of mice and men

Of mice and men Characters george physically  ‘sharp, strong’ reflects mentally, quick whited Slim describes as “smart guy” - intelligent Colloquial, violent language "crazy bastard" -Emphasize working class drinks water cupped in hands, cautious, responsible Friend to Lennie, looks after “You do bad things and I got to get you out.” - caring snaps at lennie “The hell with the rabbits.” - short temper works hard, cares for Lennie, for dream of place “We'd belong there”, at end, admits knew dream unattainable “I think I know'd we'd never do her.” - only believing in dream to give hope to Lennie Foresee death of wife, sees as “piece of jail bait”- wise Killing Lennie and with it, dream, strength end novel alone Lennie large man, contrast to name “small’ – physically strong physically compared to bear “the way a bear drags his paws.”- Powerful, strong Suggests not quick witted, doesn’t understand people Described drinking from pool “like a horse” - careless, needs George to look after 'Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly.' - admiration for George Crooks suggest G won’t return, demands “who hurt George?” - defensive George reminds him constantly of “dream” - forgetful dependence on George creates sympathy simple mind, focused on dream of “tend the rabbits” - similar to child liking soft things, also simplistic mind of a child leads to killing Curley’s wife pets her soft hair, leads to him shaking and killing - fundamental inability to understand own strength concerned done “a bad thing” - can’t see damage done, depends on George for morality never bad intention or “meanness”, - kind at heart Slim Works “jerkline skinner”, excellent at job gains him respect as “prince” of ranch, majestic and profound others seek advice  “his word was taken on any subject” wise “slim’s opinions were law” - superior defends George and Lennie against Curley: “you just try and get this guy canned”. - represents justice in a vigilante society calm and collective character “Slim’s calm invitation to confidence.”, seems to have peaceful aura goes “quietly over to her” – sensitive, sympathise, respectful reassures George - "A guy got to sometimes.", - understands relationship, appreciates the difficulty of George's position curley meets Lennie ‘his hands closed into fists’  - aggressive and easily angered ‘calculating’ - sly, always ready to start a fight ‘he’s handy’-pg 27 –good at fighting acts like the boss ‘you speak when spoken to’, controlling because status as boss’ son distinguishes himself with “high-heeled boots” – believes superior to field hands insecure about “little”, picks fight with larger men to compensate for small size over protective of wife "You seen a girl around here?", possessive suspicious only with wife after death, “I’m gonna shot the guts outta that big bastard myself” -more concerned for revenge unloving curley’s wife Property of Curley, referred to as ‘curley’s wife’  - no individual identity, inferior to men tells Lenny “I don’t like Curley” - unhappy marriage feels undervalued “none of them cares how I gotta live”, longs for someone to care for joins outcasts in barn - lonely, willing to speak to anyone despite marriage “a tart”, flirtatious expected letter from Hollywood, ‘I never got that letter’, deluded to think she would dream involves “nice clothes” vain wears “red dress” colour red implies danger, george describes as ‘jail bait’, tempts men to do bad shows vulnerability to Lennie, ‘I coulda made somthin’ of myself’, feels failure in reaching dream crooks introduced “the negro stable buck”, - casual use, racism acceptable represents black segregation in 1930’s USA, ‘ it’s jus a busting black nigger speaking’ – second class citizen sleeps in ‘Long box filled with straw with his blankets thrown down’ – treated like a animal, in the barn with animals owns ‘single barreled shotgun’ – prepared to defend himself ‘a guy needs somebody to be near him’ – Crook’s loneliness sees that L G escape Loneliness ‘its jus bein with another guy’, -admire, long for a freind defied by black skin, ‘nigger’  - not real name   own room near stables, possession of “books” shows intelligence, lonely reads instead of socialize copy of ‘california civil code’ -  concerned about rights sees men come and go, no one achieves dream, ‘Nobody never gets no land’ - cynical of the dreams possibility   candy He is oldest on ranch, “old man”. Knows wil be put “on the county” when to old to work speaking of Crooks “stable bucks a nigger” - racism Companionship with dog, “rag footed sheep dog” – desperate for company gives in to Carlson "Awright—take 'im." – weak, hopeless regrets not killing dog “I ought to have shot that dog myself” – coward for leaving at mercy of others Swamper with “stock-like wrist but no hand” -  harsh ranch life suggests leaving will to G and L “got no relatives or nothing” – no where to go, alone lack of purpose, joins dream - offers hope, stops sense of loneliness. stands up to Curley’s wife “We know what we got” – dream gives new confidence when sees curley’s wife “poor bastard” – knows Lennie victim, understanding, no sympathy for wife    

