Edexcel IGCSE English Literature: Of Mice and Men: Quotes and Context Flashcards - Characters

Lennie Quotes (4) and explanations: Child-like

"follower" - dependent on George

"George's voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically" - like a father: son relationship - George comforts Lennie

"Lennie was looking helplessly at George for instruction": incapable of making his own decisions - no self-sufficiency - proleptic indicator for Curley's Wife's death

"George ain't gonna let me tend no rabbits now" - incapable of understanding right from wrong, but we still have sympathy for Lennie: he is like a victim of himself.

Lennie context: Childlike (short answer)

Shows the vulnerability of those with mental disabilities, especially in the 1930s, when there was no understanding for those with mental health issues.

Lennie Quotes (6) and Explanations: Dangerous (Animalistic Imagery)

"Lennie": means 'of lion's strength': capable of killing

Animalistic imagery:

"As strong as a bull"

"Huge paws"

"Snorting into the water like a horse"

"Curley was flopping like a fish on a line"

"Her body flopped like a fish"

This emphasises the great power and physical strength of Lennie: he has the power to kill - foreshadows death of Curley's Wife. Additionally, the fricatives for "flopped like a fish" emphasises this as it presents Curley and his wife as physically weak.

This great physical strength, combined with his lack of moral understanding makes Lennie a great threat, and encourages anxiety from the reader.

Lennie Context: Dangerous (Animalistic imagery)

The animalistic imagery mirrors the way people with mental disabilities were treated in the 1930s. They were treated like animals, and completely dehumanised:

Lobotomy

Electric shock therapy

- Used as punishment rather than as treatment: treated like animals.

Lennie Quotes (5) and Explanations: Outsider

"Small" - a symbol for his little power in society, and a symbol of his little mental capability, impeding him from fully participating in Ranch life

"Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard" - repeated

"The weak ones"

"A n*gger an' a dum dum and a lousy ol' sheep"

- Emphasises the outsiders of society

Parallels between Candy's Dog and Lennie: "He ain't no good to you ... he ain't no good to himself" - both seen as a burden on society

Lennie Context: Outsider

Lennie had little power in society as an itinerant worker. High unemployment was due to the Great Depression, especially among the mentally disabled.

The mentally disabled were seen as a burden on society. At the time, the policy of Social Darwinism suggested that the suffering of the weak was a natural order of things, and that it could not be avoided. The mentally disabled were often thrown into asylums, or punished by electric shock 'therapy'.

Lennie Quotes (8) and Explanations: Tragic

"bleated with terror" - Steinbeck's comparison of Lennie to a lamb suggests Lennie is a symbol of innocence. His innocence does not justify the killing of Curley's wife, but gives the reader that Lennie had no malicious intent: he was simply a victim of the society he lived in. Nobody knew how to look after those with mental disabilities. However, lambs are also a symbol of sacrifice, which is a proleptic indicator that Lennie will have to be killed by George.

"The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley, and leave us nought but grief and pain. For promised joy!" Lennie's dream is shattered when he dies.

Also cyclical structure: suggests hopelessness in George and Lennie's lives: they have achieved nothing but taking steps back.

Corruption of Chapter six:

- non-predatory ("rabbits sat as quietly as little grey, sculptured stones") vs. predatory ("water snake glided smoothly" - sibilance, sinister atmosphere)

- "skittering" (light vowel sound, 'i') vs. ("plucked"; "scudded": dynamic verbs, heavy vowel sound "u")

- "a little wind" vs. "a far rush of wind sounded and a gust drove through the tops of the trees like a wave"

- Water snake is killed and then replaced by another water snake: highlights the insignificance of man in 1930s America: Lennie will easily be replaced by another itinerant worker

Lennie Context: Tragic

The cyclical structure of the novella suggests the American Dream is impossible. Despite the great efforts of George and Lennie to realise their dream, along with Candy, their efforts are futile.

The replacement of the water snake mirrors the fact that Lennie will be replaced in society: highlights the attitude at the time led by Herbert Hoover of "rugged individualism", in which the weakest in society were abandoned.

George Quotes (9) and Explanations: Lennie's Protector

George: "First man" (leader)

Lennie: "Follower" (depends on George - comparisons drawn to religion)

This is symbolic of and establishes the power dynamic in the very first description of George and Lennie

"Don't drink so much ... you gonna be sick"

This is an image of a father scolding his son. Whilst Lennie tests George's, George has Lennie's best interest at heart.

Confession to Slim about the events at the "Sacramento River" (Ch. 3): "I ain't done nothing like that no more."

The "Sacramento River" suggests this event had an almost sacred significance to George: he realised the moral duty that comes with power. George therefore compliments Lennie throughout the novella to try to protect him:

- "He's sure a hell of a good worker"

- "Strong as a bull"

- "Lennie ain't mean"

- George also soothes Lennie with their dream of self sufficiency, to "live offa the fatta the lan'"

Emphasises the morality of George shooting Lennie: he had to do this in order to avoid Curley savagely killing Lennie, or alternatively Lennie entering an insane asylum and receiving brutal treatment.

