Introduction

The title of Mice and Men stresses how difficult it can be for even the simplest of
dreams to come true and that plans can go so wrong they result in disaster instead of
happiness. It also indicates how helpless people can be in certain circumstances,
when Fate turns against them and everything goes wrong.
The book is about two companions, George and Lennie, who are migrant ranch
workers. Lennie is backward and George finds himself constantly having to protect
him. They have travelled to Salinas to work on a ranch and the story follows the two
men in pursuit of a dream, owning their own piece of land.
The book was written in the 1930s, a period known as The Depression, a time of
high unemployment throughout America and many other countries. Industry was
hard hit, but rural areas suffered as much as the urban, possibly more in that farmers
had to contend with terrible droughts which reduced what were once productive lands
to huge dust bowls. Successive harvests proved so poor that farmers were often
unable to support themselves with the sales of their crops, let alone raise; money to
pay off the loans necessary to buy the land. If this led to eviction, or even desertion,
they would migrate to the western states in the wide-spread belief that here was
prosperity for all.
The work on the larger ranches would be carried out by migrants; men like George
and Lennie, and it would be seasonal. People were lucky to get a job at all. Even if
they didnt like the work or the pay was bad or conditions were poor, it was difficult for
them to complain when so many would be grateful for the work. However when the
job was done, they had no choice but to move on. Unemployment ultimately led to
poverty and hunger, and people losing their self respect and their homes.
During this time racism was also very common. If black people wanted to move into
so called white areas, they could live only in poorer parts. The role of the crooks
helps to show the relationship between whites and blacks, especially racism, since
the men habitually call him the nigger. It is a constant reminder that this is the kind
of behaviour black people has had to endure.
Similarly, there was a great deal of sexism. Women were expected to cook and
clean and behave with decorum whereas the men would go out and work, spend
their leisure in any way they chose and were always in charge. Curleys wife shows
how badly some women were treated. At heart she may have had good intentions
but all the men regard her as a tramp

THE EVENTS OF THE NOVEL

The novel is broken up into a series of six sections. They are not strictly chapters, as
they open and close a bit like acts in a play might. There are four settings in the
book: the brush next to the Salinas River, the bunkhouse, Crooks room and the
barn. Each section opens with a description of the setting, before leading up to
climax.
SECTION 1
The book opens with a peaceful description of the brush which is abruptly ended with
the entrance of George. It is clear that George, although smaller, is the leader of the
two because he walks in front. There begins a father /son style conversation during
which Georges irritation with Lennie becomes clear. Lennies obsession with pettin
soft things is also revealed as he has been stroking a mouse, which we assume he
has killed, before George orders him to hand it over.
We discover that the two are off to work on a ranch the next day and we also find out
they were run out of Weed, the last town they worked in although we are not told
why. Lennie is ordered by George to keep quite when they see the ranch boss so
that their chances of getting work are not ruined. After being sent to get firewood,
Lennie returns with the mouse and cries when George takes it from him. He then
repeats that he wants Ketchup with his beans at which point George rage explodes
at him. During Georges rant at Lennie, we find out why they were run outta Weed because Lennie touched a girls red Dress and then grabbed her when she
screamed. After George has finished shouting at him, Lennie tries to manipulate
George into feeling sorry for him by threatening to leave and find a cave if he is not
wanted. He succeeds in getting George to tell him about the rabbits and the dream
the two share, to have their own farm, is revealed. The section ends with George
telling Lennie to remember this place which is where he should return if there is any
trouble on the ranch.
SECTION 2
This section takes place on the next morning with the description of the dirty, poorly
furnished bunkhouse, before George and Lennie enter with an old swamper who is
later revealed to be Candy. George is annoyed at him after finding insect spray next
to the bunks that they have been given and Candy tells him the story about the
previous owner of the bunk. Candy clearly knows all the gossip on the ranch telling
the men that the boss is angry at them for being late and about how, the previous
Christmas, Crooks was brought into the bunkhouse so that he would fight one of the
other white workers
At this point a second character arrives. From the way he is dressed, it is clear he is
the boss. The boss proceeds to question the men and after Lennie speaks and
reveals himself to be simple minded., the boss becomes very suspicious and
accuses George of taking his pay from Lennie. George has to think quickly and lies
that Lennie is his cousin which pacifies the boss to an extent but he still says he will
be keeping an eye on the two. After venting his anger at Lennie, George speaks
harshly to Candy whom he accuses of listening to their conversations before
speaking in a more friendly manner to him. At this point Curley arrives and is
immediately aggressive. He seems to particularly want to intimidate Lennie. After he
leaves Candy explains that Curley is the boss' son and that he 'hates big guys'
because he is small. He then comments on Curley's glove before gossiping that
Curley has married a 'tart'. Curley's wife enters soon after and flirts with the men

straight away. Lennie seems fascinated with her George warns him to stay away
from her. Slim then enters and is friendly and welcoming to the men. He is followed in
by Carlson who, after finding out that Slim's 'bitch' has had puppies, raises the
possibility of shooting Candy's dog and giving him a puppy to look after. After
George promises to ask Slim for a puppy for Lennie. Curley returns rudely asking
after his wife. The section ends with Candy's dog falling asleep in the bunk house, a
signal that it will be important in the next section.
SECTION 3
Later that day, still in the bunk house, Slim, having given Lennie a puppy, has a
conversation with George which shows they are bonding. During the conversation,
George reveals to Slim how he met Lennie and confesses how badly he used to treat
him. He also reveals what Lennie did in Weed. After Lennie is sent back to the barn,
having come in carrying his pup, candy arrives with his dog complaining about a 'gut
ache'. Carlson tries to bullies Candy into allowing his dog to be shot, despite
George's attempts to sidetrack him and Whit distracting the other men with Bill
Tenner's letter in the magazine. Carlson is insistent that the dog needs to be shot
and, eventually, Slim agrees that the dog should be shot and Carlson takes it outside
leaving an uncomfortable silence in the bunkhouse. When the shot is heard Candy
rolls over in his bunk and starts to sob. Crooks enters and he and Slim leave for the
barn, at which point Whit talks to George about 'Suzy's place' the brothel the men
go to on Saturday night. Curley returns looking for his wife and asks where Slim is.
He is obviously looking for a fight. Thinking there might be one, Carlson and Whit
leave shortly after him. Lennie returns and gets George to tell him about the dream
farm. Candy becomes interested in the conversation and enquires about how much
the place would cost. George doesn't want to tell him at first, until he offers to put up
over half of the money they will need. This means the dream could come true within
a month. Before the other men return, George tells Candy and Lennie to keep quiet
what they have agreed, frightened that the other men might ruin the dream for them.
At this point, Slim returns followed by Curley and the other men. Slim angrily tells
Curley to 'lay offa' him and Curley seems to be apologising for suggesting that Slim
might have been with his wife. Carlson and Candy join in the attack on Curley who
challenges Carlson to 'step outside', but then back down when Carlson threatens
him. Humiliated, Curley brutally attacks Lennie who has been smiling about the
possibility of the dream coming true. After taking a vicious beating, Lennie finally
retaliates on George's say so and crushes Curley's hand. The men attend to Curley's
injury and Slim threatens to tell everyone exactly what happened if Curley tries to get
George and Lennie 'canned'. If he doesn't the men will claim that he 'got his hand
caught in a machine'. The section ends with the men taking Curley to the hospital
and George reassuring Lennie that he is not mad with him.
SECTION 4
This section takes place in Crooks' room on Saturday night after most of the men
have gone into town. After a description of Crooks' room and his possessions Lennie
enters and is immediately told to leave by Crooks. Eventually he reluctantly allows
him into his room where the two talk, with Crooks showing an understanding of how
why George lets Lennie travel with him . He then taunts Lennie about the possibility
of George not returning from town and this confuses Lennie to the extent that he
becomes aggressive and moves threateningly to wards Crooks. Crooks sees this and
succeeds in calming Lennie down before explaining the extent of his loneliness.
Candy comes in and talks about the dream. Crooks, at first, dismisses the possibility
of the dream becoming true but then becomes so enchanted by it that he offers to
join in with it and work for nothing. Curley's wife enters and both Candy and Crooks

