Lennie has a mental disability
and therefore seen as less able
than the other men
"left weak ones here"
can't think for himself
relies on George
Relationships
Frienships
George and Lennie have unusual friendship
Migrant workers usually
don't establish long term
relationships
Lennie needs George due to
disability but George needs
Lennie for someone to talk to
George stuck in relationships
Curley and Curley's Wife
Curley's Wife a trophy
to Curley
Curley shows no affection towards his wife
seen as a piece of
property to Curley
Opposing relationship to George
and Lennie
Loneliness/ isolation
All characters have
different loneliness
Curley's Wife only women in ranch
George is responsible for Lennie
Crooks is racially discriminated
agaisnt
Candy is seen as old and
worthless
Gets forgotten about
George has to look after Lennie
Ranch is isolated
Set in Soledad
Spanish for solitude
Steinbeck shows how
repetitive the life of a
migrant worker is and how
hard life was during the great
depression
"Guys like us that work on ranches
are the loneliest guys in the world." -
George- creates a sense of
sympathy they have lost hope in
the American Dream