George Context: Lennie's Protector

George's protection of Lennie makes George a symbol of human compassion, heavily contrasting the stereotypical actions of men in 1930s USA. Due to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, unemployment rates were at record highs.

This led to a policy led by Herbert Hoover (US president at the time) of "rugged invididualism". This meant many people abandoned the weak in society. Steinbeck therefore challenges the 1930s reader to question their view on one's moral duty to others, through the character of George.

George Quotes and Explanations: Short-tempered

"You crazy bastard"

"When I think of the crazy time I'd have without you, I go nuts"

- This reveals the great burden George feels about being responsible for Lennie.

- His outbursts reveal the extent of his unhappiness (LP of anger: "Lennie looked over the fire at the angry George" "George went on furiously"

- George tries to control Lennie through fear, which results in Curley's Wife's Death: (Lennie) "Please don't do that. George'll be mad"

George Context and Critical Analysis: Short-tempered

George's methods to try to control Lennie through fear mirror the little understanding of the mentally disabled in 1930s USA.

Critical Analysis:

Does George actually enjoy the power he has over Lennie, in a world where he otherwise has so little power? George is an itinerant worker, who - especially in the 1930s - had so little power.

- "imperiously"

- "snapped his fingers sharply"

Contraversial: does George reveal a motive for killing Lennie?

No: his decision was moral, as backed up by Slim's support ("You hadda George. I swear you hadda.")

George Quotes (3) and Explanations: Lonely

"I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you"

- This refrain memorised by Lennie shows the interdependency between George and Lennie's relationship.

- George benefits from Lennie, as he gets a rare companionship

"Solitaire"

- The constant reference to George playing this cardgame makes us question whether Lennie is a good enough companion for George, since they are on such different mental levels.

- This symbolises George's deep down loneliness, or - if not - foreshadows the solitary life ahead of him.

- This is also backed up by the fact that "Soledad", the location of the initial utopian dreamscape and later the corruption of this translates to English from Spanish as "solitude". This is prolepsis from the very first line of the novella that George will live a solitary life.

George Context: Lonely

The transient lifestyle of itinerant workers in the 1930s meant that it was very hard to form meaningful relationships. This shows how rare the relationship between George and Lennie is, highlighting their interdependency.

The high demand for work amongst itinerant workers created a hostile and competitive environment. This meant that - rather than creating unity betwen workers - this set workers against each other in the name of self-interest and in the name of survival.

George Quotes and Explanations: Misogynistic

"Tramp" "Bitch" "Rattrap" "Poison" "Jailbait"

- His instant dislike for Curley's Wife is based on very little interaction with her. This shows an inbuilt contempt George has for women.

- His disgust for her sexuality is contradictory, since he daydreams about staying in a "cathouse", and potentially visits "Old Susy's Place" in Chaper 4

George Context: Misogynistic

George has grown up in a patriarchal society in which women are viewed as the weaker sex.

Through George's unfair portrayal of Curley's Wife, Steinbeck draws our attention to the impossible position of women in the 1930s.

1. On one hand they were expected to be pure and domesticated, particularly in the 1930s due to the Great Depression meaning they were encouraged out of jobs

2. On the other hand, they were sexually objectified and were viewed as a means to serve men's sexual needs.

Additionally, the transient lifestyle of migrant workers (like George) may mean that George has had very little interaction with women.

Perhaps George feels threatened by Curley's wife, who threatens George's prejudiced binary stereotype he thinks women must fit into.

George Quotes (1) and Explanations: Dreamer

"Living offa the fatta the lan'"

- George's dream is to have self-sufficiency and to control his own fate.

- He shares this dream with Lennie and later Candy: this goes against the grain of the ordinary self-interested ethos of migrant workers.

George Context and Critical Analysis: Dreamer

(QUOTES NEEDED HERE (3))

Context:

His dream of the ranch is a symbol of the American Dream. The failure of this dream highlights the elusive prospect the AD was in 1930s America, during the Great Depression. Additionally, the constant return to the dream before harsh situations on the Ranch (e.g. before the crushing of Curley's hand, before the shooting of Lennie) highlights the unattainability of the American Dream.

George's Surname is "Milton", the same as the poet who wrote "Paradise Lost", in which mankind came to lose Eden. The parallels between Eden and the utopian dreamscape of the Salinas Valley reflect the nature of the American Dream.

Critical analysis:

Is George really serious about the dream?

- George and Lennie only have "ten bucks" between them, despite earning over 100 a month

- George resigns to a typical migrant ethos at the end of the novella, when he says:

"I'll work my month an' I'll take my fifty bucks an' I'll stay in some lousy cat house. An' then I'll come back an' work another month an' I'll have fifty bucks more"

----- The reader questions whether he was doing anything differently before, due to their lack of money

----- Was the dream impossible because of the context of the 1930s, or was George simply not willing to let it happen?

-------- "The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley, and leave us nought but grief and pain. For promised joy!"