are immediately wary of her. She begins to talk sarcastically about what a 'swell guy'
her husband is and seems pleased he had his hand 'busted'. She insults the men at
which point Candy stands up to her and tells her she should leave. Crooks tries to do
the same but is humiliated by Curley's wife who threatens to have him ';strung up on
a tree' Candy tries to defend Crooks but admits he would be powerless to stop this
from happening. Curley's wife leaves when the sounds of the men coming back from
town can be heard. George enters and is immediately angry with Candy for telling
Crooks about the dream. As the men leave Crooks tells Candy that he is not
interested in becoming part of the dream and goes back to putting medicine on his
back, as he was at the beginning of the section
SECTION 5
On Sunday afternoon in the barn Lennie is holding the body of his dead puppy. He
complains that it was not strong enough to pet before worrying about getting into
trouble with George. Curley's wife enters and Lennie explains that he is not allowed
to talk to her. She persists, and questions him about the pup before reassuring him
that he can get another one. Lennie explains he is more worried about not being able
to 'tend the rabbits' which he might not be able to do if he is found with her. She then
tells him about her dream t be a movie star and about how she met Curley, admitting
in the process that she doesn't like him. The conversation turns to Lennie's
fascination with stroking soft things and, finding something they have in common.
She lets him stroke her hair and when he gets too rough she screams. Trying to
silence her, Lennie picks her up and shakes her, breaking her neck in the process.
Realising what a 'bad thing' he has done Lennie leaves for the brush. Candy enters
and, after first thinking she is asleep, realises Curley's wife is dead. He immediately
goes for George who, realising the dream has ended, only thinks about protecting
Lennie from the other men. Candy agrees to George's request to tell the men what
has happened as if he has just found her. George then leaves for the bunkhouse
leaving Candy alone. Before Candy gets the men in, he abuses Curley's wife
accusing her of ruining his dream. When the men are called in Slim goes to the body.
Curley, realising Lennie is responsible, threatens to kill him and arranges a lynch
mob which Carlson and Whit excitedly want to become part of. Slim discusses the
situation with George implying that George needs to take control of this situation.
George lies about the direction Lennie would have taken and then the men all leave
after Carlson reports that his gun is missing. Alone, Candy covers his eyes with his
arm.
SECTION 6
It is early evening back in the brush and, after an initial description of the
surroundings, Lennie appears. He worries about George's reaction to what he has
done to such an extent that he hallucinates images of his Aunt Clara and a giant
Rabbit who talk to him about his fears. George arrives and, to Lennie's surprise, he
is not angry with him. Nervous about this, Lennie encourages George to 'give him
hell' which George does without any real feeling. Lennie then tries to manipulate
George into being nice to him by threatening to leave. He gets George to tell him
about the dream which George does before shooting him in the 'back of the head'
with Carlson's luger, when he hears the approach of the lynch mob. After the men
arrive George and Slim leave to get a drink leaving Curley and Carlson questioning
what is bothering them.

MAIN CHARACTERS

GEORGE
We are not told a lot about Georges appearance other than that he is small, short,
quick, dark of face with restless eyes. His features are also described as 'sharp and
strong 'and his body parts are small and strong. He has 'slender' arms and his nose
is thin and bony. As with other characters, Steinbeck uses physical description to give
us insights into his personality even before he speaks. His eyes show intelligence
and a nervous awareness of what is going on around him. They also, perhaps, give a
clue to his reluctance to trust anyone, until he gets to know them. The description of
his eyes also links to the fact that George seems to have the ability of foresight; he
seems to be able to predict what will happen before the event actually occurs. His
defined face is contrasted with Lennies, which is described as shapeless. This
highlights the different levels of intelligence of the two. Where the two are similar,
however, is in the way they dress; both wear shapeless hats, denim trousers and
coats. Their poor dress both links them together and highlights their lowly position in
society.
George could be considered the hero of the story. Certainly he has the courage of
hero. He is not prepared to be intimidated by Curley upon their first meeting. While
the physically much larger Lennie twists with embarrassment, George just stands
tense and motionless refusing to allow Curley to get the better of him. His bravery is
shown again by him risking his own future at the ranch by encouraging Lennie to
defend himself against Curleys attack. In a final act of bravery, he comes to a
decision about Lennies fate at the end of the book. This is a terrible decision to
make, but it is the right one, and George bravely carries it out. By doing this, he
spares his friend from a long painful death at the hands of the sadistic Curley.
Coupled with his bravery is a certain sense of sensitivity which is absent from many
of the other men on the ranch. He tries to deflect Carlson from his ambition to kill
Candys dog by changing the subject of the discussion I seen a guy in Weed that
had a Airedale could heard sheep. His sensitivity is also shown in his ability to make
self-deprecating comments. When Slim praises him, calling him a smart little guy,
George comments that he is not particularly intelligent. If he was he would not be
bucking barley for my fifty and found. However, this example of putting himself down
could also suggest his self-esteem is quite low.
Georges sensitivity makes the sheer impossibility of the dream coming true even
more sad. It is very little to ask for: a small farm and some livestock, and George
seems deserving of it. Yet the dream always seems an impossibility because of
Georges circumstances. The economic pressures of the time make work difficult to
find and he has to further contend with the burden of Lennie.
Although it may be argued that Lennie, because of his brute strength, helps George
secure work in the first place, he invariably loses them any job they find. It is a further
mark of Georges sensitivity and unselfish nature that he agreed to take charge of
Lennie in the first place, upon the request of Lennies aunt Clara. They have
developed a father son style relationship, and George has remained fiercely loyal to
Lennie by sticking by him when many men would have left him on his own. In return
for his loyalty, George benefits from Lennies childlike devotion. This makes the
loneliness George feels less acute than that felt by other characters in the novella.
Lennies presence also improves Georges level of self esteem. He considers
himself different to the other men who aint got nothing to look ahead to because, in

Lennie, he has someone who gives a damn about him. The very fact that he has a
companion makes him stand out from the other men and adds to his sense of
importance. The only other man who has a human companion in the novel is Curley,
the boss son, who has higher social status than he has
In spite of his need for his companionship, George can be very sharp tongued with
Lennie. He has sometimes gone further than speaking to him 'sharply' and admits
that he beat the hell outta him, knowing that Lennie would not retaliate. Yet this is
born out of frustration at either Lennies inability to stay out of trouble or his failure to
commit anything to memory, not from a bad temper or a desire to bully. Having seen
the dangers of taking advantage of Lennies devotion to him (Lennie nearly drowned
having been told to jump into the Sacramento river by George), George treats him
fairly. There is no suggestion than he is taking Lennies pay off him; something the
boss at the ranch accuses him of doing. Indeed, during Lennies hallucinations we
are told if George had a piece of pie he would give you (Lennie) half or moren half,
showing that he puts Lennie first.
George puts Lennie first for the final time, ironically, by killing him. He grants Lennie a
painless death, but Lennies death results in the painful death of Georges own
dreams for the future. George knows that without Lennie he has no future. Perhaps
the saddest part of the whole book is not the death of Lennie, but is when George
speaks about what the future holds for him. Because he is a more rounded character
we empathise with him more than we do with Lennie. We dont want to think of him
staying all night in some lousy cat-house, or set in some poolroom till everbody
goes home. We can only hope than he will become, like Slim, a ranch insider. This at
least guarantees him a future in the short term.
LENNIE
He is first introduced as a 'huge man' who walks heavily and has a 'shapeless face
and large, pale eyes'. His movements appear ponderous: he walks 'heavily, dragging
his feet a little and his arms swing only because his hands act as a pendulum'. This
description emphasises the slowness of his mind.
Like an animal, Lennie survives on instincts. In section 1, seeing water he
immediately goes to drink. He also displays a kind of animal cunning and can be
sometimes succeed in using it to get round George. In the first section, when
George loses his temper, Lennies response is to try and rouse his sympathy
(although is virtually amounts to emotional blackmail) by making him feel guilty when
he threatens to go off and live by himself in the hills. He also seems to have an
animal like nose for danger. He is unhappy about staying at the ranch (which
anticipates the tragedy) and begs George to let them leave.
Lennies animal-like qualities are reinforced by Steinbeck directly comparing him to
different animals. When drinking he is described as 'snorting like a horse', his hands
are described as 'paws'. Instead of screaming he 'bleats' when Curley attacks him
and is compared to a bear on several occasions. Because we often think of horses
and bears in particular as rather docile and cuddly, these comparisons all emphasise
his innocence and thus engage our sympathy. If this were not the case, it would
diminish the ending by making his death less tragic. However, his similarity to
animals also indicates his brute strength and the latent danger he poses to other
characters - he is incapable of reasoning like a normal human being and when
threatened, he acts instinctively to try and protect himself.

He looks up to George and often copies his actions, like a child does his father.
Being backward, he is unaware that he is a victim of social prejudice, for example he
fails to pick up on comments made by Crooks than normally developed people would
be insulted by, but he cannot relate to many people; which tend to make his
behaviour child-like and anti-social. He and George don't tend to have conversations
in the strictest sense of the word - George tends to tell Lennie to do things and he
either does or does not do them. The relating of the dream by George to Lennie is
like a father telling his son a bedtime story, and George has to repeat things he wants
Lennie to remember understanding that, like a young child, Lennie learns through
repetition and reinforcement. When large groups of people are present Lennie
prefers the company of animals staying in the barn for long periods with his pup.
Nevertheless, he will be sociable in a one-to-one situation shown when he actively
seeks out Crooks on Saturday night. Lennie is shown as likeable: Candy takes to him
and even the wary Crooks is disarmed by him.
Lennie cannot appreciate the need to be careful with anything fragile nor does he
learn from his mistakes. He is very child-like in the way he reacts when he panics hanging on for grim death and being completely unreasonable, just how a child would
behave in a similar situation. Lenniess downfall is because he doesnt know his own
strength. In attempting to silence Curley's wife he unwittingly breaks he neck
because, as George comment to Slim 'He's so damn strong'.
If Lennie could understand what loneliness felt like, he too would be lonely, but
because of his backwardness he has no conception of this type of emotion. Yet he
knows what it is to have something to look forward to. The dream is very important
to Lennie, so much so he nearly knows it himself off by heart. He loves to have
George tell him about it over and over again, like a child listening to a fairy story.
At the end of the story, Lennie has two hallucinations; first picturing his Aunt Clara,
and then a gigantic rabbit. Both of them launch into a tirade against him which gives
some idea of the abuse Lennie has been subjected to throughout his life. It could
also be a manifestation of his conscience- he knows that when you do wrong, you
have to be punished and worries what George will do to him. Lennie does know he
has done wrong, even if he is incapable of understanding how it was wrong. He has
no concept of his own responsibility blaming, for example, the death of the puppy on
the fact that it 'wasn't big enough'.
Lennie's greatest fear is, of course, not being able to tend the rabbits and he is
expecting to be given 'hell' when George returns to the brush for him. He is
disconcerted by George's morose attitude and actually encourages George to
chastise him, thinking that once this happens things will go back to normal. He has
no concept that the killing of a person is too serious for things to return to normal. It is
noticeable that he hides the dead puppy under his coat before leaving for the brush
commenting 'It's bad enough already' showing that, in his term, the death of a human
being and a puppy are of equal seriousness.
The dream is important to Lennie in as much that he wants it realised so that he can
'tend the rabbits', yet he is an integral part of it. In effect he is the 'glue' that holds the
dream together even though he makes no material contribution towards realising it.
In actual fact he hinders George's progress toward the realisation of the dream by
losing him 'every job I get'. However, Lennie's nave certainty that the dream will
come true, and his constant wish to be told about it, convinces the more pragmatic
George that one day he might be able to 'do her'. When Lennie kills Curley's wife the
dream dies for both George and Candy who states 'It's all off? But the dream lives on
for Lennie and in a final act of kindness towards him George gets him to visualise the

farm when he shoots him, arguably allowing him to fulfil his dream in the moments
before his death.

