of mice and men

protagonists?

george and lennie

antagonist?

curley

george milton appearance

small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features

Curley appearance

thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair

crooks appearance

He's black, stable buck, crooked back.

candys appearance

a tall, stoop-shouldered old man

slim appearance

He is tall, strong, and gentle, skinner.

lennie appearance

Huge, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders.

curleys wifes appearance

Full, rouged lips, wide-spaced eyes, red fingernails, curly hair, wears cotton house dress and red mules

carlson appearance

powerful, big-stomached...and thick-bodied

Aunt clara appearance

a little fat old woman who wore thick and round glasses.

TAG

Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck, Novella

George & Lennies farm symbolizes

their dream, a hope, and a light in their difficult, often hopeless life as migrant ranch workers.

lennies puppy symbolizes

the brutal fate that ultimately bely the weakest creatures,

Candys dog symbolizes

his fear of being singled out for his own weakness (his only companion was his dog)

how were women treated?

women of this time are not respected and are thought to be unintelligent by being told to stay in the house all day.

who dies?

candys dog, curleys wife, lennie small

how did candys dog die

shot by carlson because it is old, useless, and suffering

how did curleys wife die

accidentally killed by lennie when he panics while stroking her hair and breaking her neck

examp 1 of corrupting power of women

Lennie, being mentally disabled, wanted to touch the dress because it looked soft, but the woman panicked and accused him of assault. The false perception of Lennie as a predator forced George and Lennie to flee for their lives

example 2 Curley's Wife’s Flirtation with the Ranch Workers

She leans in the barn door and speaks seductively to Slim and Carlson .She enters the bunkhouse, claiming she's looking for Curley, while actually trying to engage the men in conversation.

curleys wifes presence

Her presence creates tension among the workers. George sees her as a "tart" who could ruin their plans, and the other men avoid her out of fear of Curley’s jealousy and potential retaliation.

3. Curley's Wife's Interaction with Crooks, Candy, and Lennie

In the barn, Curley's wife belittles Crooks, Candy, and Lennie while they dream about the farm.

example 3 info

She mocks Candy for his disability, Crooks for his race, and Lennie for his mental capacity. She threatens to accuse Crooks of assault if he doesn’t stop talking.

4. Curley's Jealousy and Aggression

Curley constantly accuses the workers of eyeing his wife.

ex 4 impact on men

Curley's aggressive paranoia about his wife disrupts the ranch’s harmony and culminates in violence.

ex 4 info

His immediate suspicion of Slim in the barn leads to a confrontation. He fights Lennie, driven by insecurity and jealousy over his wife’s behavior.

General Presence of Women as a Symbol of Corruption

George mentions the allure of prostitutes, which drains the men’s money and derails their ambitions for independence.

setting

south of soledad, california 1930s

general context

The Great Depression's harsh economic realities often forced men into itinerant lifestyles, leaving them isolated and without stable relationships.

george and lennie loneliness

George openly acknowledges the loneliness of most ranch hands

candys loneliness

Candy’s old age and disability isolate him from the younger, more able-bodied men.

crooks loneliness

Crooks, as the only Black man on the ranch, is segregated and lonely

Curley's Wife loneliness

Despite being married, she is deeply lonely, as Curley neglects her and isolates her from others. Her flirtations with the men stem from her yearning for attention and human connection.

george and lennies companionship

George protects and looks after Lennie, while Lennie provides George with a sense of purpose and a shared dream of owning a farm.

Dream of the Farm

The dream of owning a farm is not just about economic independence but also about creating a space of belonging and companionship for George, Lennie, and Candy.

lennies strength

strong, physical labor. ex. lennie helps lift heavy loads of grain

curleys strength

physical aggression ex attacks lennie to prove masculinity

lennies weakness

physical strength, too strong, becomes his liability since he cannot control it ex kills animals he pets and curleys wife

how did lennie die?

George spares Lennie from Curley's wrath by shooting Lennie in the back of the head

where is the ranch located

soledad meaning lonely

Of Mice and Men suggests

while dreams and human connections provide hope and meaning, they are often fragile and unattainable in a world marked by loneliness, inequality, and the struggle for survival.

theme

how dreams, are often unattainable in the harsh reality of life during the Great Depression. Dreams provide hope but are fragile and can be destroyed by circumstances beyond one's control.

Why did Aunt Clara give Lennie a rubber mouse?

She gave him a rubber mouse because he killed every mouse he got. He didn't like it because it had no fur to pet.

George Milton actions

kills Lennie and defends lennie whenever accused of trouble

lennie 2 actions

dies and kills curleys wife

slim 2 actions

comforts george after lennies death and stops curley from attacking lennie

curley 2 actions

initiates a fight with lennie and threatens and intimidates other men on the ranch

curleys wife 2 actions

flirts with men and dies

candy 2 actions

offers george and lennie money to join their farm, shoots his dog

crooks actions

shares his loneliness with lennie and challenges lennie and georges dream of having a farm

who is aunt clara

lennies deceased aunt who appears in lennies hallucinations to remind him of his mistakes

who is crooks

a black stable hand

who is slim

the ranchs respected leader

who is curleys wife

curleys wife who seeks attention from men on the ranch

who is curley

The boss's son, aggressive and quick to pick fights

who is candy

An aging, disabled ranch worker who fears being useless and is desperate for companionship.

who is lennie

A large, strong man with a childlike mind who is dependent on George for guidance.

who is george

A small, quick-witted man who looks after Lennie, his mentally disabled companion.