George Quotes (3) and Explanations: Moral

Moral Dilemmas:

- By taking care of Lennie, he saves him from admission into mental asylum (Brutal treatment)

>>>> However in integrating Lennie into ranch life, George puts Curley's Wife, and therefore Lennie, in danger

- Justice for Lennie to beat up Curley, but this threatens their jobs

- If he lets Lennie live, he will face a brutal attack from Curley, or admission into an asylum

Parallels between George's predicament and Candy's dog:

- Candy: "I ought to have shot that dog myself".

- Through this, Steinbeck presents George's actions as euthanasia

Slim: "You hadda George. I swear you hadda."

- Slim's support comforts the reader, as he is the "God-like" authority in the novella: "Slim's opinions were law.

- This ensures the reader understands this was a moral decision.

"Now what the hell ya suppose is eating them?" (Carlson)

- This emotionless response contrasts with George and Slim to emphasise their compassion, and present George's actions as moral

George Context: Moral

The sheer amount of moral dilemmas George faces emphasises the harshness of life in the 1930s.

George is so often stuck between a rock and a hard place in that neither of the choices he could make have a desirable option: only a less evil option.

This emphasises the hopelessness of the lives of migrant workers in the 1930s.

George: Overall Message (2)

Through George, Steinbeck makes a commentary on the fundamentally flawed social and economic system of 1930s America:

- Impossible to succeed in terms of dreams

- Impossible to do good (morality)

Through George, Steinbeck makes an exploration of human nature:

- Power is born out of weakness: humans seek to put down others in order to gain power

- George destroys his own dream by visiting the "Cat house": shows that human nature is equally responsible to destroying dreams as the harshness of life in the 1930s.

Candy: Quotes (5) and Explanation: Weak

"stoop-shouldered old man"

- This first description of Candy in a symbol that he is physically weighed down by the relentless work and poor conditions of the ranch.

- Also a symbol of being metaphorically weighed down by his oppression as an old man (burden on society)

"lousy ol' sheep"

- His age makes him considered useless: he is doubly vulnerable, as he is both old and physically disabled.

"shuffled"

- The way he moved around the boss like a frightened animal indicates his low, weak position in society.

- This is a visual representation of the top of the hierarchy vs one of the weakest members of the hierarchy

"stick-like wrist, but no hand"

- Hands are a symbol of power in the novella: required to do work, but in particular, Lennie's "paws"

- His injury places him in a weak position on the ranch: it limits his use at a time in the 1930s when itinerant workers' worth was based heavily on their usefulness in making a profit.

"Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal"

- This shows how voiceless and powerless Candy is: he has no say in the fate of his own dog.

Candy Context: Weak

The elderly were hit hard in the Great Depression

- Lost their life savings

- Little to no help was offered by the government: it was expected that they would be looked after by their families.

>>>>>> However, many families had little to offer due to the Great Depression, and the national ethos of "rugged individualism". Those without families were left to fend for themselves.

- There was a tough competition for jobs when many old people were forced back into employment

Even harder in the 1930s for disabled people:

- Unemployment of 80% in the disabled community, causing crushing levels of poverty.

Candy Quotes (4) and Explanations: Disposable

"I ain't much good"

- Shows his awareness of the comparatively few skills he has to offer. This has affected his self-regard.

"God he was a good sheep dog"

(- Parallels between Candy and his dog)

- Past accomplishments are useless in the world of capitalism: one's worth is determined by how productive you are today.

- This suggests Candy will become a burden when he gets older

"Why'n't you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up?"

- This highlights how replaceable the sheep dog is viewed as

- This mirrors the fact that Candy is replaceable by a younger, stronger, fitter worker.

"Just as soon as I can't swamp out no bunk houses they'll put me on the county"

- Candy is aware of his vulnerable position, and that he will be easily disposed of and replaced

Candy Context: Disposable

The policy of industrial capitalism and Social Darwinism created a "survival of the fittest" situation.

- Certain people were considered more powerful because they were innately better (due to physical strength, colour of skin, gender etc.)

- This justified the inequality and racism of society at the time

- This meant there was no compassion for the likes of the "weak ones" including Candy: their struggles were considered a natural order of the world.

Candy Quotes (2) and Explanations: Parallels between Candy + Dog and George + Lennie

"At his heels there walkes a dragfooted sheepdog"

- Shows the dependence of the dog on Candy, mirroring the dependence of George on Lennie

- Candy and his dog's relationship is also symbiotic, as Candy's dog provides companionship for Candy.

"I ought to have shot him myself. I ought to of not let no stranger shoot my dog"

- This foreshadows and justifies George's decision to kill Lennie later in the novella.

- Suggests there's an inevitability to Lennie's death

- Presents George's killing of Lennie as euthanasia and the moral thing to do.

Candy Context: Parallels between George + Lennie and Candy + Dog

The context of the 1930s highlights how important Candy's dog was as a companion to him.

The high demand for work created a competitive and hostile environment. This - as well as the transient lifestyle migrant workers led - made it impossible to form long-term relationships.