SLIM
Unlike Crooks and Candy, Slims nickname can be considered complimentary. This is
appropriate for a character who, like George, could be considered a heroic figure.
Described by Candy as a Hell of a nice fella he has a natural authority about him
which contrasts with the way both the boss and Curley feel the need to show their
authority through the way they dress Slim dont need to wear no high-heeled boots
on a grain team. Candys positive introduction of him is reinforced by Steinbecks
first description which elevates him to the status of royalty. He is described as the
prince of the ranch and certainly the other characters treat him with a level of respect
normally reserved for people of high social status.
Slim has clearly earned the respect the other men show to him whereas Curley and
the boss get it merely because of their position on the ranch. He speaks to George
and Lennie gently, in sharp contrast to Curleys aggression. In reality, he is
presented as the total opposite to Curley with Steinbeck stressing his height and his
straight hair which contrast with Curley's short stature and 'tightly curled' hair. The
fact that he has earnt his position through becoming a skilled worker 'jerkline skinner'
a opposed to being born into the ranch hierarchy also contrasts with Curley When
first speaking to George and Lennie, he welcomes them onto the ranch. He attempts
to make them feel part of things by saying that he hopes they will join his team. He is
unperturbed by the fact that the two travel together and generously offers one of his
pups to Lennie.
Slims quiet authority invites trust and he is the only character in whom George
confides. He tells Slim what Lennie did in Weed and Slim repays Georges trust in
him by digesting the information and refusing to judge Lennie harshly He aint mean .
. . I can tell a mean guy a mile off. This shows both his sensitivity and his ability to
understand people. Bearing this in mind, it might be difficult to understand why he
allows Carlson to shoot Candys dog, when he knows the pain it will cause him. The
answer to this lies in the authority he has over the other men. We are told Slims
opinion were law in the bunkhouse, and this effectively means that he is in charge of
it. It is therefore his responsibility to keep order and make sure the bunkhouse is a
harmonious place. This is no easy task considering the selfish characters he has to
deal with. He has the ability to see the bigger picture and would recognise that
Candys dog was becoming a source of discontent, which could lead to disruption
and possibly serious violence in the bunk house, particularly bearing in mind Carlson
has a gun. He may have decided that there was a need to sacrifice Candys dog in
order to maintain order. He at least shows some sensitivity towards Candy by offering
one of his pups as a replacement and reminding Carlson to take a shovel so that the
dog can be buried.
One of Slims most positive characteristics is the fact that he treats everyone equally.
He refers to Crooks by his name rather than 'the nigger' and is happy to flirt with
Curleys wife, giving her the attention she craves. His flirting shows a level of self
confidence absent in many of the other characters. He clearly sees it as a bit of fun
and is not worried about Curleys reaction to it. Curley, of course, does confront Slim
about him spending time with his wife. Far from being intimidated, Slim turns the
tables on Curley and the intimidated Curley ends up pathetically having to apologise
to him. Slim's self-confidence may come from the fact that, as a skilled, worker his
job on the ranch is secure. He probably realises that he is more important on the
ranch than Curley who is simply a labourer, even though he's the boss' son.
Slims fighting abilities are never put to the test during the novella, principally
because he is never put into a situation where he needs to show them, but there is a

suggestion that he might be handy. Whits ominous warning that Curley better leave
Slim alone. Nobody dont know what Slim can do suggests that this calm man has
an air about him that suggests he could be capable of explosive violence when
pushed. This is reinforced by his readiness to defend Lennie from Curley's attack
The dirty little rat. Ill get um myself until George stops him from intervening.
In the aftermath of the fight between Curley and Lennie, Slim shows both his
leadership qualities and his understanding of people. He makes quick decisions,
arranging for Curley to be taken to the hospital, and then making sure that George
and Lennie will not be canned because of what has happened. He realises that
appealing to Curleys better nature will be useless, so issues him with an ultimatum.
If he wants to avoid further humiliation through the story of what has happened being
told all across the ranch, he needs to not tell his father what has happened. Curleys
childish response to this is I wont tell.
Slims authority is shown again when it is he who goes to inspect Curleys wifes body
when the men are called to the barn. He once again quickly weighs up the situation,
realising that Lennie is responsible for her death and working out what needs to be
done with Lennie because of it. It is Slim who convinces George to give Lennie a
painless death by illustrating what the only alternatives to this will be. He realises that
George is likely to have considered killing Lennie himself and intimates that this is his
only real option: Curleys gonna want to shoot im. Curley. . .An suppose they lock
him up and strap him down and put him in a cage. That aint no good, George. His
encouragement of George to kill Lennie out of kindness is mirrored earlier in the story
when he himself drown four puppies to save then from starving to death, because
their mother would not be able to feed them.
Slims final act in the novella is to comfort George after he kills Lennie You hadda
George. I swear you hadda. He takes George for a drink knowing how upset he is,
and the only positive note at the end of the book is the suggestion that Slim and
George, who seem to have a certain chemistry between them, will become firm
friends.

CURLEY
Curleys name is a nickname derived from his curly hair. This nickname is unlike that
given to some of the other characters whose nicknames are derogatory. This does
not mean that Curley is liked by the other men, but they are forced to respect him
because he is the boss son.
Curley is the only one of the major characters who is not talked about by Candy
before they enter, but, in similarity to the other characters, the way Steinbeck
describes him physically gives a clue to his character. His 'tightly curled' hair
symbolises his personality. He is like a coiled spring with acts of violence liable to
explode out of him at any moment. When he first casts his eye coldly over George
and Lennie, we are told His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed
into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. These body movements show
aggression and a desire to intimidate the new arrivals. This is reinforced by the way
he speaks to them. He speaks in imperatives, commands, let the big guy talk, trying
to assert authority over them. Although he fails to intimidate George, he certainly
frightens Lennie.
Candy comments on Curley behaviour and blames his aggression on his diminutive
size, showing Curley has 'little man syndrome: Curleys like a lot of little guys. He
hates big guys. He also reveals that Curley is a useful boxer, but someone who
appears to choose his opponents carefully. He knows his reputation will be enhanced
if he licks a big man, and he is also safe in the knowledge that should he lose, the
other men will beat up his opponent for him, something Candy explains: Then
everbody says the big guy oughtta pick somebody his own size, and maybe they
gang up on the big guy.
Curley can behave in anyway he chooses because, as the bosss son, he has no fear
of being canned. He is obsessed with proving himself superior to the other men. He
dresses differently, wearing high heeled boots. However, he lacks the natural
authority to him command respect in the way that Slim does. Despite his attempts to
impress the man through acts of violence committed against bigger men, the other
men have nothing but contempt for him. It is also likely that he has failed to impress
his father who seems to have given him no real responsibility on the ranch. His
'brown face' suggests that he works out in the field along with the rest of the unskilled
workers.
Curley is quite childish and has even married a girl to show off to the other men. His
wife is no more than a trophy to him to be exhibited for the other men to look at when
he chooses. He does not treat her as a person in her own right, expecting her to stay
in the house all day on her own. His has spread the notion that he is keeping his
'hand soft for his wife' by wearing a 'glove fulla vaseline', showing his disrespectful,
childish, attitude he has to his wife. It is also ironic, as his visit to the brothel implies
there is no sexual contact between them anyway. Curley's wife gives him more than
he bargained for by showing spirit in refusing to stay in the 'two by four house' and
seeking attention from the other ranch hands leading to Curley becoming paranoid
that she is cheating on him.
Curley is a sadist who enjoys causing other people physical pain, but he is also a
fundamental coward. After failing to intimidate Slim, whom he believes is with his
wife, he pathetically tries to apologise Curley hung close to his elbow . . . Well, I
didnt mean nothing, Slim. He attempts to regain his dignity by threatening Carlson,
but he backs down again after Carlson, who recognises Curleys cowardice, warns
he will kick your (Curleys) god-damn head off. His humiliation complete once Candy
joins the attack on him glove fulla vaseline, he attempts to regain their respect by