themes the dream George and Lennie dream of farm living off the “fatta the land”, self reliant·       all food they need there, garden of eden, sacred, pefection·       want independence “I ain’t got no people”, home, control over lives·       bedtime story to Lennie “No…you tell it” only fairytale, won’t come true·       so detailed, seems plan “can sell a few eggs” believes attainable initially·       Lennie dreams “tend rabbits” only relates through something tactile, but remembers, important·       George dismisses “them rabbits”, silly, more cautious about excitement·       cand enters “they both jumped”, secretShared faith makes Candy buy into·       makes dream possible “the thing they never really believed in was coming true”·       sense of purpose “I could of hoed in the garden” independence, hope·       someone to care for in old ageCrooks·       “nobody never gets no land” cynical, back to reality·       joins breifly “work for nothing” infectious, unites as common ground, even crook belongs·       soon dismisses “I didn’ mean it” no point dreaming, Curley’s wife reminds of harsh realityInevitable destruction·       weed incident, mice, puppy, Curley’s wife, tragic conclusion unavoidable·       candy blames wife “you done it, didn’t you?” so devastated, curses instead of mourn·       George admits “I knowed we’d never do her” forced self to believe for hope·       hopeless without “done another bad thing” but “It don’t make no difference” dream all that mattered, all hope lost·       comforts Lennie at end, even if never achieved, gives hopeCuley’s wife’s dream –·       unhappy marriage “I don’t like Curley” dreams of better life might have had·       “he was gonna put me in the movies” dreams of fame, admiration·       “this guy said I was a natural” innocent believing dream easy for her·       blames mother for hiding letter, rather than questioning f genuine, naïve to believe in dreamDreams must be reconciled with reality, accept everyone’s best-laid plans often perish 

chapters dreams – D loneliness – L animals – A friendship – F women – W strength/weakness – SW Prejudice – P violence – V justice – J foreshadowing – FS Innocence - I chapter 1 ·       “the way a bear drags his paws” L like bear, powerful – A ·       “I could pet it” soft things, unaffected by death – A FS ·       “I could get along so easy”, L a burden – F FS ·       “George, I aint got mine” depends on G, irresponsible – F SW ·       “blubbering like a baby” G parent – F SW ·       “you aint gonna say a word” wont hire absent minded – P SW ·       “you’re a crazy bastard” verbal abuse – F V ·       “do I have to sock you?” onyx way L understand – F V ·       “I pinched their heads a little” unintentionally kills, intends to hurt – A V SW FS ·       “the loneliest guys in the world” don’t belong, no hope – L F ·       “giggled happily” remembering weed, doesn’t understand consequences - J ·        “I want you to stay with me” company, only thing he has – L F ·       “imitated George exactly idolizes, role model – F ·       “I’d leave it all for you” would care for if he could – F ·       “hide in the brush till I come for you” protects, safe away from people – F A FS     chapter 2 ·       ranch guys “don’t never listen” “ast no questions”, no communication, don’t get to know, isolated – L ·       “dragfooted sheepdog” follows candy like Lennie follows, Candy cares for – A L ·       “shoot his old dog” Carlson eager, insensitive – V FS ·       “she couldn’t feed that many”, what’s best, doesn’t sentimentalize – A FS ·       “got the eye”, “Curley’s pant is full of ants”, flirtatious, unhappy marriage, want more – L W D ·       “arch”, “twitch” drawing attention, tempt Lennie, self esteem – L W SW ·       “rouged lips” red, danger - W ·       “hates big guys”, “scrappy” sees own weakness, compensated – SW V FS ·       “game guy” or “pick somebody own size” can’t loose, turns weakness to strength – V SW FS ·       “his hands closed into fists” defensive, suspicious of new, show strong – SW V ·       “Curley’s even cockier” compensate for unhappy marriage – L W ·        “nigger” defines him, racism – P L ·       “paused in relish of the memory” remembering Crooks Smitty fight, treat like animals, no friends – L F V A SW P ·        “prince of the ranch” strength because of status – SW ·        “you taking his pay away from him?” business man, unusual – F P ·       “we travel together” “oh, so it’s that way” suggest sexual, mocking – F P ·       “Ain’t many guys travel around together… I don’t know why” compassion, understand ease loneliness – L F ·       “Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other”, fear of being different, avoid trouble, responsibility – F L P ·       “wasn’t gonna say a word” “I forgot” behavior inevitable, can’t learn – F SW FS ·       “those western magazines ranchmen love” idealized version – D ·       “I wanna get out of here” even Lennie sees bad, George doesn’t listen – FS F   chapter 3 ·        “no place for a girl” disrespect – P W ·       “You give me a good whore house every time” objectify, exchange for money – W ·       “Awright- take him” too weak to shot own dog – SW ·       “a shot sounded in the distance” violent end, mercy for dog – V J ·       “stared at the ceiling” lonely without dog – L F ·       “I ought to have shot that dog myself” guilt, too weak to take responsibility – SW ·       “had him (dog) so long” comfort in