Candy Quotes (4) and Explanations AND CONTEXT: Prejudiced

"tart" "you ******* tramp"

- Candy's misogynistic treatment of Curley's Wife represents the unequal treatment of women in the patriarchal society of the 1930s

- His accusation of CW being a "tart" is unfounded and represents the sexist prejudice held by men at the time

- His emotionless reaction to her death normalises the violence women faced

"nice fella" vs. "n****r"

- Candy's juxtaposing descriptions of Crooks here with his casual use of derogatory language shows how deeply embedded into society racism was in the 1930s, and how normalised it was. This shows that despite slavery being abolished 50 years earlier, racist attitudes had not changed.

Steinbeck is careful not to create a single character who is completely blameless.

- Shows the complexity of humans and the inbuilt flaws of human nature

Candy Quotes (3) and Explanations: Dreamer

"eyes blinded with tears"

"leaned forward eagerly"

- Candy's change in demeanour here shows his intense excitement due to the prospect of the ranch. This shows how much he longs for the companionship the dream offers, also showing how lonely he is.

"You an' me can get that little place, can't we George? ... can't we George? Can't we?"

- The repetation and use of rhetorical questions here shows how desperate Candy is to cling onto this dream: a potential escape from the cruel world.

Candy Context: Dreamer

The dream of the ranch is a symbol of the American Dream.

The failure of this dream highlights what an elusive prospect the American Dream was: it was unattainable.

However, Candy's desperation for the dream to come true shows what a necessity it was to make life bearable.

- This could be considered especially the case in Candy's life, since he has nothing to look forward to in his old age except for poverty and loneliness

Candy: Overall message (4)

1. Highlights inequalities in the workplace, and the flaws of the social and economic system of 1930s America

2. A representation of two very vulnerable gropus in 1930s USA: disabled; elderly

3. The unattainability of the American Dream in the 1930s

4. An exploration of human nature: power is born out of weakness, presented through Candy's misogyny and racism, particularly in Ch. 4: "he was the master of the situation"; "maybe you better scatter along now" (patronising 'scatter' presents Curley's Wife like an animal)

Slim Quotes (3) and Explanations: God-like

"His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought"

"ageless"

"God-like"

- Steinbeck elevates slim to a superhuman, immortal status

- Steinbeck presents Slim as an ideal of what men can be: kind; moral; compassionate

Slim Context: God-like

Steinbeck presents Slim as an ideal of what an American man can be.

Perhaps this is an attack on the status quo of men in 1930s USA

- Steinbeck reveres Slim, in a stark contrast to the Boss and Curley.

- Through Slim, Steinbeck promotes his anti-capitalist messages.

Slim Quotes (6 - although some are linked, not direct to Slim) and Explanations: Natural-Born Leader

"majesty"

"royalty"

"master"

- This lexical pattern of regality shows the natural power and authority Slim has

"All talk stopped when he spoke"

"For Slim's opinions were law"

- This shows the extent of the respect the other ranch workers have for Slim

"Friendly"

- This is very important: it presents his power as effortless, and that Slim is deserving of his authority

- This contrasts the Boss and Curley, who must wear "high-heeled boots" and give others "hell" in order to artificially assert their dominance

Slim Context: Natural Born Leader

Steinbeck presents Slim as the ideal American cowboy, with high moral standing, contrasting the greed of capitalists.

The contrast betweeen Slim and Curley suggests the economic power of Curley and the Boss is artificial, and a violation of the natural order. Steinbeck subtly attacks capitalism in the USA in the 1930s, suggesting Slim should rank the highest due to his morals.

Slim Quotes (4) and Explanations (and a little bit of context sneaked in there): Powerful

"Jerkline skinner"

- This emphasises the fact that - in the capitalist system of 1930s America - one's status and power derives from skill. This contrasts Candy, who is considered disposable due to his lack of skills on the ranch since he has a "stick-like wrist, but no hand"

"Carlson stepped back to let Slim precede him"

- This is a literal indicator of the ranch hierarchy, and indicates how much respect others on the ranch have for Slim

"I think your han' got caught in a machine. If you don't tell nobody what happened, we ain't going to."

- Slim is shown to have authority even over Curley here. This shows how perceptive and intelligent Slim is: he uses Curley's insecurity of his reputation as bargaining power.

Slim is also powerful, since he is a more permanent worker on the ranch. This gives him an unusual amount of power during the Great Depression, as many itinerant workers led transient lifestyles, in which they were often unemployed.

Slim Quotes (3) and Explanations: Pragmatic

"I drowned four of 'em right off"

- This shows Slim's pragmatic side, and how he is not drawn into sentimentality. His pragmatism justifies what otherwise would be considered violent behaviour. Slim is forced to run on a policy of the 'greater good': in this case, the mother would not be able to feed so many "pups".

"Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none"

- Slim's nonresponse here seals the Sheepdog's fate. It shows that he is in support of euthanasia, which links to his later support of George killing Lennie.