viciously attacking Lennie, thinking Lennies simple mindedness will make him an
easy victim. However, when Lennie retaliates upon Georges instruction, Curley is left
badly injured.
Despite his severe hand injury, the reader feels no sympathy for Curley: he brought it
on himself. His promise not to get George and Lennie canned is motivated by selfinterest he wants to avoid further humiliation by hiding the truth of how he came by
his injuries. If he wasn't worried about being laughed at he would have
almost certainly got his father to 'can' both Lennie and George. His attempts to get
fellow workers 'canned' by running to his father every time he is presented with
someone who refuses to be bullied by him is childish and cowardly. His childish
nature is shown once again in the way he answers Slim's ultimatum. 'I won't tell' he
promises, like a reprimanded schoolboy.
Curleys next appearance in the book is when he is called to his dead wife. It is here
that his uncaring and sadistic nature is highlighted most graphically. The only
emotion that he shows that we would expect to see from a husband who had
discovered his wife killed is a desire for revenge, proving that he never really cared
about her. This desire is primarily motivated by a wish to punish Lennie for crushing
his hand. His sadistic nature is shown in his determination to give Lennie a long,
painful death Ill shoot im in the guts. Georges bravery in killing his best friend,
which provides a stark contrast to Curleys cowardice, prevents him from getting his
wish.
Curleys Wife
Steinbeck chooses not to give Curleys wife a name to show than she is merely seen
as a possession of Curleys. It also shows her insignificance she is the only woman
in a mans world and is therefore not treated as an equal. We are introduced to her
through Candys gossip. He gleefully informs George that Curley has married a tart.
He bases this assumption on the fact that he has seen her give some of the men the
eye which in his mind suggests she is sexually attracted to them. We might believe
this is true in the case of Slim, but might find in hard to understand why an attractive
young woman would be interested in the big-stomached Carlson.
Attractive she certainly is, and there is no doubt Curleys wife dresses provocatively.
She wanders round the ranch fully made up and dressed in red. This colour is
connotations of sex, and she is definitely a flirt. Steinbeck carefully describes her
body movements upon her first meeting with George and Lennie. She holds herself
in a provocative manner She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the
door frame so that her body was thrown forward. She also speaks in a flirtatious
manner. When responding to Georges statement that he will tell Curley she has
been looking for him she responds Nobody cant blame a person for looking, having
noticed that Lennie cannot keep his eyes off her.
It becomes clear, as the novella progresses, that Curleys wifes behaviour is driven
by a need for attention. Curley expects her to take in the traditional role of a wife and
remain in the home, but she is lonely, so seeks attention from the men in the only
way she knows how. Unfortunately, she does not get the attention she wants as most
of the men fear her, because of the fact that she is married to the boss son. The red
she wears has connotations of danger and the sense that she is dangerous is
highlighted when she is referred to as jail bait and we are told she will make a
mess. The only ranch hand who will have anything to do with her is Slim, who has no

fear of Curley. He playfully flirts with her hi good-looking' and he seems to be the
only person who is remotely nice to her.
We can feel a great deal of sympathy with Curleys wife because of her loneliness
and the fact that he treats her with disrespect. As well as expecting her to remain in
the house all day he leaves her on Saturday night to go to the brothel with the other
men. It is important to note that they are never seen together in the novella. There is
also a suggestion that he beats her; something the apprehensive look on her face
shows when she is told he has gone to the house looking for her. Additionally, we
sympathise with her because she, like many of the other characters, has broken
dreams. She claims she coulda been in the movies having been told this by a
Hollywood producer she met at a dance hall. To the reader it is clear that this man
was a fake who was only trying to impress her long enough to get her to have sex
with him. But Curleys wife naively believes he was telling the truth. She is so upset
that she never got that letter he promised to send, she convinces herself that her
old lady stole it rather than face the bitter truth that she has been taken advantage
of. On the rebound, and also in a desire to leave home, she married Curley.
Her desire to be in the movies shows ambition, which again makes the reader warm
to her. We dont blame her for being unwilling to stay in Curleys two by four, house
all day getting no attention whatsoever from her husband and admire her spirit in
defying him. Perhaps in easier time than Depression era California, she could have
gone on to 'make somethin' of myself'.
However, our sympathy for Curley's Wife decreases when we witness her treatment
of Crooks. After he tells her to leave his room she threatens to cry rape and have him
lynched. This humiliates Crooks and shows that Curleys wife, like the men, is a
racist. She could also be accused of being manipulative and of being a liar. Yet there
are parallels between the way she treats Crooks and the way Crooks himself treats
Lennie. Both Curleys wife and Crooks are weak characters who attempt to gain
power over the only characters who are in a weaker position than they are. Perhaps
their unpleasant behaviour is caused by the situation they find themselves in, rather
than being a true reflection of their personality.
The death of Curleys wife is sadly ironic, as it comes at the hands of the only
character in the novella who seems to spend any time with her Lennie. After
opening up to him and admitting she doesnt like her husband because he aint a
nice fella, she naively underestimates him thinking hes jus like a big baby and
allows him to stroke her hair. The reader is aware, having seen the damage that
Lennie does to things he touches, that this will lead to her death. Interestingly,
Steinbeck does not portray the death of Curleys wife as a sad event. His description
of her dead body suggests that, in death, she has been released from being trapped
in a cycle of unhappiness. Having explained that the meanness and the planning
and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face he
describes her as very pretty and simple, implying hat she is better off now that when
she was alive. Unfortunately, her death has a profoundly negative effect on a number
of the other characters, but ironically, not the character she would have wanted to
hurt most Curley.
CANDY
Like Crooks, Candy has been given an insulting nickname. It has obvious links with
sweets, which is ironic because there is very little that is sweet in his life. Candy is

also a popular American girls name, which is probably the reason why he has been
given it is the first place. He is physically weak, owing to his age and disability, and
he also does a job which, in the eyes of the men in the ranch, is womans work. He
is the swamper which means his job is to clean.
Candy has another aspect to his character which the other men might feel is
womanish. He is a gossip who relishes the chance to tell George all about the people
on the ranch. For the reader, he is a valuable source of information as he prepares
us for the entrance of several characters by giving his opinion on them before they
first appear. He claims Crooks is a hell of a nice fella, is happy with the boss and
also thinks very highly of Slim. Although he does not discuss Curley until after he first
appears, Candy shows a good understanding of his character. He blames Curleys
aggression on his lack of stature and also seems to have him down as a coward
Seems like Curley aint givin nobody a chance. However, Candys judgement of
character is shown to be flawed when he dismisses Curleys wife as a tart; a
statement based on sexist views rather than a true understanding of her.
It is whilst he is gossiping to George about Curley and his wife that we begin to gain
further insights into Candys character. He is reprimanded by George for explaining
why Curley wears a glove but, oddly, this makes him feel more comfortable rather
than less so: The old man was reassured. He had drawn a derogatory statement
from George. He felt safe now. This highlights Candys low self esteem. He is
clearly used to being spoken to in a derogatory manner by the other ranch hands and
doesnt feel comfortable until George speaks to him in the same way. It is as though
he has accepted a place at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and feels that it is
appropriate that this position is maintained when new men come in. He seems to
want to see George as stronger and more important than he is.
Candy's low self-esteem is caused by his age and disability. Both of these things
isolate him from the other men. There is such an age difference between himself and
the other men that he has little in common with them in the first place, and the fact
that his disability prevents him from working with them, makes it impossible for
Candy to form any real relationships.
Candys perceived lack of importance is brutally highlighted when the decision is
taken to have his dog shot. Unable to stand up for himself against Carlson he
pathetically pleads I had him too long and wait till tomorra and the dog is shot
against his wishes. Once this is done, he lies sobbing on his bunk. The shooting of
his dog is doubly hard for Candy. Not only has he lost his only companion whom he
loves, but he is also given a painful reminder of what his future holds. There are
distinct parallels between the dog and Candy. Both are old, disabled and have
become a burden. Effectively, they have reached the end of their usefulness. In this
cruel environment, anything that is no longer useful is discarded, and, although
Candy will not be shot when he is unable to work anymore, he will be canned and
with nowhere to go will be left to die in the gutter.
Candy is perfectly aware of his fate and recognises it would be a 'kindness' if
someone did shoot him, something his later conversation with George shows When
they can me here I wisht somebodyd shoot me. But they wont do nothing like that. I
wont have no place to go an I cant get no more jobs, yet he is given hope for the
future when George and Lennie allow him to become part of their dream. He
provides them with the one thing they need financial backing, and for a time the
dream looks like it is coming true.

