alongside of him' (George: Chap. 3) It jus seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart guy like you travellin together. (Chap. 3) CANDY AND HIS DOG Candy's need for the companionship of his dog also stresses the importance of true friendship. After Carlson shoots his old dog, Candy attaches himself to the dream that George and Lennie share. The old man squirmed uncomfortably. Well hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him. He said proudly, You wouldn t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen. (Candy: Chap. 3) Candy and his relationship with his dog is incredibly important to the novel, as Candy has the same feelings towards his dog as George has towards Lennie. When asked to justify their friendships, both men simply say they ve got used to being with their companion But you get used to goin around with a guy an you can t get rid of him. (Chap. 3 - George); I m so used to him, he said softly. I had him from a pup. (Chap. 3 - Candy) There are other parallels in the relationship between both George and Lennie and Candy and his dog that add to the novel s meaning and impact. CROOKS view on FRIENDSHIP (Chap. 4): I seen it over an over a guy talkin to another guy and it don t make no difference if he don t hear or understand....it s just the talking. It s just bein with another guy. That s all. A guy needs somebody to be near him.

25 Dreams in Of Mice and Men Context: Of Mice and Men was set in the 1930 s during the Great Depression. Life was hard and therefore dreams kept hope alive. People believed in The American Dream, which was all about changing your fortunes and getting a better life for yourself. Dream 1: Lennie and George s dream is to have their own place and live off the fatta the lan. This means they want to be independent and provide for themselves. They want to be able to see the outcome of their hard work and also be their own boss: We d know what come of our planting. They want to be able to have the choice not to work for an afternoon if they choose. George uses the dream to calm Lennie down and help him relax. Lennie often says Tell me like you done before, which sounds like a young child pleading to hear their favourite story. Lennie is pre-occupied with being able to tend the rabbits and this is a way that George can control Lennie. Candy joins in on this dream after overhearing George and Lennie in the bunkhouse: S pose I went in with you guys. He has saved money and was given a lump sum after hurting himself on the ranch whilst working. Candy s money means that the dream could become a reality. At this stage, George starts to believe in the dream: Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her. He knows of a couple who want to sell a small farm and he believes they would take a deal. They only have to get a month s wage each to make their dream a reality. When Curley s wife dies, she not only loses her life but destroys the dream for George, Lennie and Candy. The dream can only work with Lennie. Candy is devastated: His eyes blinded with tears and he turned and went weakly out of the barn. Reactions to this dream: Lennie and Candy tell Crooks about the dream when they visit him in Section 4. Crooks is cynical about dreams of land because he has heard so many men say the same thing before and he has never seen it happen: Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. When he realises that, with Candy s help, they have nearly got the stake, he starts to believe and offers his services: I d come an lend a hand. This is particularly significant as Crooks is a permanent employee at the ranch and he too dares to hope. However Curley s wife soon puts him back in his place as a nigger and the dream vanishes for him: jus forget it I wouldn want to go no place like that. Candy becomes more confident as a result of the dream because he has something to live for. He stands up to Curley, Crooks and Curley s wife: a