"You hadda, George. I swear you hadda."

- Here, Slim is presented as making rational decisions once again. He considers the alternatives for Lennie:

>>>> 1. A brutal murder by Curley

>>>> 2. Admission into a mental asylum / lobotomy / electric shock therapy

Slim Context: Pragmatic

The Social Darwinism in 1930s USA was a policy that meant only the strongest survived, meaning there was no room for compassion for the "weak ones" (e.g. Lennie).

Slim's harsh actions reveal the repercussions of the cruel world that was 1930s USA: there was not always a good option, but a less evil option. Slim is used to explore this, as Slim has compassion throughout the novella.

Slim Quotes (6) and Explanations: Moral

"Hell of a nice fella"

- This is our first introduction of Slim through Candy

"Hi, good-lookin!" (Slim indulges Curley's Wife here: a compliment rather than a sexist objectification)

"Oh! Hello Crooks"

"Lennie ain't mean"

- These quotes show Slim's compassion for others. He gives these characters (particularly CW and Crooks) the intelligence he understands they so desperately need.

"Slim's calm invitation to confidence"

"Come on, George. Me an' you'll go in an' get a drink"

- Slim offers friendship and empathy, showing how compassionate, thoughtful and sensitive

Slim Context: Moral

Slim's thoughtful and sensitive demeanour challenges the Stereotypes of ranch workers.

Slim's compassion revelas his harsher actions are merciful, not cruel. It is a stark contrast to the hostile ranch environment due to the GD and DB (hostile, competitive environment).

Slim overall intentions (4)

1. Steinbeck promotes anti-capitalist beliefs

2. Steinbeck emphasises the cruelty of others (Crooks, Curley's Wife)

3. Steinbeck promotes his ideal of what an American man should be

4. Eradicate George's guilt: Slim acts as a moral compass which the reader looks to in order to determine the morality of actions

Curley's Wife Quotes (7) and Explanations: Initial Impression: Promiscuous

"Tart" "She got the eye" (Candy)

- Shows how men objectified women

- Our first introduction to Curley's Wife is sexualised and biased

"Her body was thorwn forward"

"Rouged lips"

- Seems to confirm Candy's portrayal of her

- She has a seductive posture that allows her to display her curves

- Her lipstick draws attention to this sensual part of her body

>>>>> "Red" has connotations of passion and lust, but also symbolises danger, foreshadowing the trouble she is involved with later in the novella

"Jail bait" "poison" "tramp"

- This shows how George sees her beauty as a threat who will get them into trouble

- Curley's wife is portrayed as the two-dimensional stock character of a femme fatale, who uses her beautfy to lure men into disastrous situations

>>>> There are parallels drawn between Eve in the Bible: Both Eve and Curley's Wife are a symbol of temptation

Curley's Wife: Critical Analysis and Context: Initial Impression: Promiscuous

Curley's Wife is the only woman on the ranch: who else is she supposed to look at other than men.

- We have little evidence of CW being promiscuous

She has grown up in a patriarchal society in which women are objectified, and whose worth comes from physical appearance. CW has clearly internalised these sexist views in the way she feels she must present herself. However it could also be considers she does this out of desperation for attention and human contact. Her make up is also an attempt to imitate Hollywood: her dream.

Curley's wife finds herself in an impossible situation: women were expected to be "purty" and "good-lookin'", but because of this she is labelled a "tramp".

The derogatory term used by George, "Jail bait" shows the inequality between men and women. It excuses men for their behaviour, by suggesting them have no control over their sexual urges. Curley's Wife is used by the men as a scapegoat for their own flaws.

Women's every action was eroticised: "lips slightly parted; "breathed strongly". Curley's wife is forced to use her sexuality to gain some attention, in a world where is is otherwise utterly powerless.

In Steinbeck's Letter to Clare Luce, he writes: "she ... knows instinctively that if she is to be noticed at all, it will be because someone finds her sexually desirable"

Steinbeck also suggests a hypocrisy of men at this time: they are so judgemental to Curley's wife for presenting herself in a slightly sexual way, yet they choose to spend their money in brothels: even her own husband chooses to spend the night with prostitutes rather than his wife.

Curley's Wife: Quotes and Explanations: Lonely

"I'm lookin' for Curley"

- The fact that Curley and his wife are never seen together in the play represents the distance between them, and enhances the isolation of Curley's wife

Curley's wife's efforts to look attractive are a desperate attempt to escape her loneliness. She is in desperate need of companionship.

"Looking in"

"She stood still in the doorway"

- This physical separation of Curley's wife is a symbol of her marginalisation, showing she is unwelcomed by the men.

"I never get to talk to nobody."

"I get awful lonely"

- This is a very important part of the novella. The fact that this discussion takes place with Lennie confirms there are no sexual motives behind her saying this. This is the true side to Curley's wife we otherwise do not overtly see.

- This also confirms how human Curley's wife is beneath the surface, not the "femme fatale" she is presented as by the other men.