Becoming part of the dream has a profound effect on Candy. His self-esteem rises
instantaneously, something which is highlighted when he joins in on the verbal attack
on Curley Glove fulla Vaseline. He said disgustedly. He is equally dismissive of
Curleys wifes insults later He was the master of the situation. I might have knew,
he said gently. Maybe youd better go along and roll your hoop. These comments
give us an insight into the kind of man that Candy must have once been and, with a
future, could be again. Unfortunately, the death of Curleys wife destroys Candys
hopes for the future. After finding Curleys wifes body Candy worries for Lennie but
his real concern is for himself. He wants reassurance that he and George can still get
the farm Now Candy spoke his greatest fear. You and me can get that little place
cant we George?. These thoughts are selfish and his selfishness is shown again
during his final appearance in the book. When alone with the body of Curleys wife,
rather than showing her pity he blames her for what has happened You god damn
tramp . . . everybody knowed youd mess things up.
Candys abuse of Curleys wife is distasteful, but it is caused by his own sense of
misery. Without Lennie, the dream will not become a reality and this effectively
means that Candy has no future. He may consider that Curleys wife is actually in a
better position than he is. We cant blame Candy for being selfish. Nobody cares
about him, so he needs to put himself first.
CROOKS
Crooks only makes a brief appearance prior to section four, but by this point we
already know a great deal about him. We can assume his name is a nickname given
to him by the other men, which refers to his crooked back. His disability has been
caused by him being kicked in the back by a horse.
Before we meet him we learn he is an excellent horseshoe player. After giving him a
back-handed compliment Jesus how that nigger can pitch shoes, Carlson complains
he dont give nobody else a chance to win. The casual racism shown here is typical
of the attitude the other man have towards Crooks. It is no surprise that he is
competitive, having been forced to be subordinate to white people all of his life, and it
is his desire to get the upper hand over white people that motivates his cruel
treatment of Lennie later in the book. He is forced to live separately, because the
white men will not tolerate his presence in the bunk house. We learn that on one
occasion, he was invited into the bunkhouse. This happened the previous Christmas
but Crooks was not invited in to share the festivities. Instead, he was there to provide
entertainment, in the form of fighting. We are shown this when Candy explains that
one of the hands took after him.
Crooks lives alone in a box room next to the stable. He may be regarded as
fortunate to have his own space while the other men are forced to share, but, during
his detailed description of Crooks room Steinbeck reveals his conditions are actually
poorer than the other mens. Instead of a bunk Crooks has a long box filled with
straw and he reveals himself that there is a manure pile under his window. His living
conditions are on a par with those enjoyed by the animals.
Steinbecks careful description of his room reveals a great deal about his character.
We are told his room was swept fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man. He
also has far more possessions than the other men, and these possessions are used
to symbolise his character. He possesses a shotgun, which is presumably for selfdefence, 'several pairs of shoes' which might suggest a desire to walk away from the
ranch. The 'big alarm clock' symbolises his loneliness as them men in the bunkhouse
would not need such an item as there would be other people to wake them if

necessary. He also has a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905 which
suggests an interest in the law. Crooks is shown during his conversation with Lennie
to be fundamentally aware of his rights. His careful reading of the laws of California
have taught him that, in terms of the written law, he is the equal of white people, even
if his day to day experiences do not show this to be the reality of his situation.
The final item of interest that Steinbeck describes is Crooks large gold-rimmed
spectacles. These are used to symbolise intelligence, which is later reinforced later
by the description of his eyes which lay deep in his head, and because of their depth
seemed to glitter with intensity The use of the word depth is interesting here
because Crooks has greater depths than most of the other characters. He is the
most perceptive person on the ranch and also the most self-aware. His
perceptiveness is shown when he provokes Lennie by questioning whether George
will return. Unlike Curleys wife later on, Crooks recognises the unpredictability of
Lennie, and the danger he poses to him. Recognising this, he is able to avoid being
hurt by him.
Crooks apology to Lennie shows his level of self-awareness. His attack on Lennie is
partly motivated by a desire to show Lennie how he feels: alone and isolated maybe
you can see now You got George. . .suppose you didnt have nobody . . A guy needs
somebody - to be near him. . . I tell ya a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick. Unlike
the other characters, Crooks shows he recognises the true extent of his loneliness.
What is more, he understands the psychological effect it has upon him. This is shown
when he admits to possible hallucinations I seen things out here.
Crooks loneliness is more acute than that experienced by the other men for a
second reason, aside from the fact that he is isolated from the other ranch workers
because of his skin colour.. Steinbeck, uniquely in the book, chooses to reveal
aspects of Crooks childhood. He explains he was never alone: Had two brothers.
They was always near me, and a farm to live on. Having become accustomed to
companionship and a home of his own, the loneliness he currently feels will be
doubly difficult for him to cope with. Prior to Lennie's arrival at his room, we are told
that only Slim and the boss have ever been inside highlighting his lack of
companionship on the ranch
Considering his past, it is hardly surprising that he wishes to become part of George
and Lennies dream. He is initially scornful of the idea of the farm Nobody never gets
to heaven, and nobody gets no land, but the passion that Candy and Lennie show
when talking about it convinces him that it can come true. Crooks hopes of joining in
the dream are dashed, however, when his altercation with Curleys wife ends in
humiliation and total loss of self esteem Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. In
the eyes of the law he may be equal but faced with a white woman crying rape, he
would be lynched before any due legal process could take effect. This is final proof of
his subordinate position, and upon realising he would have to take orders from
George if he were to live on the 'dream' farm Crooks withdraws from it. Having failed
to become part of the dream Crooks is consigned to a life of continued loneliness and
pain on the ranch, symbolised by the fact that he returns to rubbing his back with
'liniment', the thing he was doing before Lennie and Candy arrived at his room.
MINOR CHARACTERS
THE BOSS
The Boss is first mentioned by Candy who, perhaps surprisingly when we meet him,
describes him as a pretty nice fella. This is perhaps because he gave the men ' a
gallon of whisky' the previous Christmas, an act of generosity George can't believe,

showing that other bosses at the time were probably even worse than him. However,
this also may show the Boss' understanding that he need to keep his key workers
happy. At Christmas, because it is winter, there would be no migrant workers, such
as George and Lennie on the ranch, only skilled workers such as Slim that the boss
might not be able to afford to lose. Candy does, however, warns George and Lennie
about his temper.
The Boss is Curleys father presumably his wife is dead since she is never
mentioned and the only woman on the ranch is his daughter-in-law. Stocky and fat
legged; he wears a black unbuttoned vest and a black coat. He also wears blue
jeans, like everybody else, but has high heeled boots and spurs to prove he is not a
labouring man, a badge of authority. But this is artificial authority, compared with
Slim who has natural authority and does not need to wear things, or to do things, to
prove it. The boss seems to think he need to prove himself superior to the men by
dressing more expensively, something his son Curley seems to have picked up from
him. He is also a racist as Candy reveals he gives the 'stable buck hell' when he is
angry because he is a 'nigger'.
When the boss first appears he is very annoyed at first because the two men are
late arriving and immediately takes half a day's pay away from them, not accepting
George's truthful claim that the bus driver dropped them off ten miles away, showing
the few rights workers had at the time. He, however, soon recovers his temper and
seems amused by George doing all the talking: The Boss pointed a playful finger.
He then gets suspicious and becomes increasingly irritated because George will not
allow Lennie to speak, to try and make sure the other man doesnt say anything he
shouldnt. Ironically, his protectiveness makes the Boss think he plans to cheat
Lennie out of his wages showing, in addition to his suspicious nature, his inability to
understand that George is looking after Lennie out of the kindness of his heart. He
does at least except George's explanation that Lennie is his 'cousin' perhaps
showing an understanding of family loyalty and a need to look after your loved ones,
something he may also show by apparently 'canning' workers on Curley's say so.
We do wonder, however, what kind of a father he has been to Curley for him to turn
out as the despicable bully he has.
CARLSON
Introduced to George and Lennie by Slim, he is a large man with a big stomach, he is
initially friendly, but proves himself totally selfish and unable to understand how
people can form emotional attachments . He is quite determined to make Candy
agree to get rid of his beloved dog because he doesn't like the way it smells . When
he asks Slim beforehand if the old man can have one of his dogs puppies, this might
be viewed as an act of sensitivity on the part of Carlson,. However, he fails to
appreciate Candy's deep attachment to his dog and that simply replacing it with a
puppy will lessen the misery Candy will feel when it is killed.
Carlson is also very inconsiderate. When he enters the bunk house he immediately
switches on the light without asking anyone, despite the fact that there are already
men in room who may have preferred the darkness. Slim also has to remind him to
bury the dog after he has shot it. Without this reminder he would have certainly left
the corpse of the dog to rot outside for Candy to find the next day making his misery
even worse. He also thoughtlessly cleans the gun in front of Candy. Later, both he
and Whit are eager to see what happens when Slim and Curley fall out, showing a
liking for violence. Which he threatens to unleash on Curley when he squares up to
him.

By threatening Curley, Carlson is risking his job. However, as an average migrant

worker, which Steinbeck has included him in the novel to represent, he accepts that
he will move on soon anyway. He is important not only as a means of comparison for
the heroic Slim, at one extreme, and the weaker characters: Curley, Candy and
Crooks at the other, but in also showing us the feelings and attitudes of the average
migrant worker at the time. His selfishness and insensitivity can be understood when
taken in the context of America at the time, where the economic situation meant that
men like him were forced to only look out themselves., And Steinbeck shows through
him mean, selfish and hard-hearted men in this situation will become. Carlsons role
is also necessary, since he is the one most instrumental in having Candys dog put
down, which foreshadows the shooting of Lennie. On both occasions, his gun, a
symbol of his power, is used. He is important enough for Steinbeck to give him the
last lines of the book. As Slim and George go off together he comments: ' Now what
d'you suppose is eatin' them two guys?' Showing his total inability to grasp the pain
that George will be going through having just killed Lennie.
WHIT
A young hand, the only description is of his poor posture; the way he walks with
'sloping shoulders bent forward' suggests he does a lot of heavy work which has
damaged him physically as he still looks as if he is carrying an 'invisible grain bag'
Like Candy, he is addicted to gossip and would rather talk than play cards. Through
him we learn about the younger men on the ranch as he talks to George about the
brothel they go to on a Saturday night. During this conversation, we learn more about
the harshness of the lives of workers like him as he talks fondly about the 'nice chairs
' in 'Suzy's Place' showing how little comfort and relaxation the men get on the ranch.
We also learn more about the other characters, in particular Curley and his paranoia
that his wife is with another man. He also cautions against anyone getting on the
wrong side of Slim 'nobody knows what Slim can do'. Through him we also learn that
George has principles, since he is not impressed by Whits explanation that it is
common practice to check out ranches by arriving on a Saturday afternoon, which
means free bed and board, without doing any work. This also shows that many
migrant workers took no pride on their work and showed no real loyalty to their
employers, perhaps because they were shown none themselves, and had to endure
harsh conditions.
The major importance of this character is that he is used to pinpoint one of the few
instances in the whole book of somebody having a dream come true. He remembers
a former hand, Bill Tenner telling him that hed written to a magazine and Whit has
now discovered that they actually published his letter. This is such a trivial example
of celebrity yet he handles the magazine like a relic and wont even let George hold
it. Perhaps letting go would symbolise the letting go of hi own dreams for the future.
Because the published letter is seen as proof that the impossible really can happen,
it gives the men false hope and makes their dreams even more poignant.
Like Carlson, Whit seems to find violence exciting. He eagerly follows Curley out of
the bunkhouse thinking he, might witness a fight between him and Slim. He also
readily 'excitedly' joins the lynch mob complaining 'I ain't got no gun, possibly
showing a desire to commit act of violence himself. He may, however, just want to be
present at the lynching to give him something else to gossip about.

