OMAM quote analysis

Her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away - context

Curley’s wife is confessing to Lennie in the barn

Her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away - how

Only female on the ranch - treated as something dangerous since men dont want to mess with curley

Dehumanised and treaty as property of curley

she is used to be silenced, thinks that same will happen with lennie

Foreshadowing her tragic end and sealed fate of death

Lennie is intellectually challenged so he doesn’t leave

Her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away - tumbled

desperation and uncontrollable conversation

the need for human connection

the words have been held in for so long, finally released, all built up inside her

lacks restraint

But I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. - Context

Curley’s wife confessing to Lennie in the barn chapter 5

But I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. - how

blunt declarative sentence, no loophole, alternative just reality

isolation on the ranch, treated as outsider due to gender

trapped in a loveless marriage with Curley only because of need of financial stability, had to abandon dreams of being a movie star

curley is an aggressive, possessive and manipulative man

still he is the only source of human connection and she talks to him despite hating him

But I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. - nobody

curley’s wife is both physically and emotionally isolated

shut away from everybody else on the ranch by curley

despite having deep human dreams and desires, she is treated as a trophy to show off

curley’s wife setting we learn

the theme of loneliness and isolation through the character of Curley’s wife as she is stripped of human connection showing how it drives people to dangerous breaking point. critique’s how 1930s america treated women with prejudice and sexism, giving them no independent identity, voice or freedom.

and he had books too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California Civil Code for 1905 - context

the reader is introduced to Crooks for the first time in chapter 4

and he had books too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California Civil Code for 1905 - how

Books means he is intelligent, well-educated and fully literate

treated as subhuman despite being intelligent

california civil code of 1905 states black peoples rights

he knows how to legally protect himself when needed - in a vulnerable societal position

understands his position in society, has dignity

despite being intelligent, still in a low position and forced to work on a ranch, unable to climb the social hierarchy even if he is skilled and talented

and he had books too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California Civil Code for 1905 - mauled and tattered

read so much, been read and reread over and over again, crooks is alone a lot

books have substituted human connection, only source of dignity and protection

he knows what he legally should have but has no power to enforce it

gap between his theoretical rights and reality

had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the walls of the barn - how

physically separating crooks living areas from the others

segregation, forcing crooks into loneliness and isolation

discrimination against black men and women in america 1930s

harness room should be for tools and farm equipment, not people

steinbeck equates crooks to the farm animals

dehumanising - society viewed him as just another tool and working property

had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned of the walls of the barn - shed and leaned

shed:

storage, marginalised and pushed to the sides of society due to colour of skin

shed is detached and mirrors racial segregation

leaned:

poor structural integrity, fragile and at risk of collapsing

mirrors crooks position in society, he has no legal safety net and constantly vulnerable

implies that although the barn is seperate, the shed still relies on it to stand upright but never part of the barn

crooks bunk we learn

vulnerability of black men and women in 1930s america. the systematic discrimination and racial injustice based solely on the colour of their skin. highlights the injustice and societal restrictions and how segregation breeds loneliness and bitterness.