Curley's Wife Context: Lonely

In the 1930s, married women were encouraged to stay at home in order to protect male work. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl left few jobs, meaning it was frown upon for married women to be employed.

In Steinbeck's letter to Clare Luce, he writes: "Her craving for contact is immense ... if you could ever break down a thousand little defences she has built up, you would find a nice person, an honest person, and you would end up loving her. But such a thing could never happen."

This shows the desperate situation of women in the 1930s, and how desperately lonely they were.

Curley's Wife Quotes and Explanations: Oppressed (INC CONTEXT)

CW is the only female on the ranch: this accentuates the entrapment of women in the 1930s, in a misogynistic world of men.

Nameless: "Curley's Wife"

- She is referred to as a possession, showing her objectification and lack of identity

"Why'n't you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?" (Carlson)

- Shows the fixation of men to dominate women in every way

"They left all the weak ones here"

- CW knows the weak position she holds in 1930s USA

"I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny."

- Steinbeck is presenting here that power grows from weakness.

- In a world where she had so little power, CW was forced to be cruel in order to gain an ounce of power.

- "She learned to be hard to cover her fright" (Steinbeck's letter to Clare Luce)

"You ******* tramp ... you done it, di'n't you?"

- Candy's attack on CW's dead body shows the lack of emotion at her death scene, even from her own husband

- This is contrasted with Slim who gives her the respect she deserves when he "touched her cheek" and "explored her neck", and "when he stood up the spell was broken"

- This also shows the lack of worth women had, and the normalisation of violence against women.

Curley's Wife Quotes (4) and Explanations: Dreamer (INC CONTEXT)

Her dream is to join Hollywood and make a name for herself in the "movies".

- This is sadly ironic, as we don't even learn her name in the novella

"He says I could go with that show ... he says he was gonna put me in the movies"

- The repetition of the pronoun, "he", shows her dependence on men to make her dreams come true.

- This indicates women had no control over their own fate

- It's also likely that these men were lying to her in order to be in her favour. This mirrors the way the weak were exploited by the powerful in all aspects of society.

Ultimately, her dream acts as a mental escape from the cruel world: importance of the American Dream at this time

- Her dream is futile ("The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley, and leave us nought but grief and pain. For promised joy!")

- Sad irony: her only escape is death

>>>>>> "The meanness ... the discontent ... the ache for attention" leave her face

Curley's Wife: Overall Message (2)

1. Struggles of women in a misogynistic society: GD forced women into loneliness

2. Power born out of weakness:

----- her own cruelty towards crooks

----- the men using her as a scapegoat

Curley Quotes (4) and Explanations: Powerful

He is the "boss's son"

- Places him in a very privileged and powerful position

- He will one day inherit his father's land

"Won't ever get canned"

- Set him apart from the other workers on the ranch

- His position is not precarious: we are therefore anxious in his presence - he can afford to (and does) cause trouble

- Contrasts the typical itinerant worker, e.g. George

"High-heeled boots" "Like the boss"

- This is a symbol of him trying to create power

- Suggests his power is artificial: he must wear these "high-heeled boots" to point out his authority. This contrasts with Slim, who is a natural, "friendly" leader

Curley Context: Powerful

Curley represents the landowners of the 1930s

- Steinbeck viewed these landowners as exploitative of itinerant workers

- Due to high unemployment (GD and DB), employers felt no need to treat their workers with respect

>>>>> Workers' demonstrations were met with brutality

>>>>> Cuts to wages

>>>>> So easily replaced

Steinbeck also uses the contrast between Curley (cruel and pathetic) and Slim (likeable and moral) to present his own views on capitalism:

- Steinbeck visited California in the 1930s to see the harsh treatment of workers.

- Steinbeck felt capitalism was ruining agricultural life, by placing power into the wrong hands, and disturbing the natural order of things

Curley Quotes (7) and Explanations: Violent

"head of tightly coiled hair"

- This suggests he is like a tightly-coiled spring: very short-tempered.

- This makes the reader feel uneasy in his presence

His "hands closed into fists" ... "slight crouch"

- Curley's posture indicates his readiness to fight

- This could also indicate he is defending himself, indicating that he has insecurities himself.

"Slugging" "smashed" "slashed" "swinging"

- Curley's unprovoked violence towards Lennie, especially considering Lennie's intial nonresponse presents Curley as incredibly violent and cruel. He exploits the weak to gain power.

Curley Context: Violent

Parallels are drawn between Curley and the exploitative nature of Rich landowners, which led to the oppression of the weakest in society.

- This emphasises the way Steinbeck views 1930s capitalist America as the creator of this brutal world, in which everyone has a great need for power and to defend the power they have.

Curley Quotes (2) and Explanations: Neglectful of his wife

"I'm lookin' for Curley"

- This reveals CW's loneliness.

- The fact that he chooses to go to "Old Susy's" rather than spending time with his wife shows that he is only married to give him extra status: this is a loveless marriage.