STRUCTURE STYLE AND TECHNIQUE

STRUCTURE
The most appropriate label for a story this length is novellai.e. in between a short
story and a novel, perhaps a long short story. It is divided into six sections which
have a greater resemblance to scenes in a play that they do to chapters in a book.
Even the descriptions, whether of setting or a particular character, could be
interpreted as stage directions; there is very little authorial comment, something
which can rarely be utilised in a play. Given its dramatic style, the degree of conflict
and tension and the amount of dialogue, it is not surprising that the book has been
successfully adapted for the stage.
One curious similarity is the way Steinbeck tells the reader what is going on, rather
showing what is happening. For example, the sounds which indicate the return of the
hands for lunch: the noises of the horses and the carts, somebody calling for the
stable buck. Likewise, and actor will make an entrance in order to explain about
something which occurs off stage.
The content of the book, as well as the structure is very straightforward, with just two
settings (by the pool and at the ranch) and a few characters. They are depicted with
a remarkable economy. Events unfurl chronologically, something which is rarely a
feature of recent novels, which often utilise flashbacks and move back and forth in
time. Steinbeck does occasionally use flashback, to increase tension or add to the
atmosphere. The mysterious event at Weed is revealed when George confides in
Slim and Lennies hallucination at the end of the book, when he remembers life with
Aunt Clara which encourages us to feel even greater sympathy for him
The writer also sticks largely to the conventional structure of a play. In general each
of the six scenes builds up to a minor climax; second section confrontation between
Curley and George: third Lennie crushes Curleys hand; fourth Crooks debunks
the mens plans; five the men set off in pursuit of Lennie after the death of Curleys
wife. These all build up to the major climax which concludes the story.
The novella is circular starting and ending in the same place. This form adds to the
sense of inevitability: that George and Lennie can make no progress and end up right
back where they started, but in an even worse situation. The opening scene is thus
slightly different to the rest, since it cannot be said to have much of a cliff ending at
its close, other that the mens anticipation of working at a new place. Nevertheless it,
too, is in traditional format, setting the scene and introducing the two main characters
before moving into the world of the ranch.
One criticism of the structure is the introduction of the fantasy sequence towards the
end since Lennie does not really seem the kind of person to have hallucinations,
especially ones so lucid, even if he has found himself in such a stressful situation.
This may be simply a device, clumsy perhaps, to paint an even more sympathetic
picture by showing Lennies unhappy upbringing and the utter futility of his dream.
It has also been suggested that Steinbeck is too fond of dropping clues
(foreshadowing) and the amount of occasionally heavy-handed hints thus give the
game away. However, this depends also on the way it is perceived by the reader;
while some will spot things immediately, others are prone to ignore the obvious.
Possibly, some readers may feel cheated in that it is pretty obvious how the book will
end yet it is very unlikely that they will finish the story without feeling pity for George
and Lennie and their predicament.

Foreshadowing is used throughout the novel. Lennie's killing of the mouse at the
beginning foreshadows his later killing of the pup and, eventually, Curley's wife. The
incident with the girl in Weed also foreshadows the death of Curley's wife as they are
linked together, not only because they are very few women mentioned in the novel,
but through their wearing of 'red'. The death of Candy's dog, shot by Carlson's luger,
also foreshadows Lennie's death.

STYLE
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the satisfactory blend of styles:
description can be either lyrical or very down to earth, whilst dialogue is colloquial.
This, together with the authors sense of drama, adds to the flow of the story.
ATMOSPHERE
Both the first and final parts of the novella take place in the same surroundings, by
the Salinas River and thus the action comes full circle, showing that Migrant worker's
lives come full circle and they never seem to improve. However, because they are
described so differently, this highlights the changes which have occurred. In the first
instance, the words used create a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere: warm, fresh,
green, golden, crisp and so on. These all convey hope and optimism, and make the
place seem almost idyllic; even the animals mentioned, rabbits and deer, are
appealing. There are also auditory images, such as the rustling of the leaves. This
seems to be a popular resting place since the lower branch of the sycamore has
been worn smooth from the number of people who have sat there, relaxing.
The end of the book is in great contrast. Although both scenes take place in the early
evening, in the first instance, the two men are looking forward to the dawn of a new
day, at the end, night is about to fall. Now, the words used are disquieting: fallen,
twisting, motionless, silent etc. They make the atmosphere tense and unsettled,
preparation for the tragic act about to unfold. Even the animals have changed, for
example, the symbolism of the sight of a heron eating a water snake foreshadowing
Lennie's quick death at the hands of George
Steinbeck sets the scene each time with a description of the surroundings before
introducing speech. This is always colloquial, relevant to the 1930s, the time in
which the novel is set. Although authentic, with a realistic liveliness and a fair
amount of humour, it is inclined to be technical when dealing with life on a ranch, and
therefore a little difficult to follow at times.
The conversation about Bill Tenners letter breaks the tension of Section 3,
interrupting Carlsons coercion of Candy, when he forces him to agree to have his
dog put down. For a moment, life seems more hopeful because the former hand has
achieved his dream of having his letter published but this is an illusion and is rapidly
succeeded by the grim reality of the death of Candy's dog against his wishes.
Similarly, the surprising peacefulness following the death of Curleys wife, where
Steinbeck describes her as being better off, is in great contrast to action that follows
it with Curley organising a lynch mob.
SYMBOLISM
One of the best examples is the comparison between Candy and his dog, and
George and Lennie. Both the dog and Lennie end up being put down spared any
more misery. Also the dog mirrors, being 'old and crippled and has become a
burden, and its death focuses Candy on his own situation, knowing that he will be
mercilessly 'canned' when he is too old to work. Similar to the dog , Lennie is often
described using animal imagery such as a horse and a terrier, especially when he
first makes his appearance symbolising his instinctive nature: This helps to arouse
sympathy for him and thus the ending has greater significance to the reader.
Similarly, his child-like behaviour is symbolised when he soaks both his head and his
hat in the pool and plays with the water, splashing it about. When he first appears,
he is literally following in Georges footsteps and bumps into him when his friend
suddenly stops.

These particular images are reinforced by Lennies own fondness for animals and
stress his fatal flaw, his inability to comprehend his own brute strength. Likewise his
inability to remember things the one thing he never forgets, as George points out, is
the rabbits. Similarly, it underlines the inevitable, the progression from the mice,
which die as a result of being smothered with love, then his puppy and finally
Curleys wife.
One particularly striking image is that of the water-snake with its periscope head.
Ironically, it is Lennies sudden appearance which startles the heron, thus saving the
life of the second snake.
Light is constantly referred to, and as a symbol of hope, can be seen to stand for The
American Dream. When Curleys wife first appears, she is in the doorway, blotting
out the light, just as she unwittingly, means the ruin of the mens dreams.
Conversely, there is a wry humour in Slims claiming to be dazzled by the sunshine,
since he is the one with the greatest insight and sees things far more clearly than
anyone else. Its brightern a bitch outside.
The theme of loneliness is also symbolised. The ranch is near the town of 'Soledad'
which in Spanish literally means the 'town of the lonely' George also plays 'solitaire',
a card game for one player symbolising his loneliness and also foreshadowing
Lennie's death by implying George will end up on his own.
Crooks' possessions are symbolic of his character. The gun perhaps showing a need
for protection and the 'gold framed glasses' his intelligence. The 'mauled' copy of the
'California civil code symbolises his obsession with his rights, even though they are
rarely adhered to by the men.
Curley's wife's wearing of red is also symbolic. It suggests the danger that she
proves to be when her death wrecks the dream. The colour also has links with
prostitution, perhaps explaining why most of the men think she is a 'tart'. The colour
may also symbolise the love and attention that she is yearning for which her selfish
husband is unable to supply.

