Themes

Themes

1. Lonliness + Isolation

   • Everyone is lonely
     • The men on the ranch are like orphans. George says 'They got no family'
     • The bunk house guys blow their money every Saturday on prostitutes and booze
     • It's unusual for ranchers to make friends, everyone comments on how George and Lennie travel together
       • 'Funny how you an' him string along together'
     • Crooks lives all alone
       • He's segregated because he's black
     • When Lennie pays Crooks a visit he doesn't seem to want his company
       • He's used to lonliness and finds it hard to enjoy company
     • Curley is lonely even though he's married
   • No One can think of an Answer
     • Lennie and George think having their own place will solve anything
       • George doesn't seem to think this will ever happen
     • Lennie and George look after eachother
       • George still seems lonely
         • Tells Slim 'I ain't got no people'
     • Animals provide a temporary solution
       • Lennie kills them all
       • Carlson shoots Candy's dog
   • Looking for Companionship can be Dangerous
     • Ends in disaster
       • Crooks and Candy try to grab hold of George and Lennie's dream
         • Ends in bitter disappointment
       • Lennie holding the girl's dress in Weed, and Curley's wife
     • Curley's wife isn't happy in her father-in-law's house
       • Tries to get a bit of companionship by flirting but it ends in disaster
     • George mentions how his friend is in prison 'on account of tart'
       • Looking for companionship was dangerous for Andy

2. Prejudice

   • Crooks is generally treated badly
     • Treated with a mixture of contempt and indifference
       • He is either picked on or ignored
     • The boss is always giving Crooks 'hell'
       • Easy target for his frustration
     • Treated badly by characters with little power as he has less power than them
       • Curley's wife threatens to have him 'lynched'
         • As a married woman, her word is worth more than Crook's
     • Candy calls him a 'Nice fella' but doesn't seem to care that the ranchers treat him badly
       • Candy pauses with 'relish' at one of the ranchers picking a fight with Crooks
     • Slim treats him with civility
       • Doesn't talk down to him
       • Only person to go into Crook's room (aside the boss) before Lennie and Candy
   • Makes Crooks bitter
     • Angry that the others don't invite him to bunkhouse
       • Won't let other ranchers in his room
     • Crooks wants companionship
       • Besides the impression of being 'proud' and 'aloof'
       • 'A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody'
     • Dream of the farm appeals to Crooks
       • Believes he will be treat more as an equal
       • First one to realise the dream isn't possible
         • So used to disappointment
   • No Respect for their Elders
     • Candy is old
       • Knows it wont be long before they 'can' him
         • No one will employ him because he 'ain't much good with on'y one hand'
       • Feelings don't seem important - not much sympathy when Carlson wants to shoot his dog
       • Dog represents him - when he's too old to be useful he'll be got rid off
       • Curley's wife dismisses him as 'lousy ol' sheep'
         • See's him as no better than Crooks or Lennie