Curley "comes to life" upon seeing his own wife's dead body

- The juxtaposition here reveals overtly that their marriage is loveless

- Curley is filled with excitement at the prospect of killing Lennie: Curley's Wife's death sparks not sadness, but revenge to re-establish his authority.

Curley Context: Neglectful of his Wife

In the patriarchal society of the 1930s, women were viewed as the weaker sex and were objectified.

CW's death is not viewed as a loss for Curley, but as an attack on his personal property which he must avenge.

Curley's Wife's lack of name epitomises this: she is only referred to by misogynistic terms, or by a possessive pronoun.

Curley Quotes (2 - but also things without quotes) and Explanation: Insecure

"Terrier"

- Steinbeck's comparison of Curley with this small dog breed shows his viciousness and pugnaciousness, and that this stems from him being insecure and anxious about being short.

He has a "glove fulla vaseline" to keep his "hand soft for his wife"

This contrasts with the neglectful husband we otherwise see in Curley: this indicates he only does this in order to impress the other men and brag about his possession which is his wife.

He has unfounded suspicions of his wife and Slim being in a relationship

- Indicates his lack of confidence in his ability to please his own wife.

Curley reveals his insecurity when he agrees to Slim's persuasion for him to not report Lennie

- Reveals he values his reputation even over getting revenge on Lennie

Curley Context: Insecure

The rigid idea of what a man should be in the 1930s (strong, a provider, and violent) puts Curley in a position where he feels like he must constantly prove his masculinity. (Since he does not have the body type of a 'typical' man)

To have a wife that 'strayed' was a bad reflection on the husband in the 1930s:

- Curley fears looking weak in front of other men, because he would have been seen as incapable of controlling the 'weaker' sex.

Curley: Overall message (3)

1. Negative depiction of capitalism

2. Commentary on power (insecurities this creates; need to impress others)

3. Commentary on masculinity (violence / insecurities this creates)

Crooks quotes (9) and explanation: Mistreated

"Stable buck"

"N****r"

"Crooks"

- We never learn Crooks' real name

- Only referred to by derogatory terms / his nickname. This represents the dehumanising treatment he faced on the ranch

"He gives the stable buck hell ... ya see the stable buck's a n****r"

"Nice fella too"

- The first time we hear of Crooks is as being used by the Boss as a scapegoat.

- Candy's 'explanation' of why the boss gives him 'hell' shows how common-place and inbuilt into society racism was.

- The juxtaposition in descriptions reveals how normalised racism was in society.

"Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him in."

"Thin, pain-tightened lips"

"His body was bent over to the left"

- This is a symbol of the crippling impact of racism and prejudice on society

- Leaning to the "left" is a subtle dig at capitalism from Steinbeck, and its destructive and oppressive nature. "Left" links to communism and reveals that Crooks longs for equality

"Crooks' bunk was a large box filled with straw"

- Parallels are drawn between Crooks and the horses, suggesting he has the same status as them. He lives in dehumanised conditions and is treated like an animal

Crooks Context: mistreated

The novella is set 50 years after slavery was abolished, however Steinbeck's presentation of the treatment of crooks on the Ranch shows that ractist attitudes had not changed.

- Racism was accepted and encouraged

Crooks: Quotes (4) and Explanations: Powerless

"harness room"

"rattle of halter chains"

- The constant echo of this is a symbol for Crooks' lack of freedom, and a reminder of slavery

"I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it again't even funny"

"Crooks had reduced himself to nothing ... "Yes ma'am" ... His voice was toneless"

- This shows that Crooks is the most vulnerable person on the ranch: Even CW - one of the "weak ones" - can cause him to retreat so quickly

- "toneless" contrasts with Slim's voice which had "overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought" to italicise his position in society

Crooks: Context: Powerless

The social hierarchy on the ranch reflects US society at the time, where black people were at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Lynching was common place in the 1930s, and the KKK still had a lot of power.

Black people were also the hardest hit by the GD:

- 1932: 50% of black people were unemployed

- In some states, people called for black people to be fired, so that white people could take their jobs

- Sometimes black people weren't accepted in soup kitchens

Crooks: Quotes (3) and Explanations: Isolated

"A little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn"

- A representation of his physical segregation from the others

"I tell you a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick"

- Crooks opens up about the painful impact of his loneliness: reveals Crooks is a human being with feeling: not an animal

Crooks is rarely shown in the novella outside of Ch. 4

- Indicates his marginalisation

- "Crooks keeping back out of the attention range"

>>>>>> Hides himself: knows his place in society

Crooks: Context: Isolated

The Jim crow laws at the time provided a legal basis for segregation, and therefore discrimination against African-Americans.

- Equal rights, but equal did not mean the same: 'separate but equal'

Crooks: Quotes and Explanations: Aloof

"S'pose George don't come back"

"Crooks' face lighted with pleasure in his torture"

- Crooks seems to relish in upsetting Lennie

- All characters have a darker side to them

- Power is drawn from weakness

- Crooks is usually the most vulnerable: 1930s USA Society has caused Crooks to resort to causing Lennie psychological trauma in order to gain an ounce of power

"You got no rights to come in my room"

"He kept his distance and demanded others kept theirs"

- Crooks pushes away white people to protect himself: he has an understandable natural suspicion of white people (commonplace of lynching for example)

- This could also be a political act: Crooks protects the few rights he has.