companionship, similar to “got kinda used to each other” Lennie similar to dog – F A SW FS ·       “won’t have no place to go” worthless without physical strength, alone – L SW ·       “Lennie looked hopelessly at George” weak without, dependent – F SW ·       Lennie “bleated with terror” lamb to slaughter, innocent, powerless – V SW A ·       “you god damn punk” see through tough exterior, looses respect – SW ·       “I didn’t mean no harm” unintentional violence, doesn’t understand strength –SW V ·       “flopping like a fish on a line” bear catching fish, used to describe wife – A SW ·       lonely ranchmen “get mean” desperate for relationship, connection, even violent one – V L F ·       “I don’t want no fights”, “sat down at the table, across from George” protected by friendship, no need for violence – SW F ·       “If you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to” assesses situation, decision, punishment, slim Judge – J ·       “If I was bright” excuses why dream isn’t reality, can’t accept improbability – D ·       “Lennie watched him with wide eyes”, “Candy watched him too”, mesmerized by dream, gives hope, brings together – D F ·       “wanted to touch that red dress” confides in Slim, good intentions, doesn’t see consequences, drawn to red, bull – A FS F ·       “if a friend come along, we’d have an extra bunk” friendship important part of dream – F D ·        “I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you” makes dream possible, desperate to join, avoid lonely, violent end – D L ·       “I aint got no relatives or nothing” dream all ranchmen have, give purpose – D L   chapter 4 ·        “just a Nigger talking” racism, weak opinions – SW P ·       “they left all the weak ones hers” wife belittling workers, attempt to gain power – W SW ·        “you ain’t wanted in my room” defensive, afraid of prejudice, accepts racism – P L ·       “why ain’t you wanted?” Lennie doesn’t understand racism, society, naïve – P ·       “nobody got any right in here but me” only place belongs, hide from racism, takes away others rights to strengthen own – SW P L ·       “ain’t a colored man on this ranch” automatic outcast, no strength in numbers – P SW L ·       brothers sleep “in the same room, right in the same bed” dreams, longs for innocence before racism – D P I ·        “tone was a little more friendly” friendship when sees no threat, not used to kindness – F P ·       “It’s bein with another guy” longs for companionship, equal – L F ·       “nobody never gets no land” cynical, hardened by experience – D ·       “we ain’t got nothing to say to you” stronger with dream, wife inferior – W D SW ·       “Listen, Nigger” “You know what I can do?” instead of solidarity, makes self seem stronger – SW P W ·       “I could get you stung up” no power herself, only through others, violence by proxy – SW V ·       “Crooks stared hopelessly at her” lowest status, mercy of others – P SW ·        “what she says is true” Wife ruins hopes, although own equally unattainable – D ·       “Sarurday night. Everybody out doin something” less freedom than workers, confined to ranch and Curley – W L chapter 5 ·       “and then he was dead” doesn’t understand own capability, harms weaker – SW V ·       “he was gonna put me in the movies” dreams of fame, admiration ·       “this guy said I was a natural” innocent believing dream easy for her ·       “her body flopped like a fish” curly slimily, bear – A SW ·       “sweet an young” sympathy - In ·       “Then - it’s all off?” unattainable, remains a dram, fragile – D ·       “I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house” accepts only a migrant worker, same lonely fate, dream further than ever – L D ·       “I guess we got to get him” respects importance of justice – J ·       “s’pose they lock him up” “That aint no good George” what’s best for Lennie, like dog – A J ·       “poor bastard” not poor girl, Lennie true victim – J ·       “the barn was darkening gradually” pathetic fallacy, loss of hope - D   chapter 6 ·       back in “Soledad”, George to be alone – L ·       “water snake” “swallowed” by bird, evil in form of snake causes fall from grace in Eden, Lennie as unsuspecting of fate, death comes quickly – A FS ·       sun “leaving the valley”, end of dream – D ·       “gigantic rabbit” his vision of American dream – A D ·       “Mind George because he’s such a nice fella” hallucinations of aunt clara, reflects weaknesses, dependence, L has subconscious deeper knowledge of self – SW ·        “I thought you was mad at me” greatest fear loosing George – SW F ·       “It don’t make no difference” nothing important now dream is lost, inevitable death, nothing to care for anymore – F D ·       “take off your hat” copying George’s hat again, giving up – F D ·       “we gonna get a little place” final time, surrendering dream - D ·       “back of the neck” like shooting dog – A J ·       “darkening slopes” pathetic fallacy – FS ·       “whisper” defeated, lost hope – D SW ·       “A guy got to sometimes” Slim like priest, absolving sin – V J SW ·       “what the hell ya suppose is eating them two gyus?” lacking empathy, worker voice to finish, ends violent and hardened like Carlson, nobody cares in the end  

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