MAIN THEMES
DREAMS
Dreams play an important role in the book. Nearly all the characters suffer great
hardship in their daily lives and their dreams are very important to them, giving them
something to aim for. It makes their problems a little more bearable, by providing a
means of escapism, particularly from prejudice, loneliness or general unhappiness.
The dreams come in different forms. Georges plan was to have his own piece of
land, where he and Lennie would live. He could be his own boss and thered be no
uncertainty or need to worry about the other man getting into trouble all the time. It
would also give him dignity and self-respect through the nation that he had achieved
something, in his life. To Lennie, the main advantage was that he would have his
own rabbits to look after. Once Candy hears about it, he is remarkably keen on being
involved, offering all his savings, and to help out, realising that it gives him a future.
He also comments on the satisfaction he would get in harvesting crops for himself
rather than somebody else. He appears to have real faith that it will go ahead;
whereas Crooks backs out at the last minute. His private dream is based on
childhood memories when he felt secure and surrounded by family and friends,
people who cared about him. He also dreams of equality, and probably pulls out of
dream farm after realising he would be ordered around by George.
George and Lennies dream was a common one among ranch hands, most of whom
were migrants. Without a permanent home, they were rootless and forever travelling,
always to be under someone elses control. They dreamed of independence,
security and being their own boss.
Curley seems to have realised his ambitions since he has been successful at boxing
and has now acquired a wife, something for which he believes other men will envy
him. Neither have made him happy because he is obsessive about both. In fact,
boxing has made him even more aggressive and therefore even more unpopular and
his marriage has made him a laughing stock. Curley is an example of life turning
sour when dreams do come true, they have not given him the admiration and respect
of the other men which he yearns
Marriage has not proved to be a dream come true for his wife either, since she
appears to have got married mainly to get away from her mother. Her dream is on a
much grander scale and far harder to fulfil than the simple and practical ambition of
owning land: Curleys wife is convinced she would have been much better off if she
were in the movies. She dreams of this career because she was assured she would
be good at it by an actor, although her mother wouldnt allow it because she was only
fifteen. When another man claimed to be in the same business and said hed write to
her about getting into the movies; she thinks her mother must have stolen the letter
and blames her for ruining her chances of becoming a famous actress.
One thing all the dreams have in common is the unlikelihood of ever coming true.
Curleys wife suspects she may have missed her chance whereas George knows
how difficult it will be to scrape enough money together. Crooks, momentarily
allowing himself to hope for the best, changes his mind in the end and re-iterates his
cynicism, showing the reader of the impossibility of George and Lennies dream.
Deep down all the characters probably know their dreams wont come true but
cannot relinquish them because otherwise, they could not get by, living such a hard
life. Lennie is the exception, simply because he doesnt understand; to the end, he

remains blissfully ignorant and gets as close to realising it as anyone, dying whilst
imagining the dream has come true.
Above all, it is George and Lennies dream which makes the book unforgettably and
unbearably poignant. They need so little to make them happy and came so close to
achieving it, but for them, it proves to be as impossible as wishing for the moon. The
tragedy of Lennies death is such that the reader is possibly inclined to overlook the
fact that once George recovers, because he no longer has the responsibility of taking
care of Lennie, he does in fact stand a far better chance of making his dream come
true. And yet, without Lennie, would it mean anything to him?
There are examples of dreams coming true in the novel. Lennie wishes for a puppy
and he is given one by Slim and Carlson fulfils his ambition to kill Candy's dog.
Perhaps the most obvious example of a dream coming true is that of Bill Tenner, who
has his letter published in a magazine. This small dream coming true causes great
interest amongst the rest of the men. Whit refusing to let go of the magazine, when
George holds his hand out for it, could symbolise his desire to hold on to his dreams.
For dreams to come true in Of Mice and Men, they need to be kept simple. Only
Curley who has the advantage of being born as a ranch owners son, giving him
higher status can afford to have dreams that are more difficult to realise.
LONELINESS
Nearly all the characters experience loneliness in one way or another and George is
perhaps the one who expresses his feelings most powerfully. He can ward it off to a
certain extent because of Lennie, which may be part of the reason that he looks after
the other man and puts up with the trouble he so often, if unintentionally, causes.
Lennie is the only real friend and companion but because he is backward, George
finds it hard to relate to him and share his feelings with him.
Lennie appears to have no family except his Aunt Clara and has been with George
ever since she died. However, loneliness does no bother him quite as much as it
does the other men simply because he is incapable of fully understanding what it
means to be lonely; it takes very little to make Lennie happy.
Candy is old and crippled and nobody pays him much attention; he is barely tolerated
and so his dog really matters to him. When it is killed he is consigned to a life of
loneliness which is one reason he is so keen to become part of George and Lennie's
dream.
When Crooks tells Lennie about his idyllic childhood, he mentions that theirs was the
only coloured family for miles around, recalling how his father didnt like him playing
with white children. Now, there is just one coloured family in Soledad which means
he is more isolate that ever. He is made to feel even more of an outcast because he
is crippled and is therefore very suspicious of people. He keeps himself to himself,
usually sitting in his room reading, which may be from choice but he still hates feeling
lonely. Nobody visits him, except the Boss and Slim, and when Lennie and Candy go
to see him, he seems annoyed because he is used to being alone and its as if his
privacy has been invaded. Secretly, he is pleased to have company.
Curleys wife is lonely because she doesnt like her husband and is always trying to
avoid him whilst at the same time making the excuse that she is constantly looking
for him. Her foolish behaviour means she is regarded as a tart, which has developed

into a vicious circle since the more she seeks attention, the less the men will talk to
her in case they get into trouble. It is loneliness that ultimately leads to her death,
ironically at the hands of the only person who has given her any attention.
PREJUDICE
Many of the victims are victims of prejudice, including George, simply because of his
association with Lennie, which, in this selfish society, people do not understand.
Curley, however, is so insecure that he believes others are prejudiced against him.
He bolsters his ego because of this, picking fights, and a woman who is highly
unsuitable as a wife. Both he and his father wear high heeled boots as a badge of
authority, as if it were to ward off prejudice on the ranch hands part, if they were to
literally look down on these two men, simply because of their lack of height, this
would challenge their status.
Lennie is excluded by the ranch hands when it comes to card games and the horseshoe tournament because he is backward. This treatment is harsh, but logical since
he would never understand the rules. However, it is because he is backward that
they wont even allow him to socialise with them.
Candy is largely ignored by the other hands and is expected to do all the dirty work,
and he does a job 'swamping' that they would consider woman's work. The men, like
Carlson, have no respect for him because he is old and disabled and few qualms
about having his dog put down.
Curleys wife would be treated with disdain in any event because the men believe
that a ranch is no place for a woman. In addition, since Curley is unpopular, they
dont have any respect for her anyway. Furthermore, they take if for granted that her
flirting means she is bound to cheat on him. Because they are prejudiced against
her, they cannot see that her behaviour is actually the result of her loneliness.
Crooks is the one that suffers the most from prejudice. When the Boss loses his
temper he takes it out on the stable buck, yet Crooks seems almost proud that both
the Boss and Slim visit him, unlike the other men; Candy has never set foot inside his
room before. However, its part of the Bosss job to keep and eye on the hands, just
as it is Slims job to take care of his team, which is why he is often in the harness
room, where Crooks has his bunk.
Although the men let Crooks take part playing horseshoes, and he is grudgingly
admired for his ability, he was only allowed in the bunk-house at Christmas and then
as part of the entertainment: to fight one of the skinners. He cant go in there to play
card games or socialise with the other hands, who insult him by saying it is because
he stinks. Carlson makes the same complaint about Candys dog which suggests he
regards Crooks as no better than an animal, and a useless one at that.
SEXISM
The reader should bear in mind; that the book was not written with this theme
specifically in mind though it is clear that Steinbeck feels very strongly about all kinds
of prejudice. Sexism, as he shows, has always existed, even if not referred by that
particular label.
Curleys wife, for example, is shown to be regarded as completely unimportant in the
way that she is not even given a name. She is nothing more that Curleys
possession and because this is how everybody sees her, she has little identity of her
own. One thing that makes matters worse is that her husband wears a glove filled
with Vaseline, purportedly to keep his skin soft and smooth, for her benefit. Far from

showing any kind of consideration towards his wife, it is more to establish publicly his
sexual prowess. It makes her appear to be nothing but a sexual object, good for only
one thing.
Not surprisingly, she is desperately lonely and does not realise that her childish
behaviour, a mixture of attention seeking and getting her own back on Curley, makes
matters far worse. She tries to keep her spirits up by getting herself all dressed up,
making something of herself, though there is nobody to impress but the hands. But
the way she looks brands her as not better that a 'tart'. The men are suspicious of
her motives, uneasy in her presence because flirting with her will anger Curley.
Since Lennie does not (cannot) react like the other men, she thinks he is sympathetic
towards her and that he may even like her.
George appears to view women as dangerous telling Lennie (quite rightly as it turns
out) to keep his distance from Curley's wife describing he as a 'rat trap' and 'jailbait'
He also tells the story of Andy Cushman and intelligent boy who went to grammar
school' who is now in 'San Quentin', a prison, 'on account of a tart'.
A ranch is a mans world, after all, so it is hardly surprising there are few female
characters. However, none of them are viewed with much sympathy, although the
down to earth conversation about Susy and Clara; who both run brothels, is by no
means as obscene as some authors might have written about it. The only other
woman is Lennies Aunt Clara who seems to have been a very bossy, highly critical,
foul mouthed old woman. Nevertheless, she did not give Lennie mice and when she
stopped doing that because they always ended up dead, she even tried a rubber one
though he didnt like it: It wasnt no good to pet. He tells Curleys wife how Aunt
Clara once gave him a piece of velvet because he liked the feel of soft things.
Ironically, when Whit is describing Susy to George, he appears to think more highly
of her than he does of Curleys wife, saying shes a laugh and has a hell of a nice
place. Yet Suzy encourages sexism and propagates the myth woman are dangerous
by shown when Whit comments that men are walking 'bow legged' after visiting
Clara's place, suggesting the prostitutes there are carrying sexually transmitted
diseases. He assures George that she charges a reasonable amount, doesnt water
down the whisky and the girls are clean. In fact, the only time Curleys wife is shown
in a more sympathetic light is after her death: very pretty and simple with a face that
is sweet and young. She looks the picture of innocence and no longer shows any
signs of being mean, discontented and attention seeking. Being forced to live such a
repressed, frustrating life, it seems that, liked Lennie, she has now been put out of
her misery.
SELFISHNESS
Reflective of the time the novel is set, when there were few jobs and people had to
look out for themselves, there are many incidents of selfishness in the novella.
The most obvious example of this is Carlson's insistence that Candy's dog is shot,
against Candy's wishes, because the way it smells is bothering him. However, other
characters are as guilty as Carlson when it comes to showing selfish behaviour. Whit
will not let go of the magazine he owns showing he is not willing to share his
possessions with anyone else . Candy also shows selfishness when he abuses
Curley's wife after her death accusing her of ruining his dream rather than feeling any
sympathy for her. Crooks could also be accused of selfishness, at first, for refusing to
allow anyone to enter his room.