Crooks Quotes and Explanations: Intelligent

"Gold-rimmed spectacles"

- Symbol of intelligence

"tattered dictionary"

"mauled copy of the California Civil code"

- Both are heavily used

- Crooks educates himself about his rights

- "Mauled" suggests he has a great frustration with the law, evoking sympathy in the reader: his desperate attempts are futile, since he is so poorly treated on the ranch anyway

Crooks: Context: Intelligent

The 1st Amendment of 1870 allowed all people to vote, provided they were literate: this disproportionally affected black people

The intelligence of Crooks breaks the African-American stereotype as uneducated and ignorant:

- Through crooks, Steinbeck recognises the potential of the black community

Crooks Quotes and Explanations: Pessimistic or Realistic?

"Small, electric globe threw a meagre, yellow light"

- Symbol of little hope in Crooks' life

"Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land"

- Crooks has become disillusioned by the American Dream, to the point that he has no faith in God: he has been at the receiving end of the worst of humanity

"Well, jus' forget it. I didn't mean it. Jus' foolin'. I wouln' want to go no place like that"

(AFTER CW'S THREAT, WHICH SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE RACISM PREVALENT IN SOCIETY (he had previously been seduced briefly by the dream))

- Crooks is robbed even of the ability to dream, which makes his life even more unbearable: he has no way of even mentally escaping the cruel world that was 1930s USA ("the halter chains rattled": symbol of entrapment)

Crooks: Overall Message (5)

1. Highlight mistreatment of African-Americans

2. Challenge Stereotypes of African-Americans

3. Explore the brutality of 1930s US society

4. Question the actions of this supposed Christian country

5. Challenge the concept of the American Dream: was it truly for everyone?

Carlson: Quotes (2) and Explanations: Cruel

"Why'n't you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up?"

- Carlson is presented as dismissive and heartless: incapable of understanding the emotional attachment between Candy and his dog

- Mirrors the way the weakest were viewed in society:

>>>>>>>> Replacement of the sheepdog with a puppy reflects the fact that Candy will one day be replaced with a fitter, stronger, younger worker

"Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"

- Unable to comprehend the sadness of George and Slim

- Italicises the extent of his emotional detachment, to the point that he completely disregards human life.

Carlson Context: Cruel

Does Steinbeck suggest it's in our nature to be cruel?

Or does Steinbeck suggest the harsh world they lived in was the cause of this savage, emotionless behaviour?

- People could only afford to focus on survival ("rugged individualism"): the world has made Carlson Callous

Carlson Quotes (1) and Explanations Context: Luger

"Luger pistol": repeatedly referred to in the novella.

- Perhaps an allusion to WW1 and Nazi Germany: could explain the loss of empathy Carlson has at the loss of life: perhaps Carlson was a WW1 veteran: how else would he own a luger?

This could also be used to serve as a reminder of the atrocities in Nazi Germany: Social Darwinism leading to the Holocaust

- A reminder that Carlson's cruelty is just one example of savagery: this has been fought on a much larger scale throughout history

Carlson Quotes (2) and Explanations: Pragmatic

"You ain't bein' kind to him keepin' him alive"

- Suggests he supports the concept of euthanasia

- His intentions aren't quite as cruel

- Parallels are drawn to Slim, who "drowned four of 'em" immediately

"If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head ... he'd never know what hit him"

- Suggests there is no sadistic motive to cause pain

- Suggests he is simply trying to be merciful: parallels between Death of Lennie

Carlson Context: Pragmatic

Social Darwinism in the 1920s and 30s left no room for compassion for the weak members of society: their suffering was considered the natural order of things.

- GB and the DB meant itinerant workers couldn't afford to be anything but practical

Carlson Quotes (2) and Explanations: Respected

"Carl's right, Candy" (Slim)

- He is listened to by others

- Even slim - the moral compass of the novella - agrees with Carlson

"I'll kick your ******** head off"

- Violence to maintain dominance over Curley

- Contrasts with Slim, who uses manipulation: Slim is more intelligent and intuitive

Carlson Context: Respected

The ranch represents the patriarchal society, in which there were rigid expectations of what is was to be a "man".

- Threats of violence used by Carlson to assert his masculinity

Carlson: Quotes (1) + Explanations: Misogynistic

"Why'n't you tell her to stay the hell at home where she belongs?"

- Carlson views Curley as a failure for not controlling his wife

- Mirrors sentiment held by many married women: Their place was at home, obedient to the husband.

- Women = weaker sex, therefore failure to control women = failure of husband

Carlson: Overall message (4)

1. Cruelty of humankind

2. Rise of Social Darwinism

3. Hardship and suffering breed cruelty

4. Warning about toxic masculinity: contrast to slim; lacks emotional attachment