Even Slim and George could be accused of showing selfishness at times. Slim allows
Candy's dog to be shot, perhaps to save himself from having to with the discontent it
is causing in the bunk house. George is also very selfish about the dream being
reluctant to share it with anyone else apart from Lennie. He also admits to selfishly
using Lennie to get attention for himself when he told him to jump into the
Sacramento river.
Yet, George and Slim also show generosity at times. Slim is only too happy to give
Lennie one of his pups and offers to do the same for Candy. He is also generous in
his assessment of Lennie after hearing about the incident in Weed stating that Lennie
'ain't mean'. Finally he generously offers George support after he has killed Lennie by
taking him for a drink.
George's generosity is shown through his treatment of Lennie. He puts Lennie first all
of the time and sticks with him despite all the trouble he causes him. In a final act of
generosity he consigns himself to a life of loneliness by humanely killing him.
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
In the harsh environment of the ranch only the strong can flourish and the weak are
often shown to perish.
Steinbeck often shows this through use of animals. Candy's dog, which is old and
crippled, it shot when it becomes a burden, and Slim drowns five of his puppies
straightaway only keeping the 'biggest' that would have most chance of survival. The
physically much bigger and stronger heron also eats the much weaker water snake
near the end of the book. Other small animals, such as mice and Lennie puppy, meet
their deaths at the hands of something physically stronger.
The characters with physical disabilities which make them weaker than the other men
also suffer in the novel shown through the bullying of Candy and Crooks. Curleys
wife, who, as a woman, is physically weaker than the men is also treated with
contempt by them.
Yet, being physically strong is not enough to guarantee the chance to thrive on the
ranch. Lennie, the strongest man on the ranch, is made weak by his mental disability
and is killed at the end. Curley, a good boxer and with high position of the ranch, is
weak minded, being constantly paranoid that the other men are with his wife and
feeling the need to prove himself more 'handy' than bigger men.
Slim and George emerge as strong characters because they are seen to be both
physically and mentally powerful. Curley decides not to tangle with George after
noticing his 'trim middle'and his natural leadership qualities makes the likes of Candy
and Lennie look up to him. The same is true from Slim who has a natural authority
that the men respect. He also has the physical advantage of being 'tall' and no one,
with the exception of Curley who is forced to back down, wants to provoke him.
Carlson is also seen as string because he is physically 'powerful' and has a forceful
personality. Consequently he thrives in the ranch environment. The fact that he has a
'luger', a weapon, also gives him status.
VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION
Violence is a way of life on the ranch and seems to be accepted as part of everyday
life in America at the time. The first suggestion of violence in the novel, is when

George threatens to 'sock' Lennie for failing to hand over the dead mouse. When
they arrive on the ranch, Candy talks fondly about the fight between Smitty and
Crooks the previous Christmas which took place for the entertainment of the men.
The men's desire to witness violence is also shown when Carlson and Whit eagerly
follow Curley out of the bunk house when they think he is going to attack Slim. Both
of them are also eager to join the lynch mob put together by Curley to kill Lennie
even though they have been friendly with him a over the past few days. They clearly
both find violence exciting.
Carlson himself commits an act of violence when killing Candy's dog and it is likely
that Slim allows him to get his own way on this fearing his violent nature might be
turned on the men in the bunk house if he doesn't get what he wants. He also
aggressively threatens to 'kick' Curley's 'head off' when Curley challenges him to a
fight. It is also his gun that is used to kill Lennie at the end of the novel with this act of
violence, committed by George, done to save Lennie from a more painful death at
the hands of the lynch mob. This 'mercy killing' is similar to Slim killing the puppy's to
save them from starving to death over a long period
Of course most of the violence in the novel involves Curley. When he first appears he
adopts a violent pose, like a boxer and immediately speaks aggressively to George
and Lennie. Te other characters comment that he is 'handy' and he seems to think
that he will gain the respect of the other men through acts of violence. He tries to pick
fights with Slim and Carlson before being intimidated by both of them and then
viciously attacking the defenceless Lennie to avoid being humiliated, but then suffers
a crushed hand at the hands of Lennie. There is a suggestion in the novel that Curley
might commit acts of domestic violence against his wife shown by her being
'apprehensive' when she realises that he is going home to find her not there.
Lennie commits acts of unintentional violence throughout the novel. He accidentally
kills both a mouse and his puppy before killing Curley's Wife. In each case he kills
because he cannot control his own strength and, in the case of Curley's Wife, he
accidentally kills her whilst trying to stop her from screaming fearing that she will
cause George to be angry with him. When he crushes curley's hand it is an act of self
defence committed on the say so of George.
The language used throughout the book is often aggressive. Curley and Lennie are
referred to as a 'bastard', 'son of a bitch' and a 'rat' by several characters. Even
Lennie is called a 'bastard' and 'son of a bitch' by George and Carlson respectively.
Curley's wife is at various points called a 'tramp', 'jailbait, 'at-trap', ' bitch' and a 'tart'.
Even the innocent dead puppy is referred (ironically accurately) as a 'son of a bitch'
by Lennie.
Aggressive swear words are used routinely on the ranch showing what an aggressive
place it can be Words such a 'God damn' and 'Jesus Christ' are routinely said by the
men in normal conversation. Even the animals can be violent as the heron eats the
water snake in the last section as was the horse that is mentioned to have kicked
Crooks in the back causing him to be bent over.
INSIDERS AND OUTSIDERS
There are three main figures of authority in the; novel: The Boss, Curley and Slim.
The Boss, however, has gained this status largely because of his job, not because of
who he is, although the men seem to have few complaints about him. Other than
Candy, who is wary of everybody, they do not appear to be in awe of him and

although inclined to be short-tempered, he seems to treat them better than some

bosses might, giving them whisky at Christmas.
Slim ranks high because people naturally look up to him and he is well respected and
trustworthy. Likewise, Carlson and Whit are both accepted by everyone. Normal,
friendly people, they make a contrast to the characters who are outsiders. Without
Lennie, George would probably also be accepted as an insider: it is only his
association with the other man which makes him an outsider.
Curley has nominal authority because his father is the Boss and he is good at
Boxing. However, he is not popular and since the hands despise him, he is in effect
an outsider. Lennie, Candy, Curleys wife and Crooks are all outsiders because they
are clearly different to the others; their various weaknesses make each of them easy
victims.
LOYALTY
This is an important characteristic amongst the ranch hands because even though
the jobs are transient, their way of life is very hard. It would be more unbearable
while they are working together if they did not stick together and support each other.
The Boss naturally enough, would assume that all his hands are loyal and do their
best for him. Curley banks on his father being loyal to him by not sacking him when
he gets into fights with the other men. Ironically, this behaviour is disloyal to his
father since it could leave him short of hands and the ranch would suffer.
Loyalty is also one of the mainstays of the relationship between George and Lennie.
George protects the other man and is grateful for his Company, which helps ward off
loneliness, while Lennie relies on George to look after him. Even Slim is impressed
by their loyalty to one another.
Candy shows his loyalty to the two men by offering all his savings and promising to
keep their plans secret. However, the old man feels as if he has betrayed his loyal
companion, the dog, when he is persuaded to have it put down.
Conversely, one reason the hand despise Curleys wife is because she is seen as
disloyal to her husband.

THE WORKING MAN

The plight of the migrant worker is that he spends his life working for others, never for
himself. It makes no difference whether he is as skilled as Slim or given the lowliest
of tasks like Candy, he has little chance to make something of his life since he is
unlikely ever to earn enough money to buy a piece of land. In Steinbecks view, the
average working man is the salt of the earth; where would America (or any other
country) be without them? He makes the point that these men should not be looked
upon because it is circumstances which denies them success and not their own
abilities.
PROTEST
Steinbecks novel, The Grapes of Wrath is often regarded as his greatest work and is
largely regarded as a protest against the way migrant workers suffered. However,
even though this is also covered in the novella, it should not be regarded as having
been written solely for a political purpose, i.e. to right the wrongs wrought by the

system. Yet it is clear there are certain themes which Steinbeck feels very strongly
about and wishes to draw his audiences attention to, in particular, prejudice of any
kind.